Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

"So, have we started placing bets on when Cherie will show?" My brother laughed as he entered the kitchen behind my mom.

"Michael, be nice to your sister. It's difficult wrangling two kids on her own," my mom cautioned.

"Yeah, Michael," I childishly piled on.

"Mmhmm, merry Christmas, Lil. I'm genuinely surprised you made it here before me." Michael lifted an eyebrow at me.

"I'm very punctual," I challenged.

"Really? Let me guess, you came straight from the office and only made it on time because they kicked you out?" He argued back.

"No. Actually, I worked from home this morning and spent the afternoon off the clock," I smugly announced.

"I don't believe that for a minute," Michael contended.

"That's enough, both of you," my mom chided. "Behaves yourselves, especially with a guest here."

"Mom, I know Lil isn't around a lot, but even I think it's too far to call her a guest," Michael teased.

"Hilarious, loser," I murmured.

"Lily, no name-calling. And Michael, Lily's friend, Billy, is joining us this year."

"Billy?" Michael looked at my mom and me.

"That's me," Billy offered as he pulled himself from beneath the sink.

"Holy shit, there's a dude on the floor," Michael stumbled back a bit at the shock.

"Language," my mom corrected.

"Hey, man," Billy said as he wiped his hand on a rag and extended it to Michael. "I'm Billy."

"Collins," Michael finished.

"Oh, do you two know each other?" My mom smiled at the idea.

"Mom, everyone knows Billy Collins," Michael stammered. "He's... he's... he's Billy Collins," Michael stumbled.

"Yes, dear. Lily already introduced us," my mom scolded.

"No, mom, he's Billy Collins," Michael said again.

My mom's eyes darted around the room. "What am I left out of?"

"I'm a musician," Billy casually offered.

"Right, you mentioned that. In addition to your businesses," my mom agreed.

"A musician; you're not a musician. You're Billy Collins. You're like the musician." Michael continued to barely string a cohesive thought together.

"I'm just a musician, and people seem to dig my work," Billy tempered before returning to the belly of the sink. "Although I will accept Lily's guest for the holidays." H gave my mom a wink at the tease.

"Lily, your Billy, the Billy mom has been calling the garage band burnout, was Billy fucking Collins?" Michael's eyes were still wide, but his words formed full thoughts.

"Michael, language and manners!" My mom shot. "Billy, I apologize for my son. He has clearly lost his mind."

"It's alright, Beth," Billy called out from beneath the sink, where he had once again returned. "Been called worse than my name many times."

"What is Billy Collins doing under the sink?" Michael whispered.

"Fixing the garbage disposal that I asked you to fix last week," my mom whispered back.

"Mom, you can't have Billy Collins fix your garbage disposal!" Michael's hiss was slicing.

"Why not? He fixed mine," I offered.