Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
* * *
Sydney prepared a favorite for the kids at lunch on Wednesday afternoon: Mexican chicken. Oliver and Olivia loved the crunch of the Doritos she sprinkled on top of the dish. They scarfed down seconds, then asked permission to go out back with Sir, Syd’s dog. They loved chasing him around the yard.
I had never been more grateful for an animal before in my life. Maybe Sir could get a smile out of the kids.
As soon as they slipped outside, Sydney inquired about the overall mood the three of us had difficulty hiding, and I broke down at the table. I told her about everything—Thursday at Nathan’s, his promise to call, the fact that he hadn’t, and Olivia’s list. That one killed me to share. I told her how responsible I felt and how Brian had been right to warn me weeks ago.
When the front door opened and my brother strolled in, questioning my tears the second he saw me, I shared that last part again. He stood behind Sydney’s chair and listened with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What happened on Thursday?” he asked.
“Nothing. I don’t know, we just had a fight.” I picked at my napkin. “Well, not really a fight. More like a really emotional discussion.”
“About what?”
I glanced at Syd, telling her with my eyes that I did not want Brian knowing all of Nathan’s business, that it wasn’t mine to tell, and that the only reason why I told her in the first place was because I needed to confide in someone. She was the someone I chose. I said a lot in that glance, and miraculously, Syd picked up on it.
“They just got into it,” she said, turning sideways to look back at him. “You know, when you argue and it’s not really about anything—we do that.”
Brian peered down at her, brow cocked. “No, we don’t.”
“Yes, we do. All couples do.” She glared at him.
“Why are you lookin’ at me like that?”
“I’m not looking at you like anything.” Syd kept glaring.
“Wild.”
“Trouble.”
“Is there somethin’ wrong with you?”
I knew the direction this was headed. If I didn’t intervene, Syd would blurt out all of Nathan’s business. My future sister-in-law did not do well under pressure.
“It was about his wife,” I said, getting Sydney’s attention first, and then Brian’s when his head slowly came up. “That’s all I want to say about it though, okay?”
My brother’s face relaxed. He tipped his head at the glass slider, suggesting, “Why don’t we step outside on the deck? I wanna say hi to the kids before I head back to work.”
“Sure. Okay.” I stood from my chair, and Syd did the same.
“I’ll put the food away, and then I’ll join you guys,” she said, spinning around and giving Brian a kiss before she started clearing the table.
I followed my brother outside and peered out into the yard as he hugged Olivia and then Oliver.
He spoke to them both as he petted Sir. Then Brian climbed the stairs and walked over to where I stood, stopping beside me.
“They’re missing him. No doubt about that.”
My eyes stung. I peered out over the deck. “They can’t understand what’s going on.”
“They’ll be all right.” He sounded so sure.
“I have a favor to ask,” I said, watching the kids. “It’s last minute, and if you already have plans on Friday, don’t change them. I’ll figure something out—”
“You know I’ll take him, Jen.”
I turned my head and met his eyes. “Oliver might not want to go now…He won’t talk about it yet, but I think he knows Nathan isn’t taking him.”
“You sure he isn’t takin’ him?”
“He hasn’t called me, Brian. He said he would call…I even left him a message, asking him to let me know if he was planning on going or not.” I squeezed the wooden rail until my palms ached. “I should’ve listened to you. I never should’ve let the kids get attached.”
My brother threw his arm over my shoulders and pulled me close, a heavy breath leaving him. “If Oliver wants to go, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.”
“Same meeting place as last time?”
I nodded. Warm breath pushed against the top of my head.
“I ain’t always right, Jen,” Brian told me.
I knew that was his way of saying he hoped he wasn’t right and that he still might not be. I blinked wet lashes and burrowed into his side.
When Syd came out to join us, Brian and I separated, allowing her to step in between. She leaned back against Brian’s chest and held on to his arms when he wrapped them around her. They looked happy. They always did.
I smiled at the two of them, and then my brother mentioned needing to leave soon. “Aren’t you going to eat anything?” I asked. “Isn’t that why you came home?”
“Already ate at Wax. Just wanted to see you and the kids for a minute.”