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“I think you’re right.”
“And Nana too.”
Melody took a sip of wine and looked at him. “Have you asked Cam about what happened? Do you even know the story?”
Nash shook his head but remained silent.
“He’s your little brother, Nash. Aren’t you supposed to be up in his shit? Don’t you want to know?” Melody got up and came around to him. She kissed him on the cheek. “He needs a big brother right now. We both do.”
Nash’s heart melted. He knew his sister was going through a rough time. “Hey, I’m sorry. I’ve been in a weird mood all day.”
Melody smiled and winked. “That’s because you’ve been having lots of on-the-cusp-of-something-big kind of fun. You’ve never had that before.” She grabbed her son’s hand and, with the baby on her hip, headed to the kitchen, leaving Nash alone in the dining room.
Some family brunch this turned out to be. He was kind of glad Honey hadn’t been there to see the fireworks. Nash got up from the table and grabbed the cutlery and remaining dishes. His mother was loading the dishwasher and didn’t bother to turn around.
“You having coffee?”
“No, I’m good.”
Lisa Booker turned the machine on and stared out the window. “Sometimes I feel like our family is…like the glue is coming undone.”
“Mom. No.” Damn, he felt like a shit. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?
“All I want is for my babies to be happy.” Lisa turned and faced him. “Melody will get there. This is just a bump in the road. But she’s a smart girl, and she’ll be okay.” She sighed and reached for her mug. She didn’t drink her coffee, just held on as if she needed the warmth. “Cam is another story. His heart is too soft. So I worry about him. I worry about this trouble he’s landed in. Trouble that could affect the rest of his life. But as a mom, I can only steer my car, you know? I can’t drive Cam’s. He’s got to figure that out on his own. But he could probably use his brother right now. He doesn’t show it, Nash, but he’s scared. And he should be.”
Nash crossed the room and gave his mom a big hug. “We’re all going to be fine. Don’t worry about us.”
She drew back and cupped his face. “Are you happy, Nash? Really happy?”
An image of Honey floated in front of his face, and he thought that if he could convince her to stick around
Crystal Lake, he would be over-the-top happy. But he didn’t tell his mother that. He kissed her on the cheek and told her his life was perfect.
Lisa Booker was no fool. “No one’s life is perfect. If it was, life wouldn’t be all that interesting.”
“I’m heading out. Where’s Cam?”
“He’s out in the garage with your father.” She wrinkled her nose. “Apparently, it takes two of them to take out the trash. Ask him, Nash. Ask him to tell you what happened. That’s all he’s been waiting for.”
Nash wasn’t sure he wanted to hear Cam’s story, but he nodded and said he would. She gave him one last hug and snuck a container of biscuits in his pocket. “Tell Honey I said hello and I’m sorry we didn’t get to see her.”
“I will.”
Nash headed to the garage and passed his father, who was on his way back into the house.
“She knows you’re smoking out there.”
His dad paused and scratched his head. “I figured as much.”
Nash gave him a hug and made plans to meet up for a beer later in the week. His brother sat at the old workbench along the far wall, and from the smell of it, he was enjoying a bona fide Cuban cigar. Cam offered him one, but Nash declined. He’d never been a cigar guy.
“Remember when we used to sit out here and glue our models together?” Cam blew out a stream of smoke.
Nash nodded and glanced around. The place hadn’t changed at all. There were still oil stains on the floor and the smell of stale cigarettes and the compost out back.
“Her name is Iris.” Cam looked at him.
“Who?” Nash asked.
