Page 135 of As a Last Resort
“No one.”
“Samantha,” Mom corrected.
I don’t even know why I bothered keeping anything private anymore.“I don’t even know if she’s coming.But if she does, I’m not riding in on some fairy-tale white horse.I’m sorry to let you two down, but my story’s not the same as yours and dad’s.”
“Your dad and I got lucky, but we both gave up things.I’d be living in Martha’s Vineyard owning a bakery or a bed-and-breakfast if it were solely my choice.And your dad, well, he’d probably move to Texas and start herding cattle.Who the hell knows,” she said with a laugh.
“There’s a lot of money in cattle these days.”Dad opened and shut a few drawers around the kitchen.“Where’d you put my grilling supplies?”
“I hid it all.You’ll never find them.Now, get back out to your daughter’s party where there iscatering.”She hushed him as he began to object and steered him back into the yard.
She turned her attention back on me.“We compromised, honey.Sometimes love changes people, but mostly it changes what youwant.I wanted a life with that man more than I wanted Martha’s Vineyard.And we both fought for it.Still do.All those little moments can add up to something great if you let it.”
I looked through the patio out into the crowd of people mingling.Patrick and his cousin had just walked around from thefront, which meant the last of the out-of-towners were here from the ferry.
We made our way out of the kitchen just as Lexi walked over to where Mom and I stood.
“Do you see them?”Lexi pointed to the loudest group on the lawn.Rex, his four sisters and a few husbands piled around each other laughing.“They’re telling stories of Rex when he was little.Apparently, he refused to take off hisTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesundies for weeks when he was eight because he thought they gave him superpowers to protect his younger sisters.His mom saved them and hid them somewhere in our wedding present pile because now he needs to protect me.”She looked at Rex with stars in her eyes.“How did I get so lucky?”
Mom eyed me.“He’sone of the good ones too.The ones you fight for.”
Lexi looked at me.“What’s she talking about?”
“Drop it,” I said to Mom.“We were just talking about how happy you look, that’s all.”
Mom leaned over to Lexi.“We were talking about Samantha.”
“There’s no need to talk about Sam,” I said.“I’m fine.”
Lexi looked over my shoulder at the lawn.“Oh no, I think the ice table is out of stone crab.”
“Oh no!I’ll be right back.”Mom hurried off.
“Wow.That was impressive.”
Lexi chuckled.
“She’s predictable.God forbid people be out of food at a party of hers.”We watched Mom circle the table like a hawk trying to find the mystery hole of food.
My gaze ran across the lawn, weaving in and out of crowds of people.
“She’s not here yet, but she’s coming,” she answered, even though I hadn’t asked the question.“Are you okay?”
“Don’t you worry about me,” I answered as I put my arm around her.
“Have you guys talked since everything happened?”
“I’mthe big brother.I take care ofyou.And I’m fine.You need to focus on enjoying yourself tonight.”
“I am enjoying myself.”Her eyes flicked across the lawn again.She’s always worrying about other people, even at her own rehearsal dinner.
I wouldn’t be a proper brother if I didn’t rile her up just a bit though.“I saw Vanessa again today.”
“Again?Austin, I swear if you’re—”
“She’s pregnant.”
Her breath sucked in quickly.“Wait, what?”
