Page 66 of Shifting Sands
“Hello!” she bellows as she makes her way up the steps.
“Hi, Sabel. What do you have there?” I ask.
“It’s one of Freda’s famous apple pies. She made a few for the church’s Thanksgiving service, and I had her make a few extra. I thought you and Brew might enjoy this one.”
She throws his name in so casually that I almost miss it.
I take the box from her hands and set it beside me on the swing. “Thank you. I guess you’ve been talking to Avie since you know about me and Brew,” I say.
“Yes, but it was actually Willis who mentioned that you and Brew were friends. So, when Avie was over to pick up Leia, I asked her how things were going between you two.”
“And what did she say?”
“Just that you two were spending time together.”
“Yeah, we met at Whiskey Joe’s and—”
“Yes, Avie told me all about it.”
“And you don’t think badly of me?”
She frowns. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“Because I came here to house-sit for Aunt Ida and immediately brought a strange man home,” I say, feeling embarrassment creep up my spine.
She waves me off. “Brew’s not a strange man. He’s delightful.”
By “strange man,” I meant because I didn’t know him, but okay.
“He is pretty great,” I say in agreement.
“He’s also complicated. I’ve known him his whole life. He, Lennon, and Wade have been thick as thieves since they were kids.”
“Complicated?”
She takes a seat in the rocker beside the door. “Yes, you see, he’s had a lot of responsibility thrust upon him. It hasn’t left him much time for anything else, and all of his relationships, apart from his handful of childhood friends, have been superficial at best.”
“Responsibility? What kind of responsibility?” I ask.
“His family,” she says.
“Like an ex-wife and kids?”
She bursts out laughing. “Goodness, no! His parents and grandparents.”
“He takes care of them?”
“He just works hard for them,” she clarifies.
That would explain why he’s struggling.
“It’s nice that you two have connected,” she adds.
“Yeah, I’ve enjoyed getting to know him.”
She brings her gaze to me. “Yes, you’re probably the only person who truly does. Just remember that, sometimes, it’s hard for him to let people in completely. To trust that they’re genuine. But if you’re patient and it’s meant to be, eventually, he will.”
“Okaaaay,” I draw out, feeling confused.
