AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So just tell him,” Dean suggests.
“I plan on it, but you know Adam and Sage. When it comes to her, my brother can be a little hotheaded. I know my brother, and I know he’s angry. Which means he will want to lash out.”
“And you’re just going to let him?”
Turning toward him, I give him an expression that is, for once, not full of spite or anger. “What choice do I have?”
When we reach my mother’s house, I pull into the drive, and Abby is already bolting out of the car before I even have it in park. She rushes into my mother’s waiting arms. My mom is sitting on one of the white rockers on the porch, and she gives Abby a long squeeze as Dean and I climb out of the SUV.
The moment my mother spots Isaac’s old best friend, I see her expression change.
“Oh my,” she says with a gasp. “Is that little Dean Sheridan? I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Standing from the chair, she hops down the front porch steps to pull him into a warm embrace.
“Hi, ma’am. Thanks for having me for dinner…again.”
She laughs as she releases him, squeezing his arms and staring up into his eyes. I had wondered if seeing Dean would be hard on my mother, but then I forgot just how strong this woman is. Is there anything she hasn’t endured? She takes it all in stride—with a smile and Southern charm to boot.
“Oh, of course!” she croons. “You are welcome anytime. My, how you’ve grown!”
I can see her squeezing his arms as if she’s testing out the firmness of his muscles.
“Mother, stop it,” I mumble with a laugh as I lean down and press a kiss to her cheek.
She finally releases Dean and welcomes us into the house.
“You’re the first ones here,” she says, leading us toward the kitchen. “Let me get you something to drink. Sweet tea or lemonade?”
“Sweet tea, please, ma’am,” Dean says with a polite nod. Seeing him use his manners is pretty endearing, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
“Oh, stop it with that ma’am stuff,” she replies with a laugh as she pulls out the pitcher from the fridge. “Caleb likes sweet tea too.”
With a wink, she pours two glasses for us. Abby climbs onto the tall stool by the kitchen island.
“And my little gabby Abby likes sweet tea and lemonade mixed together, don’t you?” my mother says with a smile.
Abby nods with excitement.
After our drinks are poured, my mother looks at me over the rim of her glass. “And how are you doin’, baby?” she asks.
My mom’s concern for me always makes me feel like I’m seven years old again. It’s as if she worries about me more than she worries about Adam, Luke, or even Isaac. Adam is older. He’s always thrived under the wing of our father until recently. And Luke flew the nest as soon as he could, paving his own path in the world without ever looking back.
But me? I stayed. Close to home. Close to her. My life never strayed from the road I was meant to take.
Find a nice girl. Get married. Have kids. Live a good life.
And Briar made that lifesoeasy. I was meant for her and the family we’ve created.
But it doesn’t change the fact that my mother often looks at me like I’m the one who never grew wings to fly. And it’s not until recently that I’ve started to wonder if she’s right. I was too scared to take the leap. Time and time again.
A car door closes loudly in the driveway, and the three of us standing in the kitchen all freeze in anticipation, waiting to hear if it’s Lucas or Adam.
Angry footsteps echo up the gravel pathway.
“Caleb!” my brother barks from the front door.
Adam.
