Page 125

I hope you can give that to her one day, brother. She deserves everything.

She never stopped loving you. It took her years to admit it to me, even though I always knew. There were times, in the beginning, when it stung. Sharing her heart with you. I’m not sure when it stopped stinging, but it did. I did my best to be tender with her heart, always. To never make her feel guilty for the truth she felt.

I always wondered why I was so cool with sharing her heart with you. Now I know why. I always knew, on some level, that she wasn’t mine alone. That one day, she’d belong to you again.

I hope you can forgive her for the decisions she made. For the support she gave to the dreams you always had. She really was your biggest cheerleader. Your largest fan. She cheered for your every win. You might be thinking that she’s not the same Faye that was yours, and in a way, that’s true. She’s our Faye now. She’s our kids’ Faye, Holt. Because I know you’re going to be there to raise my babies like they’re your own.

Please don’t let them forget me...

Make me proud this one last time, brother, and love them like I loved them.

It’s your turn now.

Until I see you again.

Love you, man.

My tear falls beside the last of his. I don’t know how many times I read through the letter. I’m three glasses of whiskey in by the time I finally toss it to the table. I feel anything but numb as I stare blankly ahead.

My big brother was sick. When he got sick, he asked Mom and Dad to bring me back here for the wife and ready-made family my brother left me.

It’s messed up. It sounds all kind of wrong.

But I think—I think it might be right.

23

CAN’T WITH THAT

JUNE 2023 – PRESENT DAY

Islide into the booth next to Shy, across from Quinn and Willow. “Sorry I’m late. Holt was on the phone talking to someone about pouring a basement, but I don’t have any basement pours on my calendar for the week, so I was trying to wait to talk to him about that.” I wave my hand. “I’ll do that when I get back to the office.”

Quinn and Willow share a look that really doesn’t make sense considering what I said, so I brush it off as I ask Shy, “How’s your week going?”

“Oh, it’s good. Work. Kids. Man. You know.”

Shy works reception in the Jiu Jitsu studio Elijah inherited from his father when he retired. They do great for themselves, and it keeps Shy fit, so she loves it.

“And Elijah? How’s he?”

“He’s good.” She smiles, slow and conspiratory. “But what we want to know is how you and Holt are doing?”

I blanch. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on,” Quinn says. “The two of you are locked away all day in that office, and you’re going to tell me that all the hormones haven’t boiled over by now?”

“Holt is my husband’s brother.”

Willow’s brows pull together. “He’s a lot more than that, Faye, and you know it.”

I shake my head, denying the very tension that’s been surging like a live wire between us, and just as dangerous, since I had him over for chili dinner. It’s been weeks. But nothing has happened. Nothing can happen. I’ve made my peace with that, not that I’ve been sleeping any easier since making that peace, but whatever.

“Faye…” Shy says gently.

“I can’t, guys. Okay?”

Quinn shakes her head. “Why not?”