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Heath laughed and put away the dish, then took another. “You know who would be really happy about this?”
“Ashley?” Nolan asked.
“Yes. Exactly.”
Stillness settled over them for a moment. “She would have made such an amazing aunt. And Mom always had her troubles dealing with us, but I’m sure she would have been a proud grandmother.”
“Oh, God. Yes. They absolutely would have loved it.” Heath was surprised to realize that although the sadness over their mother’s and sister’s untimely deaths might never go away, he could actually talk about them now without getting angry or upset.
“It’s okay. They’re going to get the best uncle in the world.”
Heath laughed, but he had to think about that for a moment. Would the best uncle in the world ever threaten to sue his sister-in-law’s family? No. Nothing had come of the letter Albert had sent other than an eventual response from Victor Grandin Jr. and Ben Lattimore, which asked for more time, but it was still out there in the world, like a land mine. How long before someone, probably him, would step on it? It was probably time to put it all to an end. Everything tonight had been so wonderful. Why would he want to ruin everything that was ahead for the four people in this room? He didn’t want to do that. He didn’t even want to risk it.
“Thanks a ton for inviting us over tonight. This was so much fun. Ruby and I have both had a great time,” Heath said.
“Hold on a second. Let me go grab my phone so I can record you saying that you had fun.” Nolan’s devilish grin said that he was joking around, but Heath was still a little hurt by it.
“Hey. I like to have fun as much as the next person.”
Nolan nodded and looked across the room. “You’ve definitely been inching toward that since you met Ruby. Which is part of the reason we invited you two over tonight. Chelsea and I will do anything to encourage this relationship.”
“She’s pretty amazing, isn’t she?”
Nolan looked back at Heath and shook his head. “Yes. She is. But it’s not just her. It’s the two of you together. Heath, you have so much good inside of you and it’s been hidden away. I’m really glad to see it all come back out. I look at you and see the brother I used to know.”
“I can admit that I do feel more like my old self. I got lost there for a pretty long time.”
“It’s not surprising. Mom’s and Ashley’s deaths were a shock to us both. It was horrible. But...” Nolan stared down at the floor, seeming weighed down by something.
“But what?”
He raised his head and made eye contact with Heath. “I hate to say this.”
“Whatever it is, come out with it. You can tell me anything and everything.”
“Of course I’m heartbroken over the accident. I always will be. But I have to wonder what would have happened between you and me if that hadn’t happened. What if they were still here? How would things be different?”
Heath had pondered this scenario a million times. He’d thought about what would have happened if they’d left the house five minutes earlier or five minutes later. It was the cruel twist of fate that really ate at him. “You and I wouldn’t be having this conversation. I know that much. Our relationship would still be strained. Or nonexistent. Which is probably more accurate.”
“Right. Exactly. Now, the old me would have seen the whole situation in black and white, but Chelsea has helped me see the shades of gray. Losing Mom and Ashley was terrible, but it brought us back together. We’re all going to die someday. That was their day. And as tragic as that was, good still came out of it.”
“I never really looked at it that way.” Nolan had just blown Heath’s mind. It might take him a long time to wrap his head around the concept.
“Anyway. That’s one of those things that popped into my head in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about you. About us.”
“I’ve had those same sleepless nights.” Too many to count.
“I bet you have.”
“I don’t want either of us to have those anymore, Nolan. We’re moving forward, okay? You and I, together, as brothers.”
“That is music to my ears.”
“Hey, Nolan,” Chelsea said. “Can you come over here and explain to Ruby that thing you want to do with the flooring in the kitchen? I still don’t really understand it.”
“Sure thing.” Nolan glanced at Heath. “Do you want to come and see?”
“Actually, I need to send a text real quick. I’ll be over in a minute.” Heath watched as his brother crossed the room. Then he turned his back to them, pulled out his phone and tapped out a quick text to Albert.Changed my mind. Tell them there will be no lawsuit. Whatever you need to do.It felt like an eternity passed as he stared at his phone, waiting to hear back from Albert. Eventually, a few moments later, he got a reply.
