The Book of Otto and Liam by Paul Griner

Author:Paul Griner [Griner, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarabande Books
Published: 2021-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Be Mine

FEBRUARY 2019

Palmer’s valentine is attached to a bottle of Blanton’s bourbon. Pink background, a picture of a sharpie. To: Otto From: Palmer r u a sharpie? bc ur ultra fine. Sweetly awful, but I figure it’s a response to my Christmas card, which was a thank you for her poinsettia; I hadn’t called or texted since and now that I have it, I wonder if I’ve been a fool. I’d feel mean throwing it out, so I tuck the card into the Steinbeck I’m reading like a bookmark, and draw her a valentine in return. Which makes me think that she’s still trying because I want her to.

All of Liam’s valentines are hand drawn; May and I parceled out his earliest ones. Every year until this year we’ve traded them back and forth, but I haven’t heard from her in a couple of weeks. Work, probably, or Nash.

When Liam was eight, he and May were in the kitchen, Liam sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter. A loose storm window rattling in the wind, May warming my tomato soup, grilled cheese cooking on the griddle. I wanted to join them but I was behind on a couple of assignments and I didn’t have the time; still, I could hear them.

Liam said, I didn’t get anything from either you or Otto for Valentine’s Day.

May said, Liam, you and I made that beautiful heart cake with the red frosting.

Food isn’t part of love, Liam said.

Well, Liam, love is lots of things. Like food. I’m making this for you and him. I got these beautiful tulips from daddy, but I didn’t give him anything.

Then he probably knows how I feel.

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