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She released him and patted his cheek with a small smile curving her lips. “Where’s Jerry?” She looked behind us, waiting for him to appear.
“He was taking a nap,” Jude shrugged. “He should be up soon. I…uh…I didn’t tell you when we talked but he,” Jude?
?s face crumpled, “Pap has Alzheimer’s.”
“Oh.” Julia’s mouth parted in surprise.
Archer didn’t have any obvious reaction, but I didn’t expect him to. He didn’t know Jerry.
“Yeah,” Jude nodded, “he has good days and bad days. Today was a good day before his nap, so let’s hope it stays that way. Come on,” he nodded towards the house, “we don’t need to stand out here all day. I already fixed lunch.”
“You cook?” Julia asked with surprise, following Jude inside.
“Yeah,” I heard him tell her as they stepped into the house. “I had to learn from a young age. Pap and—” They got far enough away that I couldn’t hear their voices anymore since I still stood outside with Archer. Neither of us seemed ready to go into the house.
“So,” he shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels, “this is awkward.”
I shrugged. “It only is if you make it.” Growing serious, I narrowed my eyes at Archer. “Jude is a good person. His parents really fucked him up, so much so that there’s a lot he won’t talk about when it comes to them and I realize he’ll probably never tell me everything because it’s easier for him not to think about it, and all the family he has left is his grandpa. He needs you in his life. He needs someone he can depend on. Someone who’s family. Don’t hurt him,” I stated flatly. “If you do, I won’t hesitate to hunt you down and cut off your balls, and use them as ornaments to decorate my Christmas tree.”
Archer busted out laughing.
I narrowed my eyes and widened my stance, with my hands on my hips. “I’m serious,” I warned.
“You must love him a lot,” Archer chuckled, trying to hide his smile behind his hand.
“More than I ever knew possible.” I held my head high. Something about Archer made me feel intimidated, but I refused to show that I was affected by him.
He smiled slowly. “I guess we better get in there so I can get to know my baby brother.”
As we headed slowly towards the house, I asked him, “Was it weird for you, finding out you had a brother?”
Archer halted his steps and looked down at me. Jude was tall, but Archer was taller. I swear he had to be at least six foot five. He was a giant. He loomed above me, an intimidating force. “Surprisingly, no,” he shrugged. “I didn’t know my dad at all, but I always assumed he moved on and married someone else, had a few kids…a life without me,” he said softly. “I know things will probably be awkward for a while, but I’m glad to know I have a brother and I want to have a relationship with him. My mom never remarried, so I was an only child growing up.” His eyes flicked to the house and back to me. “At first, when my mom told me about Jude—before I talked to him on the phone—I was really mad, because he grew up with a mom and a dad. He quickly set me straight on that,” Archer sighed heavily. “It seems like I got the better deal. My mom’s awesome and she always made sure that I had everything I needed and provided me with a stable loving home. Jude didn’t have that.”
“At least he had his grandparents,” I inserted. I nodded towards the front door. “Come meet Jerry. He’s your grandpa too, and trust me you’ll never have met a more amazing person than him.”
Voices were coming from the sunroom so that’s where I led Archer. Julia was sitting in a chair while Jerry and Jude sat on the couch. When Archer and I approached Jerry came to stand. His limbs were shaky and I knew it had everything to do with nerves and not old age.
His eyes lit on Archer and my mouth fell open in surprise as he began to cry.
He stepped forward and enveloped Archer in a hug.
Archer glanced at me in surprise, but slowly returned the gesture, patting Jerry on his back.
“I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. I never knew,” Jerry cried into Archer’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, Jerry,” Archer said as they parted.
Jerry wiped the moisture from beneath his eyes. “Please, call me Pap.” He clapped Archer on the shoulder and led him over to the couch so he could sit between Jude and him.
I went to sit in the other free chair, but Jude’s hand snuck out, catching me around my waist and I was pulled onto his lap.
He kissed my neck, and whispered, “I need you.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder in comfort. I understood completely what he meant. I’d do whatever it took to get him through this day, and if he needed me close to him then that’s what I’d do. Tonight, I would need his support.
I rubbed the back of his neck soothingly, and kept quiet while he interacted with Archer and Julia. Things were a bit tense for a little while, but soon everyone got comfortable and we ate lunch in the kitchen.
Jude and Archer left so he could get a tour of the house and property.
