Love Me Always (The Invisibles)

by Michelle Lynn

  “Did I really pass out?” I ask, rubbing the sore spot on my head.

  “I’m sorry. I caught you, but you still hit your head on the corner of the door.” Brady’s hand covers mine, taking over the rubbing to sooth the throbbing pain.

  Money, that’s right. Brady will be rich and soon things are going to change.

  “Maggie, Ida and Vera, do you mind giving us a moment?”

  “Are you okay, dear?” Grandma asks and I nod, sliding up to rest my back against the wall.

  “Just taken aback,” I say and she scrunches those drawn-in eyebrows.

  The three file out, but Vera hangs back. “The dress is ready for you in the other room.” She smiles brightly. Give it a rest lady, you’ll get your commission.

  Brady sits next to me, his elbows resting on his raised knees. The fleece of his jacket rubbing against my bare arm. Warm and comforting, just like him.

  “I’m sorry I never told you, Sadie. It was never my intention to keep it from you.” His voice is low and worry is etched in it. Or maybe it’s his head hanging down between his arms.

  “But you did, Brady. You kept it from me.” I fiddle with the little sequin beads on the dress. Perfectly round and sparkly.

  “I didn’t think it was anything, a hundred grand tops.” He turns my way, his hands grasping for mine. Taking my fingers off the sequin, he captures a hold of it. “I never would have imagined. Why Maura never told me how much I was getting, I have no idea. You know how she is with money. Always has been. But it all makes sense why she never wanted anything Dad gave me when he went to live on the streets.”

  His caramel eyes are as defeated as my body feels.

  “On top of that, I’m pretty sure the only reason my mom came back was for a slice of the pot.” His hands fall limp in mine and for the first time in this conversation, I realize how much this money changes him. It’s not the egotistical, deserving side like my dad, but he knows how much this could ruin his life.

  I squeeze his hands back to life and he peers up through those long lashes I fell for years ago. He’s gorgeous and there isn’t a bad bone in his body. “Let’s hope not.” A small smile creases my lips and the corner of his start to turn.

  “I promise you, Sadie, I won’t change. Ever. We’ll lock up the money and save it for our own children.”

  I smile at the thought of our children. My curly blonde hair and his warm eyes. Beautiful.

  “I know you won’t change, Brady. It was wrong of me to think that. It’s just my mind is such a clusterfuck with all the wedding craziness going on. I have no idea what to do anymore. Every step of this wedding, I’m reminded about Theo and my lack of conversation with my dad.” I play with his fingers. Distraction is a must when I talk about what hurts me.

  His eyes dim and then light up. “Do you trust me?”

  I tilt my head. “Of course.”

  “Dr. Friar gave me the week off. Said I’m too distracted.”

  “Okay. That’s good, right?” I ask, still not understanding the excitement in his eyes.

  He leans in and his voice drops a few octaves. His sweet and chiseled face mere inches away from mine; I can taste the peppermint on his breath.

  “Marry Me.”

  “I am.” I stare down at the wedding gown I’m in.

  “No. Tomorrow. Just you and me. No one else there.”

  “Brady. We still have all of this to deal with. We can’t just run away.” His hands drop mine and he places them on either side of my face. My heartbeat picks up when I realize he’s serious.

  “Please, Sadie. We’ll come back and get married here in front of everyone.” He’s begging and I can’t deny that the thought of just us sounds good about now. “We’ve finished almost everything. Your mom and Ida can stay at the house, finish what needs to be done.” I search deep into the eyes that I love with all my heart, finding his hopefulness that I’ll say yes boring deep.

  I nod and he smiles, bending down to kiss me. But I place my finger to his lips.

  “One condition.”

  “Anything.

  “You talk to your mom.”

  He slinks back for a second, sitting back on his legs. I’m pretty sure his crazy impromptu wedding idea just changed course. But he surprises me again.

  “I’ll do it today.” He smashes his lips to mine and my head hits the back wall. “Sorry,” he mumbles and the pain is quickly replaced with his lips on mine.

  Brady

  MAURA RELEASES HER students and I walk down the steps of the auditorium, giving a few soft hellos to a few guys and girls I know. She shuffles her papers, closes her laptop and takes off her glasses that were resting on the tip of her nose. She catches my approach and a sly smile creases her lips. Cocky as all hell that she got me here.

  “You came?” she asks, no surprise in her voice.

  “Sadie and I are eloping. I’m taking her to Mexico tonight.” The smile will not leave my lips. I’m so fucking excited to have her to myself.

  “Sure have decided to make the most of the money.”

  “I’m paying for it, not my trust.” The distaste of her comment can’t be missed and from the way she peers up at me from packing her bag, she heard it. “But I have to get this mom-thing handled.” I rub my hands together. The anticipation of being on that plane with her is quickly taking over my body.

  “Let’s go then, little brother. She’s waiting over at Filgree’s.” She breezes by me and her heels click up the steps. “Better take that God damn smile off your face before we see her.” Maura sneers, never even gandering back at me.

  I follow her just like I did all my life. Maura’s been a great older sister, never truly deserting me. With our age difference she could have. I know she was offered plenty of professor positions all across the country. Ivy League ones, but she stayed at Western because of me. She’d deny it if anyone asked, but we both know she gave up a little of her dream to make sure I was okay.

  The restaurant is still slow since it’s eleven in the morning. After the dress shop, I left my credit card with Vera and told her to make sure the dress was ready for Saturday. She tried to throw a fit about Sadie having to come back in, but I said we’d be back late Friday night. We’d have to make do. Since I’m fairly sure it’s the most expensive dress in the store, she should be damn happy. Eventually, she nodded and I kissed my bride and left to go plan our trip.

  After a few calls, we were booked to get into Riviera Maya late tonight. We’d wed on the beach on Thursday at sunset. Then we’ll fly home Friday afternoon. It’s a quick three-day trip, but the fact I got her to be okay with it, still surprises me. The thought of having her all to myself for three whole nights stirs my dick to life.

  “Ouch,” I say when Maura’s elbow knocks me in the ribcage at the hosting station. “You don’t have to always be so physical. A simple tap on my shoulder would have sufficed.”

  “There she is,” she whispers, ignoring my comment completely. We peer through the opening of two wooden planks. Keith isn’t with her and I wonder what that means. I pray he’s not outside Grant’s house, because if he is, I can assume I’ll be called over there later.

  She’s aged so much. I saw wrinkles around her mouth yesterday and I wonder if she still sneaks those occasional cigarettes.

  “Can I help you?” The friendly college student host greets us, but we’re still trying to discreetly see her.

  “No, we see our party.” Maura’s voice is laced with distaste. “Thank you.” Her eyes never veer to the young girl and I give her a small smile to appease her. Maura and I have always been different. I’m friendly and nice and she’s . . . not.

  Maura’s eyes pin me and her hand holds my upper arms like I’m her child. “Now, don’t buckle. She abandoned us, remember.”

  “Like I’d forget.” I scrunch up my nose and shift to make her arms fall from me.

  “You’re a softy, Brady. I have to make sure you have your game face on.”

  “Damn, Maura, I’m
not sixteen.”

  “You were the last time she saw you.” Her reminding me of that was like a dart to the heart. Piercing and hurtful. I get it. “She left you with an alcoholic father who you had to take care of. Let’s not even bring up the fact it was with your best friend’s dad, which changed your friendship and you hated him—”

  “I don’t need the recap, Maura. I lived it.” Her eyes dim, and for a brief second, that gate to her heart opens to be seen. That is why I love my sister even if she’s known as the evil bitch to most students around campus.

  Before I can say anything, those gates lock back up and she swivels on her heels, determination in her stride. Her whole body demands respect as she steadily paces to my mom’s table. I follow along like a wounded puppy, trying to put on that false bravado of who the hell cares, I don’t need you in my life attitude.

  “Mother.” Maura slides a chair out and sits down. She glances over to me from the corner of her eye.

  I’m busy rubbing my sweat-filled palms down my gray slacks. I guess your mother is always your mother, because the wide smile across her face practically has me on my knees, begging her to hug me. That’s all before I remember the late nights of picking up my dad off the floor. Cleaning puke from around the toilet (when he made it there in time). The consistent talks Maura and I would have with him to get sober.

  Maura pats the seat like I’m her child, but that doesn’t mean I don’t follow the direction. My eyes bear down, unable to make contact with the woman who abandoned me. I continue to follow Maura’s lead. She clears her throat, sits up a little straighter and repositions the silverware while her eyes fixate on our mother’s.

  “Why are you here?” She cuts to the chase. Always does.

  “Brady’s wedding.”

  “Oh, is his wedding more important than mine?” She leans back and places her hand over her heart. “Or Grant’s? Keith didn’t care to see his only son get married.”

  My mom isn’t thrown off kilter, though. She expected these questions.

  “We didn’t know about those,” she fights.

  “How do you know about his?” Maura tilts her head in my direction and I continue to fiddle with the napkin in my lap.

  “The newspaper. Keith came to interview for a job, saw the picture.”

  A huge huff leaves Maura’s lips. “Go figure.” She stares directly at me and I know what’s she’s thinking. If my girlfriend wasn’t so obsessed with our wedding, she may have not come back.

  “She just wanted it to be nice.” I stick up for Sadie. Maura’s face drops slightly.

  “I know.” We have our own quiet conversation and I notice my mom inching forward to overhear us.

  “Let’s cut to the chase.” Maura continues her interrogation.

  “Why don’t we have lunch?” my mom counters, and my stomach churns with just the thought of sharing a meal with this woman.

  “I have another class and Brady has somewhere to be.”

  “Oh.” She leans back in her chair, her shoulders slumping. Maybe she does care about us.

  “We can have an appetizer,” I counter and Maura’s head whips so fast her hair sticks to her lip-glossed lips. She slowly removes it back to perfect position, narrowing her eyes.

  I widen my eyes to tell her we should. We have a non-verbal fight until I finally win out.

  “Fine.” Maura raises her hand to grab the waiter waiting patiently for the tension to leave our table I’m sure.

  “What can I get you?” the young college kid dressed in a black button down and white apron asks, his hands clasped behind his back.

  “We will have ice waters, and—” she holds her hand out to my mother.

  “A glass of your house white,” my mom says, her hands shaking.

  “Can I have a coffee as well?” I ask the waiter and he nods leaving the table.

  “Thank you,” my mom says, her own fingers knotting the napkin.

  “How many kids do you have, Maura?”

  Maura fiddles with her phone. “None of your business.”

  Quickly realizing she’s not getting anywhere with Maura, she turns her attention to me and my airway locks up.

  “So, Brady, Sadie seems sweet.”

  I nod.

  “She is. You know she’s the only girl that stuck around him after Dad became a bum on campus.” Maura chimes in, her fingers continuing to study the phone.

  “Oh. I had no idea Vince had gotten that bad.”

  Maura huffs, but her eyes never move up.

  “He’s much better now. Been clean for almost two years.” Maura kicks me under the table and glances up from her phone.

  Her eyes point to our mom. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

  Here I thought when we were coming to meet her for lunch, I’d be worse than Maura, but she’s out for blood—our mother’s blood.

  “No, of course not. But I am happy to hear that.” My mom’s voice is low.

  The waiter brings over our drinks and Maura rolls her eyes at my mom’s white wine. Can’t say I don’t blame her. She has no idea if that addiction gene carried over to one of us. She has no idea if one of us are in sobriety right after our father.

  “You’re graduated now?” she asks me and I nod again.

  “Missed that too,” Maura scoffs and takes a sip of her water.

  “Maura,” my mom sighs, but Maura raises her hand back up to the waiter. He rushes over to us, pen and paper poised this time.

  “We need to make this snappy, so I’ll have a chicken and apple side salad.” She turns to me. “What do you want?”

  “Um.” I pick up the menu. “I’ll just have the bruschetta,” I quickly say the first thing my eyes land on.

  “And you?” Maura’s distaste has the waiter’s eyes pinging back to her.

  “I’ll have the scallops.”

  “Please ask the kitchen to hurry.” Maura gathers all our menus and hands them back to him. He practically runs back to his computer to put the order in.

  I lean into her, whispering, “Do you know him?”

  Her eyes crinkle. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s been in one of my classes.” Her usual low patience is even lower and we need to get out of here before she blows.

  “So,” my mom says.

  “So.” Maura links her arms on the table and leans forward. “Are you here for the money?”

  “What?” My mom’s head draws back like she’s offended.

  “The inheritance Brady gets. Don’t act dumb, you know about the money we get.”

  “Yes, I know about it, but I’m not here for it. I’m here to see my baby get married.” She smiles over to me and my eyes ping back down to the table.

  “Save it. I already called Gretchen. She told me you’ve been in contact with Aunt Kate.”

  My eyes bulge. Gretchen’s my cousin that just married last year. Aunt Kate, my mom’s sister, who last we knew hadn’t heard from her either.

  “I’m trying to make amends. I’ve been talking to my siblings.”

  “Let me get this right,” Maura does a fake laugh, “You actually got in touch with your brother and sisters before your own children.” Maura looks my way. “Isn’t that sweet, Brady? Still, we aren’t number one in her life.”

  My mom’s lips turn down and she seems genuinely unhappy with the way this lunch is going.

  “That’s not true. I was scared.”

  “Nope.” the ‘p’ pops out of her mouth.

  “Yes it is.” She slams her fist on the table, the silverware jiggles and the drinks slosh, dripping onto the nice white napkin. “Jesus, Maura. Will you give me a chance?”

  “NO.” Maura’s veins pop in her neck as she leans forward, lowering her voice. “You had a chance when I called you and told you what you left behind. When I told you Dad was a mess and Brady couldn’t handle it all himself. When I explained to you, Brady and Grant’s relationship had been destroyed and he had no one. You had your chance to come back and make it better. If you wanted to
leave Dad, fine, but a mother doesn’t leave her children.” Maura’s voice trembles for a second, but she quickly reclaims her voice. “Brady finally has everything he wants. A gorgeous bride who stands by him no matter what. He’s worked hard for where he’s gotten to and you coming back is messing with it. Brady will get that inheritance on Monday morning and you will go back to Florida tonight.”

  “I’m not here for the money,” she argues and Maura takes another deep breath.

  “Save it, Mother. Aunt Kate told me you tried to get to Gretchen. How you and Keith’s business failed and he can’t find a teaching position. You found out how much he’s getting and you think you should get a piece of the pie. You had your money and you took it away when you left us.”

  “Brady, listen.” My mom’s eyes track my way, but I can barely see through the red haze. Maura drudging up the past and hearing how my mom knows about my money.

  “Do you?” My question barely audible.

  “Brady.” She tries again to give me that sweet mom voice.

  “Do you know how much I’m getting?” I ask and she nods. The acid of the bile rises up my throat. Some people never change.

  “And you came back hoping he’d help you out?” Maura continues while I’m trying to not lose my coffee all over the table.

  “That was only part of it.” She fights it and I stand, unable to hear anymore.

  Maura’s eyes ping to me and the confused waiter brings our lunches over. He positions the plates in front of each of us and my mom’s face pales.

  “Listen, you will leave town tonight. You and Keith both, because I can guarantee you, Grant doesn’t want him near his family. Go back and crawl into whatever hole you came from.”

  Maura grabs the waiter’s attention again. “She’ll be paying the bill.” Her eyes fixate directly on our mother; fire could flame out of them any second. “You should have some money, right? I mean, you never did pay child support or help either one of us through school. Hell, you never even put food on a table for us to eat. Sayonara, Mom.” She throws her napkin on the table and waits for me a few steps away.

  “Bye, Mom. I’m begging you to please not ruin my wedding day with your presence. If you could do one thing for me, that’s what I ask.” My head nods and then I follow Maura out of the restaurant.