Page 48 of Holiday Wedding
Take the jet.
Am I being that way with Caleb? Too stubborn? Too convinced my way is the only way? A flash of regret for how I handled that conversation back at the penthouse. So far, Caleb has been righter than I was.
“He may have figured it out.” I run my fingers through my hair, smoothing it out. Quieter, I ask, “You don’t think she’ll ever see it my way?”
Teddy frowns, compassion in his eyes. “No. The things that happened to us with Dad. We experienced the same events, but we all processed them differently. Mom only understands it from her point of view. That won’t change.”
He sighs, shrugs, then asks about our older brother, “Have you talked to Brandon recently?”
“A few months ago. You know he barely ever calls. We’ll see him at the wedding, though.”
“At least he talks to you.” Teddy’s jaw tightens. “He calls me once a year at most. If it weren’t for holiday get-togethers, I wouldn’t even know him.”
We had both looked up to our brother, but when Dad died he became angry and pulled away from all of us. It’s better now that he has a wife and twin daughters, but still far from perfect.
“I miss him,” I admit, eyes downcast.
Teddy squeezes my arm. “I know. Me, too. That’s family for you, right? Love, affection, bitterness, resentment all wrapped up together like a Christmas present with a big bow on top. Nothing’s easy, but we don’t give up on each other. No matter what.”
Tears threaten once more. “Stop making me cry, you brat.” I breathe in through my nose, then out through my mouth, trying to soothe the ache in my chest. A newfound respect for Teddy emerges. “When did you get so smart, anyway?”
He lifts one shoulder, standing tall, acting like it’s no big deal, but I see the way his chest puffs out at my words. “You know what they say about bartenders. We’re untrained and underpaid therapists.”
I snort with laughter. An air horn rings out, so loud it makes me startle. Everyone cheers as fake snow, the foamy kind, drifts down from the ceiling, landing on upturned faces and outstretched hands. I gasp, delightfully surprised.
Teddy grins at my reaction. “It’s a holiday thing. They do it every hour on the hour.”
“It’s beautiful,” says Helen, who’s just arrived. In unison, Teddy and I turn to find her staring upward, her face lit with joy. She’s lovely tonight with her straight, jet-black hair swept up into a high ponytail that bounces when she moves her head. She wears a tight red dress and has an extra earring, in the cartilage of her upper ear, that I didn’t notice when we were at the medical conference. A tiny bubble of snow lands on her pert nose. She ducks, brushing it away. When she glances back up, her gaze finds Teddy and she freezes.
My hand is still on Teddy’s shirt, so I feel when he stops breathing. His eyes dilate, a deer caught in the headlights.
What?My head pivots, taking in the two of them staring at each other.
Oh no.This is not good.
My brother…and Helen?
He would eat her alive.
I pull him close and whisper in his ear, “Leave her alone. She’s sweet.”
Teddy yanks away and scowls down at me. In a loud, offended voice, he asks, “And I’m not?”
“No! That’s not what I meant.” I sigh, exasperated, unable to explain what I’m thinking. Of course, I think my brother is nice. It’s just that this version of him is new. I’m not sure how to interpret it. He seems…volatile. Not ready for the kind of relationship I assume Helen wants.
Teddy’s scowling at me, not the happy sibling reunion I was hoping for. To appease him, I make quick introductions with Helen, explaining how she’s moving to L.A. soon. She looks unblinking up at him.
Just for spite, Teddy shoots me an angry glare, takes her hand, and smoothly grazes his lips over her knuckles. He stares into her eyes, smiles innocently, and says, “It’s nice to meet you. Any friend of my sister’s is a friend of mine.”
Helen melts under my brother’s burning gaze. I kick him in the shin, moving slowly so she won’t notice. Teddy grunts in pain and drops her hand. He glowers at me, and I glare right back, remembering how it feels to fight with him. We’re close, but it’s not like we didn’t have our squabbles as kids. This interaction is as familiar as pulling on an old, worn-out T-shirt. Annoying but also weirdly comforting because I know no matter how mad we get we still love each other unconditionally.
Teddy drops her hand and asks, “What can I get you, Helen?”
“How’s the Eggnog White Russian?” Helen gracefully takes a seat next to me.
“Like Santa made it himself,” Teddy says, and we all laugh. He catches the eye of the female bartender and motions for her to get Helen the drink. Then he says, “I’d better go back to work. It was good to meet you, Helen. Let me know if you need help moving in.” He envelops me in a tight hug.
“I’m glad I saw you, Gwen. Next time we get together, it’ll be in New York for your wedding.” A quick kiss to the top of my head, again messing up my hair. “I can’t wait.”
