Page 54 of Take Two

“He reminded you of that twice before we left,” Violet says. Her phone vibrates too, and she groans. She angrily types on the screen before she turns off the phone. “Terri,” she says. “Apparently she’s looking forward to hanging out with us again. I’ll still trade you my sister for your brother.”

I pull her back to me, and she intertwines our legs. “You know, darlin’, Terri and I aren’t so different. Colt’s not so bad either.” I love my brother and always have. After everything we’ve been through, I won’t let anything come between us again.

“I’ll take your word about Colt, but you and Terri are nothing alike. You haven’t done any of the things she’s done to me to your brother. She’s only being nice to me now because her life is imploding.”

“I’ve done a lot of awful things, Violet.” I move away from her and lay on my side. She does the same.

“When you were drinking,” she says. “Terri never had substance abuse problems. And I doubt you hurt anyone.”

“What if I told you that I did do things worse than your sister did to you? And I did them over and over again.”

“Those things were a lifetime ago, and you said you were a different person.” She moves closer to me.

“That’s true, but I live with those mistakes every day. Despite going through the steps and apologizing to those I’ve hurt, they stay with me. Even though I’ve been forgiven, it’s harder for me to forgive myself.”

She reaches under the blanket and takes my hand. “I get that. That’s because you care so deeply.”

“Lettie, I need you to do something for me. Will you—”

“Whatever it is, the answer is yes,” she says, interrupting me and throwing my words back at me.

“I want you to come to an AA meeting with me tomorrow. There are some things I want to tell you, and I think that will be the best way for me to get those words out.”

“Really? You want me to go?” I nod at her. “Is that allowed?”

“It is since this is an open meeting. Just remember everything is confidential. You don’t have to talk, just listen.”

Chapter 28

Charlie

“Look, Unco Tarley.” Johnny picks up a toy dumbbell and lifts it above his head. He grunts before he throws it on the floor. He walks over, lifts up his shirt, and points to his stomach.

“Flex for Uncle Charlie,” I tell him. He grimaces and shows all his teeth while he grunts.

Colt grins at hisson’s antics while he stretches. Johnny throws himself on the floor and does his best imitation of a pushup. He goes until Vickie comes into the private gym and picks him up. He wiggles around in her arms so much, I worry he’ll fall.

“Time for his n-a-p,” Vickie says.

“No nap!” Johnny says back. He reaches for me, but I shake my head at him.

“I can’t save you this time, buddy. Listen to your mama. I’ll take you to the p-a-r-k tomorrow.”

“Park!” he yells.

“My boy is a genius.” Colt kisses the top of his head. Despite Johnny’s protests, Vickie carries him out of the gym. “Spot me,” Colt says. He lies on the weight bench.

“You still going back home in three weeks?” Colt asks.

“I gotta. I really should go now.”

“Why don’t you? I’m sure the restaurant needs you.”

“Well, I told Lettie I would leave toward the end of August, and I’m not ready to leave the boys yet.”

“I need more weight,” he says, and I add an extra twenty pounds to each end. “Is this thing just a summer fling?” he throws in.

“Do I seem like the summer fling type to you?” I ask sharper than I should, but the way he described my relationship as this thing is off-putting.

---