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She sighs. “I’m used to my parents, and so is Rowan. We were both more concerned about you and Kevin having to witness the madness.”
“I’m fine, and Kevin seems to be, too. I didn’t mind the weirdness. I just wanted to be here for Rowan.”
Mel beams. “I knew from the moment I heard about you that you’re good for my brother.”
Putting the last plate into the dishwasher, I duck my head. “He’s talked about me?”
Not that I’m needy, but I’m trying to gauge just how deep Rowan’s feelings for me are at this point in our relationship.
“He sure did,” she sings, making my cheeks heat up. “I’m so impressed with how he handled things with our parents. I know it was you who helped him keep his cool.”
The room goes quiet, and I turn to find Mel eyeing me with a frown.
“Are you okay?”
She blinks. “Yeah, yeah, just...” Her gaze skates away from me, increasing my worry. “I’m sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable. It’s just...” She sighs and plops down on one of the stools surrounding the island. “It probably isn’t my place, but I want to clear things up.”
Drying my hand on a dish towel, I warily take a seat beside her. Is she about to tell me she’s concerned about me being too young for her brother? Rebecca and James certainly took a few digs at our age difference.
“About what?”
“What my father said about Rowan being a criminal. That’s a lie, Grace. I noticed you seemed a little shocked by the news.”
“Oh, I didn’t—”
“My brother is a good man. He only ever had run-ins with the law to protect us—his mother and me—from my father. Dad used to get violent when he drank.”
That’s obvious. He looked ready to start throwing punches after just a few glasses of wine. I can imagine what a terror he was when he was younger.
“Sure, he got arrested a few times for assault, but Rowan only ever hit James back to stop him from killing his wife or me in his drunken haze. It was my dad who should have been taken away in handcuffs.” Mel’s eyes gleam with anger and her face flushes. “But Rebecca, that ungrateful monster, would call the cops on Rowan whenever he knocked Dad on his ass. No matter how many times Rowan got into trouble, he never hesitated to jump in to protect us when Dad lost it again.”
“Mel.” I place a hand on her arm because she seems to be getting riled up. “I—”
“Please, Grace, don’t judge my brother because of what Dad implied. He can be a little gruff sometimes, but he went through a lot growing up. He isn’t violent, I swear—”
“Melanie.”
She stops talking and stares at me with a sheepish expression. “I’m sorry, I got a little excited.”
I let out a laugh. “Yeah. I think it’s great you’re defending your brother’s character, but you don’t have to, never to me. I know who he is. He’s incredibly sweet and gentle.”
And I need to let him know that because since James tried to paint him as a criminal, Rowan has been avoiding making eye contact with me.
Mel smiles. “You’re amazing. You’re exactly who he needs. He’s been so different—in a good way—since he met you.”
I embrace the heat scorching my face. It isn’t from embarrassment; it’s from the pleasure of getting the thumbs-up from someone so important to Rowan.
“Um... Grace? Can I intrude on your relationship with my brother just a little more?”
My eyes dart from side to side. “Er... okay?”
“Rowan is... He can appear complicated and closed off. Okay, heisthose things, but after the little you’ve seen this evening, you can see why.”
“Of course. He’s shared quite a bit with me about his relationship with his mother and James.”
Mel’s eyes go wide. “He has?”
“Sure.”
