Page 68 of Genesis

“Then let her go. Let her have a good life, like she deserves.”

I look to the floor, running my eyes over the carpet. “Just like Dad let Mom go?” I ask.

He scoffs. “And look where that got both of them.”

I slide my hand from my pocket, running it over my chest, grabbing the knot on my necklace and running it between my thumb and finger. “You think they would have changed it knowing how the end would be?”

He shakes his head. “Probably not, but it’s not too late for you two. She’s young. You’re both young. She’ll find a good guy who’ll make her happy.”

I lift my chin, looking my brother in the eye as my heart splits. “And that’s what I’m afraid of.”

His eyes grow sad, and he walks over, gripping my shoulder with his hand. “Life’s about making tough choices even if they hurt.”

I know he’s right. Goddamn, I know he’s right, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to listen. How am I supposed to let Bexley go? How am I supposed to watch her be happy with someone else? Just the thought alone causes me to see red.

“I’m gonna go talk to Samuel.” He pulls me in for a hug. “Take care of yourself, Danny. I’ll be leaving in the morning. I probably won’t be back for some time.”

I wrap an arm around his back and give him a squeeze. “You, too,” I say. “Love you, brother.”

As soon as he shuts the door behind him, I grab my cell phone and call her house. Her uncle answers.

“Hey, can I talk to Bexley?” I ask.

“She’s not here. She called and said she was spending the night at a friend’s house earlier.”

“Oh,” I say, my mind racing.A friend’s house.

“Why didn’t you come by today?” he asks.

I drop my head back, remembering on a whim I told her I’d stop by for Christmas.Oh fuck.I run a hand from my forehead to my chin, feeling a tightness stretch across my back.

I clear my throat. “Busy day. Family stuff. Umm, just tell her I called, would ya?”

“All right,” he says. “Hey, Danny?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t hurt my niece, okay? She’s had enough of that for a lifetime.”

A ball of fire sits between my lungs, burning with guilt, shame, and lies. Because even I know she’ll be hurt by the end of all this. We both will.

“I don’t plan on it.” We hang up and I walk over and grab a long-sleeve shirt and a clean black hoodie before putting my phone into my pocket. I grab my keys and walk into the bathroom to get my wallet. Running downstairs, I look to the living room, seeing Johnny and Carson watchingNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Both have a beer. The light is on in the dining room, so I walk past them to say hello to Ma.

“Merry Christmas,” I say to her. She looks up from a puzzle she’s working on.

“Danny, where on God’s earth have you been all day? Bexley has been calling up a storm.”

“Sorry, Ma. I had to work.”

“On Christmas Day?” she asks.

“Yeah, some people do.” I reach down and give her a hug and kiss her cheek as I look at the puzzle. I check out the picture before grabbing a piece and sliding it into place.

“Wanna sit down and help me work on it for a while?” she asks.

“I gotta go talk to Bexley, but some other time, okay?”

“Yeah, you go and talk to that sweet girl. I’ll see you later.”

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