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“Why not?”
Sawyer sighed, clearly frustrated. “Stop answering my questions with questions, Reed. Why aren’t you ready to settle down? I’m turning thirty in September. You’ll be twenty-eight in June. Isn’t it time to grow up?”
Why the hell was Sawyer pushing him on this topic? “If you already can read my mind, you tell me.”
“I think you never got over our parents’ death.”
“And you and Erica did? Nice. Really nice,” he said, hoping the sarcastic tone wasn’t lost on Sawyer.
His brother shook his head. “No. I’ll never really be over it, but I’ve healed. I’ve gone on. I want a future, one with a woman I can love like our dads loved Mom.”
Reed closed his eyes, feeling every single day that had passed since the tragedy. Had it only been thirteen years ago? He would’ve sworn on the stand in the Swanson County Courthouse it had been twice, even three times that long. He felt every one of his years. “I want a wife, too.”
“Are you sure about that?” Sawyer asked. “You can honestly say you’re ready to settle down, to swear off the sea of subs we’ve had over the years for one woman for the rest of our lives?”
“You’re talking about Nicole, aren’t you?” Time for Reed to get his point across. Time to make sure Sawyer didn’t fantasize about a life with Chicago. It just wasn’t possible. “This isn’t one of your ‘Time to Grow Up’ speeches. This is about her.”
Sawyer shook his head “In part, yes, but not completely. Yes, I’m interested in her. I’m ready to get to know her better. More than a little, I must admit. She’s like no other woman we’ve ever been with. But you’re right. She’s not from here. Convincing her to stay might prove impossible, though I suspect that if we take our time and get to know her better, we might actually succeed. You know you’re a lot like Dad Gene, bro. Erica’s more like Mom.”
“And I suppose you’re like Dad Gilbert?” Reed asked.
“I think so,” Sawyer confirmed. “Remember, he could also read minds. Or have you forgotten that?”
“I don’t forget anything.” If only he could.
“I know.”
“How is Erica like Mom?” God, Reed missed his mother.
Sawyer smiled. “Her humor is identical to Mom’s. She can see good where others can’t.”
“Yeah. I agree, although she’s not the same since the shooting at TBK. I think she’s having a hard time getting over the guilt she feels for letting Felix into Eric and Scott’s office.” Reed was worried about her.
“I’ve noticed that, too.” Sawyer sighed. “I wish Mom were here. She would know how to help Erica. I’ll never forget how she used to smile and pull me into a hug when I was upset. Mom’s eyes were so bright.”
“Erica’s got her eyes. She’s looking more and more like Mom every day.” In the drawer of his nightstand was a bottle of his mom’s perfume. Whenever he found himself alone in the cabin, he would pull it out and inhale the fragrance to remind him of her.
Sawyer nodded.
Reed shook his head, trying to clear his mind. “God, I forgot how much you are like a woman.”
“What do you mean?”
“You love talking about your feelings. Feelings are way overrated if you ask me.”
Sawyer laughed. “Just like Dad Gene for sure.”
“How so?” Reed thought Sawyer was right about the similarity he had with Dad Gene.
“Like you, he stuffed his emotions away. Of course he had them, plenty of them.”
“How would you know that?”
“He told me.” Sawyer seemed lost in his memories. “Remember the fishing trip I took with the dads when you had the flu the summer before the crash?”
“Of course.” Reed had hated to miss the trip, but his mom had insisted he stay at home.
“Dad Gene took me aside and gave me the talk.”
