Page 85 of No Way Home
Gramps stiffened like he was bracing himself. Did Ford have a secret love child I didn’t know about?
Ford glanced up at Gramps and paused. “You doing okay?”
“Fine. Go on,” Gramps said softly.
Ford’s shoulders lifted and fell once. “And I found out…that there’s a whole ‘nother branch of the Dupree family we never knew existed.”
“What?” I scowled, not quite understanding.
“Meaning?” Holden encouraged Ford.
But Gramps took over. “Meaning that Troy isn’t my only brother.”
Screech. That’s not where I thought that was headed.
My mouth fell open. “But…I’ve never heard you talk about anyone but Troy. And your parents.” Who’d both passed long before I was born.
“There’s a reason for that,” Ashton said grimly.
“So you have another brother?” I asked Gramps.
“I do,” he said, expression solemn. “Two years younger. Between me and Troy. Robert,” he said simply. “Robbie’s what we called him.”
“Robert Stanton Dupree,” Ford said. “Close relative. Uncle. Son of Thomas and Louise Dupree.” His brows flicked up. “That was the way it was written in the email. I thought it had to be an error, so I asked these guys.” He gestured at my dad, uncles, and Blue. “Thinking maybe one of them knew some deep, dark family secret and hadn’t told me. They didn’t.So then I asked Dad.” He chuckled like it was still fresh. “Imagine my surprise when he said it was true.”
“A long-lost brother who’s never talked about,” Ashton said. “Never saw that coming, did we?”
“Definitely not,” Holden said.
This whole time, my own dad had been quiet, thoughtful. His fingers continually rubbing over his lips, as if the whole thing troubled him greatly.
“I still don’t know why you’re telling me this,” I admitted, feeling like I was missing something important.
“Oh, we’re not done,” Ford said. He looked at Gramps. “I think you should tell this part.”
Gramps leaned back against the wall, staring through the window. I turned to see what he was gazing at. Outside, Granny was standing with Anna, chatting about something. Anna bounced on her toes, excited, and Granny tossed her head back and laughed, her gray hair making an icy waterfall behind her.
“You know I fought in Vietnam,” Gramps said. I did, but only that he’d fought. He never wanted to talk about the things he’d seen and done. “It started when I was in basic training. I got a letter from Robert, who was about to graduate from high school and enlist himself. And it was all about a girl he’d met.” He shook his head, eyes so sad. “Jennifer Jones.”
My jaw dropped. “Granny was your brother’s girlfriend when you met her?”
My uncles and Blue chuckled at my reaction. Dad, on the other hand, shook his head like Gramps had made a no-good, very-bad choice.
“She was,” Gramps said. “And I didn’t go looking to do anything wrong. But Robbie got me primed and ready, sending me pictures of her weekly and telling me all the things he loved about her. ‘She makes the best key lime pie for fivecounties. Won best in fair,’” he said in what must’ve been his Robbie voice.
Blue rubbed his stomach. “She does indeed. I’d have married her myself if she wasn’t already taken.”
Ford snickered. “We won’t tell Anna you’re crushin’ on Granny.”
“And,” Gramps continued, again in Robbie’s voice. “‘Jenny can outride any man I know.’ And ‘She’s a better shot than I am. Too bad women aren’t allowed to fight. If Jen showed up over here, the Vietcong wouldn’t stand a chance.’” Gramps threw his hands up. “A beautiful woman who can cook, ride, and shoot? Really, what did he expect?”
“He expected you to keep your hands off his girl,” Dad said in a disapproving tone.
Holden fought back a laugh. “So you’re saying you disagree with our existence, Si?”
“No,” Dad snapped. “I’m saying…” He tugged at his hair. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“Gramps,” I interrupted. “What happened next?” I needed to hear the end of this story.
