Page 89 of Paths

I tip my head to the side. “I don’t understand.”

I’ve latched onto Raine since she isn’t drinking and I don’t want to drink, just in case. I’m pretending to be the supportive, non-drinking friend since it’s annoying to be around drunk people.

She gives me a little frown and asks, “Has he started drinking?”

I think back on our time together. “He did a wine tasting here and he took me to a brewery. But now that I think about it, he never had a beer because he was driving. He never finished a drink at my parents’ house, either. I never realized it until you said something.”

“Oh, that’s normal,” she flips out her hand before popping another piece of cheese in her mouth. “He doesn’t have a problem with alcohol, he just doesn’t like it. Given the circumstances, who can blame him?”

I try not to look confused, but I am. “Circumstances?”

She levels her eyes on me. “Yes. Our father.” When she realizes I have no idea what she’s talking about, her eyes get big. “You mean he hasn’t told you about our father yet? How long have you two been together, like a week?”

I shake my head quickly and try to brush her off, even though she’s closer to the truth than she probably realizes. “Since Grady and I met, there’s been a lot going on. You know…” I point to my face and shrug as an explanation. I gave all the Cain sisters the abridged version of what happened this morning at the airport, telling them I have a little issue with an annoying ex-boyfriend.

She nods, thankfully accepting my non-answer as if she understands completely. I’m learning these women have a knack at communicating through a one-way conversation, and even sometimes, telepathy.

“I totally get you.” She dips a cracker in hummus and keeps talking with her mouth full. “I’ll tell you this. None of us would’ve survived our childhood had it not been for Grady. Our dad was a first-class asshole, in the worst way possible. Our mom died soon after Grace was born. I’m not sure why they had so many kids, I was only seven when we lost her. She had breast cancer and since she was either pregnant or nursing for almost a decade, her boobs were in a constant state of flux. She didn’t notice the lump until it was too late. I remember things were good before she died. Or at the very least, they were normal.”

Listening to how they lost their mom at such a young age is heartbreaking.

“That’s kind of when I started remembering things. The other girls barely recall her, they were too young. From then on, things progressively got worse with our dad. He started drinking. The drugs came later, when we were older.”

“That’s awful,” I utter, not knowing what else to say, but also feeling like a heel for not asking Grady more about his family.

“Yeah, we were basically raised by babysitters, and not great ones, either. I don’t remember at what point it eventually got so bad, but he’d come home late and drunk, and take all his aggravations of raising five kids out on us. We couldn’t do anything right. The beatings were bad and Grady usually took the brunt of it.”

“What?” I whisper.

“Yep,” she shrugs as if she’s told the story a million times, which who knows, maybe she has. “When we were little, we all got it. That is until Grady grew as big as him, then the old man couldn’t fuck with us while Grady was standing in the way.”

“Holy shit,” I mumble and look over to Grady sitting across the room with Crew, deep in conversation.

“Grady managed him the last couple of years, but the day he came home to find dad wailing on Grace—that was it. Grace was only nine and so little for her age. Who knows what she did to piss him off that day, but it got to the point where it didn’t matter. When Grady saw that Grace was almost unconscious, he lost his shit. Put dad in intensive care and he never woke up. I’m sure Grady saved Grace’s life that day and took care of our dad for good.”

“That’s how your dad died?”

“Mm-hmm. Best day ever. Grady joined the Army, the girls and I went to live with our aunt and uncle from our mom’s side. Happily ever after.” She pops an olive in her mouth. “You know, I’m gonna gain a gazillion pounds. I’m so hungry, I can’t stop eating.”

I try to keep our conversation going as I process everything she just told me, and try not to sound distant when I offer, “You need to listen to your body, you’re starting the second trimester. The baby is growing a lot.”

Raine smiles big. “I love you already. You just told me to eat whatever I want. You’re awesome.”

I give her a small smile, and almost jump out of my skin when I feel a hand wrap softly around my chin and lift. Grady is standing above me looking down. “Time to go. I need to check your eyes.”

I give him a small smile. His thumb brushes my cheek when he comes down to kiss my forehead.

He looks to Raine. “Can you get the drunks to bed?”

Raine stands from her barstool. “It’s not like I haven’t done it a hundred times before. Besides, we’re going into DC tomorrow to see the sights. You’re not the only person we came to annoy. Abraham Lincoln, here we come.”

“At least he’s sitting so you don’t knock him on his ass,” Grady mutters as he takes my hand and pulls me from my stool.

Raine looks to me and rolls her eyes. “He thinks he’s funny.”

After we say our goodbyes, Grady takes me home. Fifteen minutes ago, I would’ve done anything to go straight to bed, but after Raine told me what she did, I’m very much awake.

*****

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