After several minutes, Brooks moved to the seat next to me. “Grace.”
A shiver went down me. How ridiculous. It’s just there was something in the way he always said my name. My God-given Christian name that only he used.
“I am sorry,” he cleared his throat as if he hadn’t said those words in a long time, “for not being more perceptive today. I’ve done my best to forget everything about Pecan Orchard that I could.”
My head whipped toward him. Did he have any idea what a punch to the gut that was? I obviously had meant nothing to him. I took a moment to search his eyes, desperate to see anything of the boy I’d known, or thought I’d known. The boy I had loved. I sighed when all I saw was a steely determination. “You’ve done an excellent job.” I stood and walked over to the other side of the empty room just before the tears started to fall.
I put my arms around myself, cold from the air conditioner and Brooks’s response. I don’t know why I was so surprised. His behavior twenty years ago and today were pretty pathetic. I stared blankly out the glass door that led to the rest of the hospital. There wasn’t much to look at other than a drinking fountain and a picture of some old guy. I rubbed my arms, shifting my thoughts to Tom and praying he would make it. The doctor said he was stable for now, and his temperature was coming down. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to be sitting next to Tom and holding his hand. It would be an added bonus to be away from Brooks’s gaze. I don’t even know why he came here in the first place. He’d refused to go back and see his daddy when given the chance earlier.
Amid my silent contemplation a suit coat that smelled of orange tree blossoms with a hint of spice was being draped over my shoulders, engulfing me. I instantly felt warmer.
“You look cold,” Brooks crooned from behind me.
I was cold, but I didn’t need his kindness. “I’m fine. You can keep your suit coat.” I tried shrugging it off.
Brooks placed his hands on my shoulders. “Please take it.”
I begged myself not to revel in his touch or the way he smelled. The voice that kept telling me Brooks was meant to be mine was wrong about him, and I had been too. “Really, I’m okay.”
“Don’t be stubborn. Your magically delicious shirt is paper thin.” I heard the smile in his voice.
“Are you making fun of my shirt? I’ll have you know, because of this baby, I beat your daddy,” my voice cracked, “and mine every week in poker.”
Brooks dropped his hands. “You play poker with Tom?”
I turned with a scrunched brow. “He’s your daddy, and yes I do. We also have a monthly book club, manicure Mondays, salsa Sundays, and occasionally fried food Fridays, which, under the circumstances, are now canceled.” I felt sick thinking I had contributed to Tom’s condition. I should have been firmer with him about his eating habits, but his favorite saying was, “I’m a Texan, and it’s our God-given right to eat badly.” His other favorite was, “Go big or go home.”
Brooks ran his hands through his tousled hair. “I didn’t realize you two were still so close.”
“I think there’s a lot you don’t realize.” I took off his suit coat and handed it back to him. I’d rather freeze than be tortured by his yummy scent.
He stared down at his jacket. “You have no idea what he did to our family.” Brooks seethed.
“That’s where you’re wrong. And if you don’t think your daddy has felt the repercussions of what he did every day of his life, you’re sorely mistaken. That man loves you so much. He’s so proud that you followed in his footsteps and became a lawyer.”
Brooks’s head jerked up. “I’ll never be like him.”
“Sadly, that’s probably true.”
Brooks’s icy glare made me shiver, but I held his gaze. He tilted his head. “You’re different than I remembered.”
“How so?”
“You used to be a lot nicer.”
My hand flew to my heart. I was a nice person. At least until Brooks had appeared today. “I could say the same for you.” I headed back for the chairs and took a seat, shaking.
Brooks paced and paced, rubbing his neck as he went.
I tried to ignore him and pulled out my phone to read our book club choice for the month—Twilight. I smiled to myself thinking of Tom’s pick. He had chosen it because Carly loved that series and he was desperate to connect with his kids in any way. I hadn’t read the book in years, so I was brushing up. Unfortunately, lusty teen angst couldn’t keep me distracted.
Brooks eventually threw himself into the chair next to me. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands. He inhaled and exhaled loudly. “Grace, I don’t want to fight with you. My father could die,” he choked out.
My heart instantly softened toward him, and before I could stop myself, I rested my hand on his back. “I know. And I’m sorry.” Sorry for what could happen and sorry I hadn’t been kinder. Tears welled in my eyes.
He turned his head toward me, the corners of his mouth slightly ticked up. “I should apologize to you.”
“Probably.” I smiled.
That elicited a full grin from him. In his smile, I saw the boy I used to know and love. It had me removing my hand from his strong back. My heart couldn’t afford to waste its time on a lost cause.
He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. “Has he been sick?”
“No. I mean, he hasn’t exactly taken care of himself for the better part of the last two decades, but he hasn’t had any major illnesses.”
“Do you still live in Pecan Orchard?”
“I still live with Daddy. I do my best to keep both men out of trouble.”
“You still live at home?” His tone teetered between surprise and judgment.
“Yes, I do, and I’m not ashamed of it. It’s completely respectable. I make a good living, so it’s all by choice.”
“Yes, I got a taste of your livelihood today.”
“You’re welcome, by the way. Your skin looks great.”
He chuckled. “I’ll give you that. Your bedside manner, though, was lacking.”
“You’re the only person who would say so. Despite what you think about me, I’m generally adored,” I teased.
He turned, making sure we locked eyes. “I do remember that about you.”
I swallowed hard. Holy crow.
He reached over and took my hand. “I’m sorry for not recognizing you today.”
I stared down at our hands. They looked good together. His were all masculine, and mine were feminine and slender. We both had well-kept nails, except mine were painted the perfect shade of taupe. Not only did they look good together—they felt as if they belonged, like the last two puzzle pieces that came together, allowing you to see the completed picture.
I bit my lip, wanting to hold on to him for as long as I could, forgetting he was a lost cause and that he’d hurt me. “I guess I can forgive you. I’m sure it was because I still look so young,” I joked.
He leaned in closer. His cinnamon breath lingered between us. His lips parted to speak right as his phone buzzed loudly. He dropped my hand like a hot biscuit. “I need to take this. It’s Morgan. Do you remember Morgan Bronson?”
Ugh. Unfortunately, yes. She was still interrupting me. “Looks like you didn’t forget everything about Pecan Orchard.” I stood. “I’m going to go check on your daddy.” And check my brain while I was at it.
Chapter Six
I wasn’t sure what broke my heart more: looking through the glass door and seeing Tom hooked up to so many machines in an effort to keep him alive, or watching June silently cry by his bedside. She kept attempting to hold his hand, yet each time she wouldn’t allow herself to. I hated to interrupt, but I needed to see Tom and get away from his son. I stepped closer so the automatic doors would open.
June’s head snapped up, and she wiped her eyes.
“I’m sorry to intrude.”
She waved her hand. “Darlin’, you aren’t intruding. You’ve been more his fa
mily than anyone. The doctor told me he’s only authorized to speak to you, since you are his primary caregiver. Tom probably didn’t trust any of the rest of us not to pull the plug on him.” She half laughed, half cried.
I pulled up a chair next to her and took her hand.
Her unusually large hand squeezed the life out of mine. “You’re a good girl. Always were.”
“I don’t think Brooks would agree.”
She chuckled. “I gather from your exchange that you were the aesthetician he saw today.”
“Guilty.”
“Whatever you did to him, he deserved it for not recognizing you. You haven’t changed a bit, other than being more beautiful.”
“I think the tears in your eyes are clouding your vision.”
She patted my hand. “I’ve been blind about a lot of things but not that.” She looked wistfully at Tom. “You know,” her voice cracked, “we’d always hoped you and Brooks would end up together. Tom used to say, ‘If Brooks is smart, he’ll realize Gracie is the catch of a lifetime.’”
“We were just friends,” I stuttered. Though inside I was flattered Tom and June wished the same thing I had.
“Uh-huh. We saw the way you two used to look at each other.”
I tucked some tendrils behind my ears. “We were like siblings, and Brooks always loved Morgan,” I hissed her name. Brooks had never looked at me the way he used to look at Morgan. With her it was always with wide-eyed wonder. As if she were this magical, exotic creature. When he used to look at me, it usually bordered on amusement and annoyance. Carly and I were always trying to talk him into something. Whether it was being a participant in the school carnival’s kissing booth or making him help us with the homecoming parade float. He would eventually give in but not without giving me a look that said he’d rather wring my neck.
June grimaced. “Morgan,” she spewed. “I have no idea what my son sees in her. They’re dating again.”
“So I heard. He’s talking to her now.”
“She’s probably complaining that Brooks ruined her night by having to leave her company’s dinner party early. Any girlfriend worth her salt would have left with him and come to the hospital. His daddy is dying, for goodness’ sake,” she croaked. “But not that one. She’s as selfish as she’s always been,” she ranted. She took a deep breath in and out. “Enough about her; tell me how you’ve been, honey.”
I reached out and smoothed the cooling blanket draping Tom. Tears silently streaming down my face. He looked so devoid of life. The only thing that told me he was alive was the beeping of the machines monitoring his heart and blood pressure.
“I’ve been great until tonight. I should have tried harder to make him eat healthier and stop drinking. I could have made him listen.”
June wrapped an arm around me, forcing my head onto her shoulder. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for this. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I hated him so much for what he had done to me, I turned our children against him. Took away everything he loved most in this world, except you and your daddy.”
“He only ever blamed himself.”
“A few years ago,” she sighed, “I would have been happy to hear that. But lately, I’ve realized how bitter I’ve become. How I let it turn me into someone I’m not proud of. It’s even made me question leaving Tom. He begged me to work it out.” She sobbed. “I was too proud to even consider it, even though he was the love of my life.” She rubbed my arm. “To spite him, I gave up so many of the people and things I loved too. Including you, darlin’. I’m so sorry. I was too weak and humiliated to face anyone or anything associated with Pecan Orchard.” She hiccupped. “And I’m afraid my hard heart has ruined my son.”
My head popped up. “How?”
She rested her hand on my water-logged cheek. “He’s so cynical. He thinks marriage is a hoax.”
I rubbed my heart. That was unfortunate news, considering I had a weird voice telling me we would get married. Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to believe it. Okay, so maybe I did a long time ago, but I had gotten wiser. Sort of. “Well, he is a divorce lawyer. He probably sees a lot of crazy things.” I tried to make her feel better, even though I believed the real reason was because he was self-centered. He and Morgan were two peas in a pod. Except they were probably too selfish to share a pod.
“You’re sweet to say that, but my boy has never been the same since I left his daddy.” She dropped her hand and gazed at Tom. “We had so many dreams. We should be traveling the world together now and covered in grandbabies.”
“Tom would have liked that very much. He loves to tell me stories about how you met in college and you wouldn’t give him the time of day.” I laughed softly.
She half smiled. “Oh, he was a charmer. Too charming—I couldn’t believe it was real. But he was the real deal. He talked my roommates into letting him in our apartment while I was in class. He hung up pictures of himself everywhere. He wrote on every single one, ‘Call me for a good time.’”
“No way,” I giggled.
“Oh yes.”
“What did you do?”
“I eventually called him after a week. It took everything I had in me not to call him the second I got home. I thought I needed to play a little hard to get. I wish I wouldn’t have waited. I’ve always been too stubborn for my own good.”
“I think everyone is, to some degree. I mean, I had ample opportunity to tell Brooks who I was today. Instead I painfully extracted his blackheads and subjected him to my mag light. Then I may have fudged the truth about how many wrinkles he has.” I felt better after confessing my sins and for making June laugh uncontrollably.
When she got her giggles under control, she said, “Darlin’, I always loved your feisty spirit. And I have no doubt my son deserved whatever you threw at him.”
“I probably let my pride get in the way. I was hurt he didn’t recognize me.”
“As you should have been.”
“And I may or may not still hold a grudge that he stood me up on prom night.”
June swallowed hard and shifted in her seat. “Please don’t blame him.”
I tilted my head while she hung hers.
“Honey,” she whispered. “That was the day I found out about Tom’s affair. Tom and I agreed not to tell Carly and Brooks until after graduation, but Brooks caught me crying in my room. He had come in to ask me how to pin on your corsage.” She sniffled. “I tried to brush off the tears, but Brooks knew something was wrong. To this day I feel so awful telling him the way I did. For ruining your night.”
Ugh. Now I felt terrible too. Here I’d been cursing him for over half my life. Thinking back, June and Tom had seemed off that night when all the parents were taking pictures of us. And it was odd that they hadn’t been more frantic about not knowing where their son was. I had been too wrapped up in my own disappointment to question any of it. Or to think there was more to the story. I had figured Brooks didn’t want to go if Morgan couldn’t be his date. I’d pictured all sorts of torrid things they were doing while I was trying to hold back the tears at prom during all the slow dances or when the photographer wanted to take a picture of the prom king and me with our dates. Looking back, nothing was ever the same after that day. The Hamiltons, in a way, ceased to exist. “I didn’t know.”
“How could you have? I made Brooks swear not to tell his sister. She’d always had more delicate feelings, and we wanted her to enjoy the last bit of her senior year. It was a huge burden for Brooks to carry. One I still feel guilty about. And you . . .” She brushed my cheek. “You must have been so hurt. I knew how excited you were. I knew how much you liked my son.” She gave me a knowing look.
I bit my lip. “It was only a silly high school crush,” I lied. It was a good lie, though. I wanted to spare June some guilt, but she was smart.
“I don’t think so. You treated Brooks as if you expected a future with him.”
Heat flooded my cheeks.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
She gave me a sad smile. “I’m sure you do. You’re a gorgeous woman inside and out.”
“I wish Brooks would have told me. You know, after we graduated.”
“Darlin’, we were all hurting so much. Sometimes when you’re in that kind of pain, it’s the ones you’re closest to who you fear being around the most.”
“Why?”
She thought for a moment. “That kind of pain brings a vulnerability that will scare the living daylights out of you. And I don’t think Brooks, even on a good day, was ever good with owning his feelings. I think that’s why he keeps going back to that woman. Morgan’s so emotionally closed off, Brooks feels safe around her.”
“See, I always thought it was her voluptuous chest.” I stared down at my mostly flat one.
June chuckled and swatted my arm. “Darlin’, I do love you. I hope you can forgive me. I hope Brooks will too. I have a feeling when he finally wises up, he’s going to realize what I made him miss out on.” She tapped my nose. “Yes, I’m talking about you.”
I shook my head. “No. No. Like I said, we were only friends. And he and Morgan, well . . . I don’t know what they are, but apparently they are meant to be.” Those words tasted bitter, like a mouthful of coffee grounds.
“You think so?”
I shrugged half-heartedly, wishing it wasn’t true.
“Take it from his momma, that woman is not meant for my boy. Why do you think I came to Dallas? When he told me he was dating her again, I jumped in my Caddy and burned some rubber. I drove nonstop from Little Rock, prepared with note cards and charts.”
“I’d love to see those.”
“Name the time, darlin’.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “I love you, Miss June.”
“Oh, sweet girl, I love you more than you’ll know,” she choked up. “I’m going to make it right, for everyone, even Tom. He’s going to wake up, or so help me there is going to be hell to pay.”
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