Page 6 of Triple Tidings
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t even entertain the idea of getting romantically involved with someone who has to be over a decade younger than me. Apart from one notable exception, whom I never expected to see again.
She was still there, though.
I came back, armed with a very different mindset than I had when we met, and Lacey was still there. Age gap and aggressively different zip codes aside, would it be so crazy to ask her out? My brother and his wife seem to be genuinely happy. For god’s sake, even my nieces married men closer to their father’s age than their own, and no one seems to have a problem with it.
My work location would be an issue, sure, but maybe if things went well?—
In my arms, the baby lets out a shrill little cry, her face scrunched up and indignant as she reaches the end of her patience with me.
Sophie gets to her feet at once. “I’m going to put her down for her morning nap,” she announces, and her expression goes soft and warm as I carefully return her daughter to her arms. Bram and I both watch as she heads upstairs.
“I’ve got to say,” my brother says conversationally as he portions out another set of pancakes onto the griddle. “I was surprised you wanted to come for the holidays. Family time hasn’t seemed like much of a priority to you.”
It’s difficult to stop myself from wincing. “I’m sorry I haven’t been… present,” I tell him, turning my fork between my fingers, still not taking a bite. “This is me trying to do better.”
“Why the sudden change?” His voice isn’t accusing, exactly, but there is a dubious tone to it that makes it clear Bram doesn’t expect this change of attitude to be permanent.
My throat is thick with guilt as I cut into the pancakes on my plate. “I hadn’t realized Sophie was pregnant. Mom texted me when Clara was born, and I just…” I shake my head. “I got absorbed in the work. It was easier, I think, than asking myself why I was alone.”
It’s the first time I’ve said that out loud, but somehow, Bram seems to understand. “I get it,” he assures me simply, returning his attention to the griddle. “Before Soph came along, I was pulling eighty-hour weeks.”
I remember, but even then, he was still better about keeping up on the family stuff than I was. “There’s no excuse for my checking out like that. I’m sorry, Bram. Really fucking sorry. It isn’t going to happen again.”
My brother smiles grimly. He doesn’t say it, but I know what he’s thinking; We’ll see.
“Did you meet someone?” asks Bram unexpectedly.
My first thought is of Lacey.
Christ.
I let out an uncomfortable laugh. “No. No one new. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious what prompted this big life change.” He leans back against the cabinets, peering over at me appraisingly. “Someone old, then? What was the name of that guy you were seeing before you moved away?” He snaps his fingers, screwing up his face as he tries to remember.
“Wells,” I tell him automatically, my chest suddenly hollow at the thought of yet another sacrifice to my career ambition. “Wells Davis.”
“Yes! I see him around a lot. I think he owns the bookstore down the street from E&V.”
I swallow, shoving aside memories of the shop in question. “That’s him. And no, I’m not back in town for Wells. We didn’t end it on good terms.”
Bram seems to sense this isn’t something I’m interested in discussing, because he moves on. “The girls are both traveling, so you won’t get to meet Edie, unfortunately.”
“Shit, I forgot.” I force a chuckle, “Congratulations, grandpa.”
My brother gives me a dark look. “Glass houses, August. If I’m a grandpa, you’re a great-uncle.”
This is easy enough to wave off. “I look good for my age. You’ve got some gray, there.” I grin, pointing to the silver beginning to peek through the temples of his brown hair. “You know, they make dye for that.”
Setting the mixing bowl in the sink, Bram turns on the water, rinsing his hands. “Sophie likes it.”
Well, fuck. I can’t argue with that. In fact, if I’m honest with myself, I can admit I’m pretty fucking jealous.
Three
Wells
It’s funny how a little perspective can turn the shittiest of circumstances into somethingfan-fucking-tastic.
