“Ty.”
“Hi, Dad.” I grinned up at him. “I see I’ve been replaced.”
“You’re irreplaceable, son, but it got lonely around here without you. I went down to the shelter and found him on Cyber Monday.”
“What’s his name?” I rose and we shook hands. That kind of surprised him, and it still bothered me, but it was Christmas Eve.
“Harker.”
“Huh?”
“From Dracula?” He gave a slight smile. “I thought it was appropriate.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Take your suitcase up to your room and freshen up. I’ll put the cannolis in the fridge.”
* * * *
Midnight Mass was over and we were heading out to the parking lot.
“Hey, Small!”
“Hey, Black!”
“It’s good to see you, dude!”
“Don’t give me that bull, Jimmy. I thought you were going to pay me a visit.” I’d e-mailed him my address and directions, but he’d never shown up.
“I was, but I got so lost I couldn’t tell down from up. I was too embarrassed to tell you.”