About an hour later,we’re all settling around a mountain of food at the dining room table—the kids, Ethan, Tori, Joey, Patrick, and myself—when the front door creaks open and my mother yells, “Is shehere?”
The moment Mom spots Joey, Beverly Carter’s in motion again. Our very own whirling dervish is a silver-blonde ball of energy with a dust cloud behind her feet. My old fears subside as I study my mother’s level of energy. She’s having a goodday.
“Darlin’, you are a sight for sore eyes!” My mom collides with Joey in a fierce hug, beaming withdelight.
Over the years, I’m pretty sure Mom wanted to trade one of us in forJo.
I reach for the bowl of mashed potatoes before I hand it to Patrick, who takes the seat next to me. When he’s done, I scoop some onto my nephew’s plate and then push Cody closer to the table so he doesn’t end up with food all over hislap.
Leaning over to him, I whisper, “You feeling better, little dude? Heard you had to go to thedoctor.”
“He gave me dwops.” He points to his ear and smiles. “Allbettuh.”
I give him a highfive.
Today, he’s my shadow, mimicking me every time I reach for my drink or take a bite. When I make a silly face at him, he imitatesme.
“Eat your dinner, goofball. Or it’ll getcold.”
Five minutes later, my mother is still gushing over Joey like she hasn’t seen her in years. “Child, my garden has missed you! I swear everything wilted after youleft.”
Hell,Iwilted after sheleft.
I smile as I watch my mom and Joey bond over the vegetable garden they always worked ontogether.
Joey pulls out her phone. “I saw this really cool technique for growing fruit trees we could try. Since you’ve always wanted peachtrees…”
I zone out, content simply to have Jo back in our house, but then my mother starts fawning over her again. “Look at this gorgeous hair. I miss the pink you had in last winter, but I love this shadetoo!”
Next thing I know, my mom’s talked Joey into taking her hair out of the bun, and then her thick, golden locks are spilling over her shoulders and down her chest. Across that tiny tank top and amplifying that killercleavage.
Fuckkk.
I stare, slack-jawed, like I’m watching one of those models on Instagram shake out her hair before she vamps for thecamera.
But Joey doesn’t vamp. She blushes fiercely and glances down, somehow looking more enticing through that veil ofshyness.
Patrick bumps me, murmuring under his breath, “Think I just came in my pants,bro.”
I press both of my palms into my eye sockets until I see stars behind my lids as I try to right thisship.
One, I won’t kick Patrick’s ass for having the same thoughts I’m currentlyentertaining.
Two, I won’t give into the urge to wrap a blanket aroundJoey.
And three, I definitely won’t haul her, caveman-style, back to myplace.
Thankfully, after my mom stops doting, Joey tucks her hair back up into that big twisty knot, an action which I avoidwatching.
Across the table, my brother’s having a private conversation with Tori. Well, it ain’t private enough because they’re making goo-goo eyes at each other, and I can almost hear Marvin Gaye crooningLet’s Get It Onin thebackground.
Their love for each other is so palpable, I’m almostjealous.
That’s another reason I can’t unload my secrets. My brother believes in love. Believes in those happily-ever-after stories my parents fed us as kids. All this despite Ethan’s disastrous firstmarriage.
Tori made him believe in fairytales again, and I’m not gonna be the one to burst that bubble. For his sake and Tori’s, I hope they’re the exception to the rule. They’re happy, and that’s all that matters tome.
Blowing out a breath, I stretch my neck from one side and then the other, realizing how tense I am and that I probably just need to get laid. It’s been months since I’ve been with anyone, and between the family business, Joey returning, my brother’s wedding, and all the shit that shouldn’t be my responsibility but is, I’m woundtight.
