Page 84 of Forever Finds Us
“I don’t want to, but I don’t wanna push you. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. But I wanted you to know before I admitted my involvement.”
The dogs finally settled at Dixon’s feet, and he reached down to pat their heads.
“How are you, Dix? You look really good.”
“I’m not high, if that’s what you’re askin’.”
“I wasn’t. I can see that. I can see you again. You look so different.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, a defensive move, he said, “Yeah? You don’t. You look exactly the same.”
“Oh, uh, Merv had a heart attack.”
“What? You didn’t fuckin’ lead with that?”
“Sorry. Shit, I didn’t think. She’s okay. I promise.”
“Truth?” he asked, and his face transformed into the one I grew up with, tan and freckled from the sun, blue eyes like mine questioning and trusting whatever his big brother said was true.
“Yeah. I swear. It was pretty scary for a minute there, but I drove her to Dr. Whitley. He helped, and he got her hooked up with a cardiologist in Jackson. Did you know she quit smokin’?”
“No shit?”
“Yeah, couple years ago. And now she’s joined this exercise club in town to get healthy.”
“Wow.”
“So, yeah. Things’re changin’. I moved home, and Bax just got remarried.”
Pain flashed over Dixon’s face, and he turned and signaled to the dogs to follow him. Shit. I’d forgotten how important Bax’s first wife, Candy, had been to him.
“Bea’s a great person,” I said, following as he walked back into the field. “Bax’s new wife. You wouldn’t recognize our brother. She brought him back to life. She’s kind and protective, and she’s great with Athena and… Stuey.”
That stopped him in his tracks, but he didn’t turn to face me. Instead, he looked out at the dense tree line, and I could see him trying to compose himself. Fuck. Way to go, Brand. In less than two minutes, you’ve mentioned the two people you swore you wouldn’t.
In a tight voice, he asked, “How’s my boy? Is he happy?”
“Yeah. He is.”
“They kept the name I gave him?”
“They did. We call him Stuey or Stu. Stuart if he’s in trouble.”
Dixon nodded. “And this Bea, she’s the woman I saw last year when I… when I brought Stu home?”
“Yeah. She works with me. I’d sent her there to finish up the cabins we were buildin’ at the time while I dealt with a court case in Sheridan.”
“A court case?”
“Yeah, it’s nothin’. It’s settled now.”
“And our little sister? How’s Abey?”
“She’s great. She’s married now, too, and she’s the local sheriff. Deputy Sheriff, but she’s in charge of Wisper.”
“Really?” He turned toward me then. “She’s married? She found someone?”
“Yeah, Devo. Her name is Devona, but we all call her Devo. She’s, uh… scrappy.” I laughed, picturing my sister’s five-foot-tall wife and her larger-than-life personality. “They’re madly in love.”
