by Lyn Gardner
Absorbed in her thoughts, it wasn’t until she felt Eric’s hand on her knee when Judy realized he’d been talking to her. “I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I was off in my own little world. What did you say?”
“I was saying that you shouldn’t be worrying about Brett either because the girl couldn’t have been all that special if he came back without her.”
“What?” Judy said, sitting straight in her chair. “He’s here?”
“Like a pariah in the corner,” Eric said, pointing over his shoulder. “I went over earlier and did the uncle thing.”
“The uncle thing?”
“Yeah, I made sure he knew I didn’t agree with his father, and I assured him there were plenty more fish in the sea.”
Judy whipped her head around. “But what if there isn’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if, for Brett, that girl was the one?”
“Judy, he’s twenty-two. He’s got his whole life ahead of him to find the right girl.”
“Don’t you mean the right color girl?”
“Whoa,” Eric said, holding up his hand. “You of all people know I am not a racist, but knowing how his father feels—”
“Who cares how his father feels?” Judy said through her teeth. “This is Brett’s life we’re talking about, and he should be able to...”
Judy stopped and stared wordlessly at her brother for a moment. Her lungs emptied and resting back in her chair, she took a swig of her beer. She hoped the malty flavor would wash away the fetid aftertaste of hypocrisy, but its foulness lingered. Who was she to fight this fight? Who was she to claim unfair or speak words that weren’t worth the air they were spoken on? They were true…but they were also weightless.
“Excuse me,” Judy whispered and standing up, she snagged two beers from a nearby cooler before continuing across the room toward her nephew.
“Thought you might want a refill,” she said, handing one of the bottles to Brett.
Brett turned from the window, weakly smiling at his aunt as he took the drink. “Thanks, but you may not want to get too close. It could send the wrong message.”
Judy’s mood came out in her tone. “I couldn’t give a fuck about messages,” she said, and unscrewing the cap on her beer, Judy brought the bottle to her lips, only to stop and grin when she noticed Brett’s bug-eyed expression. “You’re not twelve anymore, Brett. I think you’ve heard the word before.”
“Yeah, but never from you,” he said, and raising his bottle, he clinked it against Judy’s. “And thanks, I needed that.”
“The beer or my F-bomb?”
“Both.”
A few minutes went by before Judy looked up at her towering nephew. “Eric told me what happened.”
“And I suppose you think I’m an idiot.”
“No, I don’t. I think you’re trying to live your life. I’m not quite sure why you chose today to do what you did, but then again, you shouldn’t have to worry about bringing any of your friends here.”
“She’s more than a friend,” Brett said softly. “And I brought her here today because I was stupid enough to think Dad wouldn’t go off if people were around. Boy, talk about a swing and a miss.”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“Luckily, there weren’t too many here yet, but he sure as hell made his feelings crystal clear to those who were. If it hadn’t been for Uncle Eric and Tara, I honestly think I would have hauled off and hit him.”
Judy widened her eyes. For those who didn’t know her nephew, his appearance painted the picture of someone imposing. Tall, broad-shouldered, and with a perpetual five o’clock shadow, the only thing that softened his image was a mop of unruly sandy-brown hair and the dimples in his cheeks. But Judy knew better. She knew the boy who cried when he found a dead butterfly in the garden. She knew the teenager who saved cats from trees and ushered spiders out of the house instead of stomping on them. And she knew the man whose DNA was similar to his siblings, yet thankfully he didn’t inherit all the same markers. Trey and Gayle were go-getters and mulish like their father while Brett was as laid-back as the day was long. Keeping his drive to succeed quietly in the background, he had aced every class he had ever attended, and while his siblings struggled to find colleges that would accept them, by the time it was Brett’s turn, he accepted one and turned down a dozen more.
“That’s not like you, Brett,” Judy said, eyeing the man. “And I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Are you?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I’ve seen the way Dad and Uncle Doug treat you. I would think you’d like to see at least one of them get put into their place.”
“No, not my style,” Judy said with a snicker.
Brett snorted. “Yeah, not mine either. Thank God Tara and Uncle Eric stopped me.”
“I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I’m a little surprised she’d do that. I mean, I don’t know the girl, but...but geez, facing that kind of hatred. How could she not want you to defend her?”
“Because she’s marvelous,” Brett said, his chiseled features instantly softened by a glow only love can bring. “And if you ever get to meet her, you’ll see she doesn’t need defending. Tara could have easily called Dad out on his bullshit, but that wasn’t why we were here. We weren’t here to start any fight, and even though I didn’t think Dad would do what he did, Tara and I both knew we could be walking into a hornet’s nest, but that didn’t matter to her. She just wanted to see where I grew up and have at least one shot at meeting my family.”
“What do you mean one shot?”
“When I leave tonight, I won’t be coming back,” Brett said, following it with a swig of his beer.
“That’s a big step, Brett. This is your home.”
“No, this is where I grew up, but my home is where I choose to make it. I’m not saying I don’t love my family, and I’m not saying this place doesn’t hold a bunch of good memories, but memories aren’t static. They don’t only exist when I’m here. They go wherever I go. Whether I’m a part of the family, or I’m disowned, I’m always going to have them.”
Judy ran her hands over her arms to calm the goosebumps that had just sprouted. “When did you get so smart,” she whispered.
“Knowing what we both know, it sure as hell wasn’t from Dad.”
Judy raised her beer bottle to tap it against Brett’s. “I’ll drink to that.”
“Me, too.”
For a minute, both sipped their beers in silence until Judy turned to Brett. “So this girl must be pretty special for you to...well, for you to walk away like this.”
Brett studied his aunt for a moment. She was a foot shorter than him, but in his mind, she had always seemed so much taller. “Do you believe in love at first sight?” When Judy’s eyebrows rose, Brett said, “Stupid question coming from a guy—right?”
“No, not really. It just surprised me.”
“Well, do you?”
Judy rubbed the back of her neck, calming the hairs now standing on end. “Yes, I do,” she said softly. “Why?”
“Because that’s what happened. I walked into the library at school one afternoon, and there she was at one of the tables. She saw me. I saw her, and bam, that was it. It was like...like someone flipped a switch. And I know I probably sound like a complete idiot right now, but in that instant, I just knew Tara was the one for me. I just knew it. No getting around it. No changing it. No fighting it. No nothing. It just...it just was.” Brett looked at Judy and leaned in a little closer. “And I’m not a sappy romantic, Aunt Judy. I never believed in love at first sight or...or—”
“Soulmates?”
“Yes, soulmates, and Jesus Christ, in the blink of an eye, my whole world changed. I knew in a split-second she was my one and only.” Brett paused and shrugged. “When you know, you know. You know?”
Judy smiled at the redundancy, but she understood all too well what Brett had just described. Whether it’s a g
ut feeling or one that can be put into words, when you know...you do know.
Corners are turned, and choices are made, but throughout Judy’s life, roadblocks had swayed her direction, taking with them her hours, days, and years. She could never get them back, never rewind the clock to choose more wisely, but Judy was done wasting time. A few silly words had just changed her outlook for good because in their meaning was a powerful truth. Judy did know what she was. Judy did know who she loved, and Judy knew that both would never, ever change...and why the hell should they?
“And if Dad would just stop playing his stupid games, I could say my goodbyes and get back to the woman I love.”
Judy jerked out of her thoughts. “What? What do you mean? What games?”
“Oh, he’s been running interference all night. Mom has tried a couple of times to come over here, and he’s pulled her back, and if anyone else tries, he gives them that famous snarl of his, and they tuck their tail between their legs and scurry away. I’ve become a leper apparently, which is why you shouldn’t be talking to me. He’s just going to give you a lot of shit when he gets you alone.”
Judy set her jaw. She was well aware of the shit Patrick could shovel. He had entombed her in it for years, tossing shovelful after shovelful on top of her as if he was trying to bury her in a grave, but graves are for dead people, and Judy had never felt more alive.
“How about I turn the tables before he gets the chance?” Judy said, handing Brett her beer. “And I’d hold onto your hat if I were you because I’m about to bring this party to a close in a big way. Hope there’s room for me in Leperville.”
“What in the world are you going to do?”
Judy’s face split into a grin and standing on her tiptoes, she kissed her nephew on the cheek. “I’m going to live my life, Brett. I’m going to finally live my life!”
Once Judy turned to face the room, it took only a moment to spot Patrick standing next to Louise near the buffet. Making her way across the room, Judy had every intention of starting the conversation, but Patrick beat her to it.
“What were you doing talking to him?” Pat growled, gesturing with his head toward the corner where his son was still standing.
“He’s my nephew. Why wouldn’t I talk to him?”
“Because he’s no longer your nephew.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s so,” Patrick said, perching his folded arms across his potbelly. “And after Monday, he’s going to have to figure out how to pay for his precious master’s degree because I’ve written the last check out to Princeton.”
For a moment, Judy was dumbstruck, and she caught herself looking at Louise, trying to see if her sister-in-law felt the same way. The tears Judy saw welling in Louise’s eyes told her that she didn’t. They also told Judy she was on her own.
Louise was once statuesque. Her chin always held high, her eyes bright, and her voice lyrical, but somewhere along the way she had changed. Louise now had the demeanor of someone beaten down over the years, forever slouching, forever talking in whispers or not talking at all just like she was doing now, except Judy didn’t need to hear her voice. She heard all she needed to hear from the anguish she saw in Louise’s eyes.
Judy glared at her brother, striking the same pose, although she had no potbelly on which to rest her arms. “Well, then you’re a fucking fool.”
Housed in a metal building, there were no panels in the market to absorb noise and prevent it from carrying, so Judy’s words were heard by all. Behind her, in unison, Pat saw every head turn his way, and his cheeks flamed crimson. “You need to watch your language, Judy,” he growled, glaring down at her.
Judy looked over her shoulder at all the people gaping back at her. Their eyes were wide, and their mouths were open, but amongst them, she saw no children. “Why?” she said, returning her focus to Patrick. “We’re all adults here. If I want to say fuck, I’ll say fuck. What are you going to do, Patrick? Fucking disown me?”
“Are you drunk?”
“No, Pat, I’m stone cold sober. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I have ever been more clear-headed in my life.”
“Well, I don’t know what the hell’s gotten into you, but this is no way to talk to your brother.”
“Really? Because I think this is way overdue,” Judy yelled, taking a step closer to Pat. “That man over there is your son. You and Louise created him, and when you did, you took on the responsibility of a parent, not a tyrant. You’re supposed to love him and cherish him, not banish him like an infidel just because he decided to live his own life.”
“I’m not stopping him from living his own life, little sister. I’m just choosing who I want in mine,” Patrick said, leaning in toward Judy. “And if that little prick can’t stick to his own kind, he is no son of mine. Period!”
“Oh thank God!” Judy shouted, waving her arms in the air. “That means I’m safe.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Judy froze for one beat of her heart. She had just shot from the hip, saying the first thing that popped into her head, but instead of scrambling to create a lie to cover her tracks, Judy realized she didn’t need to scramble anymore, and suddenly she felt free. Her headache was gone. Her energy had returned, and she felt lighter than air.
Taking a deep breath, Judy smiled her best smile at Patrick and gave him a wink. “Hold that question, bro,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
Judy made a beeline for her social media junkie niece, and she was tickled when she saw the twenty-four-year-old’s eyes grow wider and wider the closer Judy got. “Can I borrow that, Gayle? Promise, I’ll bring it right back.”
Gayle’s gulp was audible. She quickly glanced at her brother for guidance, and after Trey gave her a half-hearted shrug, Gayle mimicked his gesture as she tapped on the screen to exit her Twitter app. Handing the tablet to Judy, she said, “Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
Judy opened the Google app, and typing into the search bar, she viewed the results. Clicking on the one she knew all too well, she tapped on the Gallery tab, brought up a picture and then marched over to Patrick. Flipping the tablet around, she said, “What was that you were saying about sticking to your own kind?”
Patrick pinched his lips together. He didn’t know what kind of game Judy was playing and his annoyance was rapidly darkening his cheeks. After giving the attractive blonde on the screen a cursory glance, he shoved the tablet back at Judy. “And who in the hell is that supposed to be?”
“My own kind, of course. Isn’t that what you said? We needed to stick to our own kind?”
“You’re talking in circles, Judy.”
“Well, then let me straighten the line, no pun intended,” Judy said, pointing to the picture. “Her name’s Robin Novak. She’s my lover, Patrick, and God willing, one of these days...she’s going to be my wife.”
Judy took a moment to watch as Patrick’s face morphed into what appeared to be a giant pimple waiting to burst before she flashed him a toothy smile and walked away. She was well aware all eyes in the room were on her, but ignoring the gawks and whispers, Judy strode back to her niece. “Here you go. Thanks.”
“Um…yeah,” Gayle said, taking the tablet. “Uh…no problem.”
Judy went to leave, but before she could take a step, she turned back around and knelt in front of Trey and Gayle. “You two have a choice. If you want to disown Brett, if you want to disown me, that’s on you, but everyone has the right to live their life without judgments. You do. I do. Brett does, and I hope you remember that.”
Judy straightened and headed for the door, slowing down only to grab her jacket draped on the back of a chair. As she tugged it on, she looked over at her nephew, still standing in the corner. “By the way, Brett,” Judy called out, giving Patrick a half-glance before focusing on Brett. “Give me a call. I’ll see what I can do about helping you out with your tuition. Love you.”
Brett’s dimples cratered in his cheeks. “
Love you, too. Aunt Judy.”
Across the room, Gayle waited until she saw her aunt go outside before rushing to open her tablet. A moment later, her smile matched Brett’s. “Wow.”
Chapter Forty-Four
As she was heading out of town, Judy stopped at a gas station to top off her tank, buy some energy drinks, use the ladies’ room, and call Robin. The last thing on her list had actually been her first. A few minutes after leaving the orchard, she had pulled off the road to call Robin on her mobile, only to find out that her rapidly draining battery had been a sign. Her ten-year-old phone had finally become a paperweight.
Judy pocketed her change, and snagging her coffee and her purchases, she smiled at the clerk. “Do you have a pay phone?” When the craggy-faced man raised a bushy eyebrow, Judy laughed. “My cell phone died.”
“Out the door, make a right. It’s around the side of the building.”
“Thanks.”
A minute later, Judy stood in front of the pay phone with the receiver in one hand and quarters in the other staring at the keypad. It was the standard configuration and had all the numbers and letters just like her phone, but unlike her phone, this one didn’t have Robin’s number programmed into it. Judy hadn’t memorized a number in years, and the only time she’d seen Robin’s was when she had added it to her contact list. Judy drummed her fingers on the shelf under the phone for several seconds before hanging her head. “Seriously?” she said under her breath. “Do you really want to tell her you love her for the first time on the phone? Idiot.”
Judy gathered her things, dropped the quarters in her pocket, but as she rounded the corner to return to her car, she stutter-stepped to a stop. A pickup truck had pulled in behind her car at the pumps, and on the door of the old red Ford was a faded Lawton Orchards decal. Judy took a deep breath and headed to her car, slowing to a snail’s pace as the door of the truck opened, and Eric stepped out.
“What?” he said, holding up his hands. “You’re not going to say goodbye?”