Page 104 of Game Change

I expect him to bristle and strike back, but he surprises me when he lets out an unguarded laugh. I frown.

“I’ll take that under advisement. Congratulations on getting engaged.” When I don’t answer, he says, “You’re late. I had already divorced my first wife when I was your age.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something flippant, but I don’t.

Instead, I say, “Thank you,” and open my car door.

“You can’t give me two minutes, Paddy?” he asks.

“When have you ever given me two minutes?” He opens his mouth, but I talk over him. “Oh, that one time. Remember when you brought me the paperwork to change my name? I think that took about five minutes. I’ll split the difference and give you two and a half minutes.” I look down at my wrist and tap my watch.

“Okay, I guess I deserve that. I’m not here to make excuses, but I had a heart attack last year.” None of that is new information. Lisa and Uncle Milton informed me, and my assistant sent a card and flowers. “It got me thinking about life and family, especially you.”

“Why me?”

“Because I was awful to you. I was angry at our father, and I felt displaced when he had another son.”

“Colin, you were a grown man in your twenties. I wasn’t the new baby in the house taking attention away from you. But fine,” I say, raising my hands, “you didn’t like my mother or me. You’re entitled to your feelings, but you went out of your way to make me feel like I wasn’t part of the family. You tried to buy Uncle Milton’s business so I wouldn’t have it. You tried to get Dad to change his will so Lisa and I could be cut out. And those are only the things I know. I can’t imagine the other sneaky things you tried to do.”

He leaves his car and walks closer to me. I close my car door and lean against it.

“All true except for one thing. I didn’t try to buy Uncle Milton’s business to keep it from you. I tried to buy it so I could give it to you, but he told me no. He didn’t believe me.”

I scoff at that absurd lie.

“Sure, you did,” I say. “And for the record, I wouldn’t have accepted it.” If it’s true, it would've come with strings.

“Can I take you and Brynne to dinner to celebrate your engagement this week? I’m sure Marilyn and Lisa will want to plan a party, and I think—”

“Stop. Since when are Marilyn and Lisa planning parties together?”

“Lisa’s accepted my apology. She and the kids have dinner with us often. I would love it if you and Brynne could join us.”

I shake my head and scoff at his audacity. I have no issues with Marilyn, but it will be a cold day in hell before I volunteer to spend time with my brother.

“Hard pass, but thanks for the offer.” I look at my watch and note the time. “Good talk.” I open my door, but Colin the First closes it. “What?” I ask with a sigh.

“Can you look at me, please?” he asks, and I turn around. “I’m sorry for every shitty thing I tried to do. I should have been a better brother. I see the relationship you have with Heath, and I wish you and I had something like that.”

“It’s too late for that,” I say.

“To be like you and Heath? Maybe, but we can forge our own relationship. We can do better than this standoffish thing that we do.”

I pretend to think about it. “I’m good with what we have. I’ll be cordial and even invite you to our wedding even though you didn’t invite me to any of yours. It’s odd that you resented Dad because he started another family when you did the same thing.” He has two sons with his first wife and a daughter with his second. His face turns red at my response, and then something dawns on me. “Wait a minute. Is nephew Colin treating your daughter the same way you treated me?” His nonanswer and red face give it away. “Wow. You know he learned that from you, right? If I was religious, I’d spout something about the sins of the father.” I open my car door again and get in.

He knocks on my window, and I roll it down. “I’m not giving up,” he says.

I wonder if he wants to make amends because he feels bad or because he wants to fix the relationship between his son and daughter. I don’t ask. Not my problem. I roll up my window and back out of the driveway.

Chapter 53

Brynne

"Oh my God, is this what your new life will be like?” Amira whispers in my ear. She looks around the Kincaid mansion in awe, clutching her champagne flute.

I don’t tell her about the drama that occurred. When Lisa and Milton offered to throw this party, Colin’s only stipulation was that it not be held at this house, but they insisted that it was tradition to have all engagement parties at the mansion. He gave in, but when he learned Colin the First was paying for the party, he got into a huge fight with his sister and uncle. It was too late to change the location then, as invitations had already gone out.

“They sent a car for us,” she whispers again.

I nod at my friend. Despite the drama, it’s been a good day, and I’m excited to get married. However, I’ve been emotional since waking up this morning. And I don’t know why. I’m more pragmatic than emotional but today has me off-kilter.

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