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I should have been there.
Mikel halted the intrusive thoughts, changing them the way his therapist had suggested.
I needed to leave for my own mental health.
I did my best.
I can be here and help now.
He nodded, unsure of what to say.
Remy stepped forward, placing her hand on his shoulder tentatively. A spark ignited his skin.
“I’m glad you came back,” she said.
His body ached to hold her in his arms. A magnetic pull raged between them. He wanted to lay his head against her belly and wrap his arms around her, get lost in those long legs and curves that offered him so much comfort. Another part of him roiled in anger at the betrayal. How could she not have told him?
Remy walked away to the backyard before leading the little girl with eyes full of questions out of sight.
Jasmine came back in and took the seat that Remy had occupied. “Long time, big brother,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest.
“How … where have you been?” Bently asked.
Mikel filled them in on his life for the past five years, swallowing the burning questions only Remy could answer.
Bently whistled. “Wow. What made you come back now?”
“You guys are my family,” Mikel answered.
“That didn’t stop you from abandoning us before. Just like Mom,” Jasmine said.
“Jasmine!” Bently shushed her.
“It’s fine. I deserve it. I know you’re angry with me and you have every right. I needed some time to get my head on straight, to kick this for good before I came back. I’m sorry I had to leave everyone to accomplish it. But I would do it all again if I knew it would help me get clean.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I am fucking angry. You should have been here.” Jasmine huffed.
“He’s here now,” Bently argued.
“And how long will he stick around this time? Huh?” She rounded on Mikel with fire in her eyes. “Long enough to see Bently lose his hair from chemo? Long enough to help drive him to his appointments when he’s too weak to do it himself?”
The room started spinning again. Bently has cancer. He’d wasted so much time. What if I lose him?
“Jasmine, stop!” Bently jumped to his feet, eyes angry.
“Cancer?” Mikel asked. Fear clutched his chest, making it impossible to breathe.
His older brother tore his hardened stare off Jasmine and turned to Mikel, his expression softening. “Yeah, but they caught it early. They’re hopeful.”
Mikel was at a loss for words. What did you say when the world as you knew it started crumbling to pieces? He stood and pulled his brother into a tight hug. Slapping Bently’s back, he exhaled for the first time. He was home. Even though it was hard, and he had a lot of questions to ask and answers to give, he was glad he had come home.
“Since it’s confession time here at the Evans household, you should both know that in seven months we will have a new roommate,” Jasmine said, standing. Both men turned to look at her.
“What? Who?” Bently asked.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “I’m pregnant.”
Bently sat back in the chair, as if to steady himself. “Jaz.” His worried gaze studied her. “Who’s the father?”
Something flashed in Jasmine’s eyes before they fell. Shame. Regret. Emotions Mikel knew well.
“Doesn’t matter. He’s not in the picture.”
Mikel knew there was far more to the story than their sister was letting on, but who was he to demand answers now? They had been close once. He’d literally killed for her. That trust had been severed the moment he’d left.
“Welcome home, Mikel,” Jasmine snarked as she walked out of the room.
And what a welcome it had been.
