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I’m not sure how much Gil believes that but he doesn’t question it.
Our food comes and we all dig in. I sit back and listen to the brothers talk and get reacquainted, not bothering to add more to the conversation. They need this for themselves. Red and Gil have some of the same mannerisms—how they use their hands when they talk, the way they laugh suddenly when something is really funny, how animated they get when telling a story. Regardless of how close they weren’t when they grew up, they’re a lot alike. The whole time they’re talking, Red doesn’t let go of my hand and occasionally, he looks over at me with a bright smile that I always return.
Our food is long gone, but we don’t get up to leave. Red and Gil have spent the last two and a half hours talking and catching up, talking like they never had years of animosity between them. I’m sure with age and thinking for himself like Red, Gil saw they didn’t dislike each other—they were forced to believe they had to compete.
Gil reaches into his pocket and grabs his wallet. “I’ll take care of lunch. It was great to catch up, Dwi—Red,” he amends, giving Red a small smile. “I saved some money while I was in service. This job doesn’t start for another month or so, but I think I’ll move out here early and get myself settled.”
Finally speaking after keeping quiet for a few hours, I have to clear my throat to ask Gil, “What were you interviewing for?”
“Cyber security. I have experience with it and my friend said his firm had an opening. It was a formality, since I already have the job. But I wanted to come out here to see if I liked the area. It’s nice and I found a couple of apartments that are affordable.”
“I’m in cyber security as well. If your job doesn’t work out, let me know and we can talk.”
Smiling, he says, “Thanks, Quin. I appreciate that. But I think things will work out.” He clears his throat and looks back at Red. “Since I’ll be here, you think we can hang out more? Have lunch a few times a month or something?”
“Yeah, of course,” Red rushes to say, excitement dripping from his tone. “I’d love to.”
My boy and his brother make more plans for their future and I sit back, loving that his family will be nearby.
Epilogue
Red- Six Months Later
The trial for the Thunder Coast Eleven has concluded today with the last eleven life sentences handed down to the assailants. The sex trafficking ring was said to have been in operation for over five years. As we reported a few months back, three attorneys, a doctor, and an architect were among those found in the warehouse, engaged in illicit activities with those that were kidnapped. They have all taken plea deals of five years in prison, ten years’ probation and a lifetime label of sex offender.
Justice was served today, as the defendant won’t be considered for parole until he has served up to seventy-five years on one life sentence, by terms of their plea agreement. The judge said he will never breathe free air.
In more uplifting news, a private benefactor has donated an unspecified sum to each victim and the families of the deceased victims for private medical and psychiatric care. Our sources say it is close to $10 million each, though that number can’t be verified. The bodies of the masterminds, Thomas Furman and Andler Wolfe, have been identified via dental records. From an earlier report, they were both found burned beyond recognition in separate cabins in British Columbia. The head of the British Columbia RCMP suspects their deaths were the result of vigilante justice. There are no suspects and no leads.
“Gil!”Iyell,joggingto the car when my brother pulls up. He rolls his eyes good naturedly before he hops out and gives me a hug. Ever since we ran into each other at the airport, we kept our word and had lunch a few times a month, which turned into a few times a week. I thought it would be strained, seeing as we hadn’t talked in years prior to seeing each other, but it’s not. It was awkward at first, trying to find things to talk about after so long, but we worked past it and it’s been good.
“Hey, Red. You act like I didn’t see you two days ago.” He laughs in my ear and lets me go but slings an arm around my shoulder.
“Yeah, but that was two days ago. How’s work?”
Gil has been working at a firm an hour from me, doing the same thing as Quin, which means I don’t really know what my brother does. He and Quin get together and talk their nerd talk and all I can do is smile while I listen. I have no hope of ever knowing what they say, but I can pretend, and be happy to see my Daddy and my brother getting along.
Quin likes my brother, they’re almost like two peas in a pod. Initially, I felt that tinge of jealousy I used to when my parents spoke highly about Gil but would sneer when I didn’t do what they wanted, but I was able to tamp it down. Gil and I aren’t in competition and he’s not trying to go after Quin. Gil is as straight as they come … judging by the person that gets out of his passenger seat.
Judy looks really good today, her blue dress looking good against her fair skin. She walks around the hood of the car and slides her arm around Gil’s waist and we all walk to the backyard where everyone else is.
During our first barbecue that I insisted we have a few weeks after we got back from our excursion in BC to celebrate—dark as fuck, I know—Gil flew in to stay for a few days and Judy came over. Judy didn’t end up going home that night. Quin and I heard them up long into the night, talking and laughing. Ever since, they’ve been inseparable. Judy is good for my brother. She’s smart and tough as fuck, but she always had that sensitive air around her. Gil is a caretaker, making her feel loved and wanted, and I love that for them.
“Hey, Judy. Good to see you,”
Just like my brother, she rolls her eyes at me. “I just saw you yesterday. At work, remember?”
“I remember, but it’s a standard greeting. Why are you and Gil like this?” I pout and they laugh.
“Why is your lip poked out?” Quin asks when we round the corner.
Being childish, I run over to him and say, “Daddy, they’re being mean to me.” Quin chuckles at my absurdity and kisses my nose, bringing me to his side.
It didn’t take long for Gil to figure out that Quin was my Daddy. I think I let the D word slip a few times too many, and one drunken night, I finally spilled the beans. He didn’t say much about it. He did say it was a little weird when he heard me say it the first time, but it made sense when I explained everything to him.
“Stop teasing my boy, you two,” my Daddy says, coming to my defense, even though we all know it’s a joke.
Laughing, Gil slaps Quin’s outstretched hand and pulls him into a brief hug. Quin bends to give Judy a hug and we walk to the backyard where Savage, Michael, Abel, and Pogo are waiting. Michael is burning food on the grill and Savage and Abel are playing with Pogo. Cara was supposed to come visit, but she wasn’t able to turn down a photography contract.
