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He groaned. “Neither would I if we start like that.” Though it pained him, he gripped her wrist and lifted it to his mouth for a quick kiss. “Thank you, but this is for me to do.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a terrific brother, Bry. Don’t ever forget that. You invited your father back for Vic’s wedding despite what it cost you.” When he would’ve argued, she extricated herself from his hold and pressed a finger to his lips. “You’re so willing to look for the bad in yourself. Lucky for both of us, I see so much good.”
He gripped her hand. “That’s a reflection of you, not me. You’re the good. I’m the one who bails when the going gets tough, just like my mom.” He shut his eyes. “Your mother would hate me for ever disappointing you.” Almost as much as I would hate myself.
She didn’t say anything for a moment. “I guess that means you better not do that, huh?”
If only it was that simple. “It’s inevitable.”
“You know what’s inevitable? That you owe me a damn good showing in that football outfit if you expect me to slip into what I bought for you.” Despite the lightness of her voice, he heard the strain behind it. Strain he’d put there.
There would be plenty of other nights to rehash and recriminate. Not tonight.
Swallowing hard, he kissed her fingertip. “How’d I stumble on to you?”
“More luck,” she said lightly, slipping away to open her door. “Yes, I’m coming with you. Resistance is futile.” She shut the door on his grin.
They walked into a house that hadn’t changed much over the years. Faded wallpaper yellowed with time and cigar smoke m
atched the beat-up furniture and shabby carpeting. The pictures of him, Melly, and Vic from grade school still hung on the living room wall, their bright faces almost painful to look at. So much hope had lived behind those eyes. So much expectation.
Vic had found her happy ending with Cory. It still shocked the hell out of Bryan that she’d chosen the uptight suit to start a family with, but she was so happy, he couldn’t argue with the results. Melly was focused on her growing chain of frozen-yogurt shops and claimed she didn’t care about relationships. As for him…
Yeah, he wasn’t going there.
“Who’s there?” His father’s voice echoed from the second floor before footsteps clattered down the stairs. “Jill?” he asked, confused. Then his voice softened. “Bryan.”
Bryan turned around and tried not to reel back at the shock. This wizened, balding, dim-eyed man in front of him was his father. Only his tired smile seemed familiar. “Hey Dad,” he said.
All this time, he’d convinced himself his father was living it up in Vegas, spending too much money at the casino, maybe trading girlfriends every week. That was the tale his father had tried to pass off, anyway. He was having a great time enjoying his early retirement. Whooping it up on a nightly basis.
His appearance told a different story, one with a much more depressing ending.
After all these years, he still hadn’t gotten over Bryan’s mother.
“Son.” His father pulled him into a fierce hug, holding on for longer than Bryan had expected. At a loss for words, he patted his dad’s back, his eyes connecting with Jill’s over his shoulder. Hers were wet.
God, she was crying for him. For him.
She pointed at the door, as if asking whether she should go. He shook his head. Every muscle in his body would lock up if she left. Her presence seemed vital for him to get through this. She nodded and stepped back into the foyer, giving them their space but staying close.
Later, he would have to thank her. For everything.
“I didn’t expect you to be here so soon,” Bryan said, moving back. “The wedding’s not for another week.”
“I don’t want Vicky to know I’m here yet. I’d like it to be a surprise, if that’s okay.”
“It’s okay.” More than. He took it as a positive sign that his father was trying again.
“Since I had some time, I figured I’d get some chores done beforehand. Things I’ve been putting off.” The elder Townsend stepped back and rubbed his grizzled jaw. “How is she?”
For a moment, Bryan thought he was asking about his mother. But no, he didn’t know Bryan was seeing her again. He didn’t even know she was back in the area. To Bryan’s knowledge, his parents hadn’t been in contact since she’d left the family years ago.
“Vic’s doing really well.”
