Page 11 of Sean
Benjamin forked one of the large pieces of meat from the platter.“Gotta keep up my strength, babe.I’ll be a daddy soon, and chasing after a baby is a full-time job.”He shoulder-bumped Sean.“Ain’t that so, bro?”
Sean managed a tight smile while something unpleasant gnawed at his stomach.He focused on his plate as his family chattered around him and Mom continued her campaign to win Jace’s affection with food.He’d known there’d be uncomfortable aspects of coming home, but he hadn’t anticipated this...He searched for a word to describe what was eating at him.The best he could come up with was anger, and that wasn’t really it.
He loved his brother.Between them they had the complete twin package.Alike in so many ways, but exact opposites in others.Benjamin was an outgoing, never-met-a-stranger, larger-than-life prankster.Sean was more introspective and introverted.Even during his time in the ministry he’d never been comfortable being the center of attention.And when it came to Benjamin’s pranks, Sean was often the butt of the joke instead of an equal participant.They were both competitive by nature, but he figured that was part of being a guy.Where Sean had held his own on whatever sports field they were on, Benjamin excelled, always winning two awards to Sean’s one.But they were adults now.He didn’t care about any of that stuff anymore.
Sean cut his eyes to the left just in time to see Kinsley reach for Benjamin’s hand and lay it on her belly.His brother grinned, yelling, “Touchdown.”
The word Sean had been searching for solidified.
Not anger but envy.
It wasn’t fair.
Benjamin had always been the popular guy that good things came to easily.
Maybe some of those childhood things weren’t as resolved as Sean had thought.
As much as he loved his brother.As happy as he was for Benjamin and the life he was building.As much as he wouldn’t wish what he’d gone through these last few months on his worst enemy.Sean was deeply envious of the contentment that radiated from his brother like light from the sun.
Once again, Benjamin was winning in the game of life.
His own pathetic misery made his favorite meal taste like straw.He forced himself to swallow his bite, wishing he could excuse himself.But hurting Mom’s feelings would only make him feel worse, so he forced himself to scoop up another bite.
“Is your dinner OK?”
He looked up.His mother was studying him, worry lines etched between her brows.
Mothers and their radar.
“I’m fine.”It was a lie, but he already had so many negative points stacked up between him and God, what was one more?“I think the drive is catching up with me.”He cut a piece of meat, forked it, and held it up.“But there’s no way I’m letting a bite of this go to waste.”
As plates were emptied and the people around the table settled back in their chairs in satisfaction, Mom hopped to her feet.
“Don’t get too comfortable, there’s dessert.”
Groans, some sounding like anticipation and others like I-can’t-eat-another-bite echoed from Sean’s family.Ignoring them all, Mom gathered dinner plates.
Kinsley scooted her chair back.“Let me get some of these.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”Mom, her hands loaded with dirty dishes, disappeared into the kitchen.
Moments later, she reappeared carrying three plates, each bearing a piece of her signature coconut cream pie, Sean’s favorite dessert in the whole world.
Mom served Dad before coming around to place one in front of Sean.She leaned down and kissed the top of his head.“Welcome home.”Once she returned to her place next to Jace, she cut a small bite for him.The baby’s squeal of delight and his reaching hands were all the testimony the pie needed.
Sean grinned at his son.The little boy had mashed potatoes in his hair and gravy smeared across his face.He’d need a bath before nap time but he’d never looked happier.
Kinsley brought a slice for Benjamin and what looked like a half slice for herself.
“Where’s the rest of yours?”Benjamin asked.
“Still in the kitchen.”Kinsley rubbed her rounded middle.“This kiddo is taking up entirely too much space.No way could I eat a whole piece.”
“Dibs on the rest of my wife’s pie,” Benjamin said.
Sean couldn’t help the quick grin that lifted the corners of his mouth.Some things never changed and for a second, he felt about twelve years old.A younger Sean would have argued for extra pie if Benjamin was having seconds.The adult Sean realized he’d do good to finish what was on his plate.
Dad kissed Mom’s cheek, whispering something he couldn’t hear.The affection in his parents’ eyes warmed him.It hadn’t been so long ago that their marriage seemed doomed to failure.Now, they were one of the happiest couples he knew.
