CHAPTER NINETEEN
“You’re moving back to Atlanta? Do Mom and Dad know?” Katie was sitting on the couch with her feet tucked up under her, sipping wine. From her vantage point, she thought that her brother looked tired. His customarily coiffed hair and clean-shaven face were a mess, and he had noticeable dark circles under his eyes. He had flown in from DC, his shirt and pants wrinkled from travel and his tie loosened around his neck. His rolling luggage sat in the entryway near his shoes that he had slipped off. Her big brother seemed out-of-sorts, unlike the polished professional broker he usually was. She watched him take a long pull from a bottle of beer and sigh.
“No, I haven’t told Mom and Dad. I don’t want them to worry. I figured I could stay at your place until I found something and let them down easy.”
“What happened?”
Hartford Parker laid his head back on the overstuffed chair and stared up at the ceiling. “I was let go.”
“What?” Katie perked up and placed the stemware on the coffee table. “Why?”
“It’s a long, drawn-out story. I don’t want to bore you with the details.”
She shook her head, worried that his job loss might have resulted from his temper. It wasn’t as prevalent the older he got, unlike their teenage years at home when he would often erupt like a violent volcano. An angry look from him had made her burst into tears on more than one occasion while they were growing up together. The funny thing was, he would erupt, and five minutes later, he’d be sweeter than honey in a beehive. Nonetheless, she loved her big brother to pieces and would do anything to protect him. She’d keep her mouth shut and not tell her parents anything. It scared her knowing something terrible must have set him off for them to let their top broker go.
“You didn’t do anything physical to anyone, did you?” She had to ask. Hart wasn’t a bad-boy, per se. But if he was mad enough or in protection mode, one better look out. There was a time when she was being picked on in middle school—bullied by a big boy who teased her on the school bus because she was already filled out and so much taller than the other girls her age. When Hart witnessed his only sister crying uncontrollably and found out who the culprit was, he made sure to let big boy know to stop—with his fists. He never teased her again.
“No, Katie. I didn’t do anything physical.” He chugged the rest of his beer in three gulps. “We left on amicable terms. I’m receiving a four-month severance which will help while I try to get my feet planted back here in the ATL.”
She watched him stand and walk into the kitchen to retrieve another beer from the fridge.
“Why Atlanta? Why don’t you try to get another job in DC? You must have a lot of connections, and I thought you liked it there?” She had visited him once, impressed by his leased condo with a long-distance view of the Washington monument. He seemed to fit right in with all the perfectly dressed politicians and professionals.
“I need a clean slate. And I miss home. I miss you and Mom and Dad. Atlanta’s a lot cheaper than DC too.”
Her heart surged with love when he said he missed her. She missed her big brother too. It would be nice having him back in town.
“Have you eaten anything today?”
Popping the top off the bottle, he gulped half the beer in one pass. “Had some peanuts on the plane. And a few Jack and gingers.” He smirked.
“Hart,” she chastised. “You’re gonna get sick if you keep drinking like that. Let me make you a sandwich.” She stood, grabbed her wine glass, and made her way into the kitchen. Hart followed like a curious child.
“What have you been up to? How’s your job?” he asked, leaning his butt on the counter and watching her.
“Job is good. Working nonstop.”
“How’s hot-Stacey?”
Katie gave him a disappointed sisterly look.
“What?” He grinned sheepishly. “You know I’ve always enjoyed her fine ass.”
“Hartford!”
He picked a piece of turkey off the sandwich she was making and popped it into his mouth. “You know I’m kidding. I could never date your best friend. Even if she is hot.”
“She’s dating Brent Rowan again.” She cut the sandwich and handed him a half.
“Really? How’d that happen? Wait… didn’t you just have your ten-year reunion?”
Katie nodded as she put the sandwich fixings back into the fridge. “Yes. Brent is divorced, and they hooked up at the reunion. They’ve been dating ever since.” When she looked up at her brother, the sandwich half she had handed him was gone, and he was working on the other half. “Do you want another sandwich?”
“Nah,” he replied with his mouth full. “This is good!”
They walked back to the living room and sat down. Hart ran his hand down his face wiping off crumbs. “What about you? Did you hook up with anyone?”
She could feel heat swell on her cheeks and fingered her glass. “Yes, I did.”
