Where Hope Begins by Heidi Chiavaroli

Author:Heidi Chiavaroli [Chiavaroli, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heidi Chiavaroli

17

Josh bit into a greasy slice of pizza, covered in cheese, and turned his attention to the football game on his television screen. The room erupted in cheers as the Black Bears scored a touchdown against Ball State.

“That’s Kyle Andrews who made that play.” Bronson tapped Tripp on the arm with the hand not holding a chicken wing. “Remember him? A year older than me. We used to play in the sandbox together. He’s top of the draft this year. Maine’s best chance of seeing the NFL.”

Tripp nodded. “That quarterback isn’t too shabby, either.”

August shook his head. “Are you kidding? He was way off on that throw. Andrews being fast is all that saved them.”

Josh wasn’t quite sure how he’d ended up with a houseful of guys stuffing their faces with pizza and chicken wings while watching a college football game, but he was okay with it. When Josie suggested the idea and Tripp offered to bring pizza, how could he say no?

As long as they cleaned up the mess before Maggie came home, he could call the night a success. Oh…and keeping Isaac away from the junk food.

He got up from his spot on the couch and walked past Finn and Ed Colton talking about the stock market. In the kitchen, he found the boys playing on the floor, tower blocks and LEGOs splayed across the tile. “You two okay? Bedtime in ten minutes.” He studied Isaac. “You didn’t have any more pizza after that one slice, did you buddy?”

“No.”

“Your mom left some trail mix and veggie sticks if you’re still hungry.”

Who was he kidding? What kid would opt for veggie sticks over a second slice of pizza and potato chips? He sighed, tried not to waver before his son. Maggie had told him one of the most destructive things to a diabetic child was one parent being the good cop, the other being the bad cop. She’d read it in some book or online somewhere. But the poor kid. Having to eat those sugar free cookies and only one dinky slice of pizza.

“Can I have another piece of pizza, Daddy?” Davey asked.

This was the hardest part. They’d done their best to empty their cabinets of any sugary, processed foods. No more pop tarts or fruit roll-ups or sweet cereals, most of which Maggie had never been a fan of in the first place. But it was the out-of-the-ordinary days that were hard. The special occasions. How could he tell Davey he couldn’t have another piece of pizza because his brother couldn’t? Why should Davey suffer also? They’d vowed to keep things fair. But how many slices of pizza had Josh eaten? Fair his backside.

He sighed, making a quick decision. “Tell you what, why don’t you both split a slice of pizza and we’ll call it a night.”

Isaac’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah. We’ll check your sugar before bed and make sure you’re good, okay?”

They cheered, and he thought that maybe it might be worth it after all. Isaac had been stable all day.

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