Page 79 of The Moment They Can't Forget

His brother sipped his coffee before he spoke again. “But Mom did nothing but stand by her husband, and you just left her… and me.”

JD hadn’t been able to stay, and he’d told his mother and brother that. But he hadn’t just left. He’d walked completely out of their lives. The guilt he always pushed aside settled on his shoulders.

“I had to stay to look after Mom and the business. You left that too. Left us to clean up the mess.”

“I helped clean up the mess and then left,” JD added. “Don’t lay that on me. I made sure you and Mom would be all right. That you were both financially secure, and that Dad couldn’t harm either of you. I continued to do that until I was no longer needed.”

“But you weren’t there when her friends turned on her. When she was shunned and humiliated even after Dad won his court case,” Henry said.

“He deserved it.”

“She didn’t, just as I didn’t.” His brother’s words hung in the air between them.

“I called, and the few times you answered, you didn’t want to talk to me,” JD said.

“I had my pride, just like you did. I was hurt and angry that you’d just left us. Yes, what Dad did was wrong, but you turned your back on us and walked away, JD. You were my big brother, and one day the man I’d looked up to was there, and the next, you’d gone. It was like you’d died. Dad wouldn’t have your name mentioned in the house.”

He’d not thought about the impact of his leaving on Henry and his mother. They’d taken his father’s side, so he’d gone. JD still remembered the day. They’d argued, all of them. Thrown hateful words at each other, and he’d felt like it was three against one. Felt like Henry and their mother were justifying his father’s actions.

“So he’s really sick?” JD asked.

Henry nodded. “He’ll die without the transplant.”

“Well, shit.”

“I came to ask if you will be tested as a donor.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“That’s better than no.” Henry smiled. “Can I see your business and where you live before I leave?”

“When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow. I have to get back to work.”

“Go pack your bags. You can stay with me tonight,” JD said.

“Really?” His little brother looked excited.

More guilt.Suddenly his life decisions were biting him in the ass.

“Really.”

“Okay, and thanks.” Henry left to grab his things.

Heading inside to pay for the food and coffee, JD knew Henry was right. He shouldn’t have walked away from his brother and mother, but at the time he’d only thought of getting away from his father and the fake world he’d created for them to live in.

“Hey, boss.”

Nina was walking out of the kitchen with a box and take-out coffee.

“Aren’t you meant to be working?” He would not mention last night and the conversation she’d had with Zoe. If she wanted to say something, she would. Shy and retiring Nina was not.

“Just picking up lunch.”

“It’s ten a.m.”

“I’m hungry. What’s crawled up your ass?” She looked her usual sassy self in an aqua jumpsuit and black ankle boots. In her ears swung large pink hoops.

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