“I thought Locke told your dad about the café.”
“What?” She reels back, and now we’re both shocked. “No, of course not. He would never. If he did, my dad would have shown up there and tried whipping Grant into shape like he does with everyone else.” Something close to a laugh makes it out of her mouth, but it sounds forced. “Locke isn’t that type of guy. And he would never do that to Grant. Why would you think that?”
She’s smiling, but I have a feeling I’m walking a thin line with little balance. I mumble out, “I figured he would feel awkward,going from the only son to the youngest of the two. Maybe talk to your dad about it or something.”
It’s a good save. Doesn’t give anything away that will offend her or their family. And gets her thinking, from the looks of it.
Billie’s amused demeanor diminishes. She goes back to the timid shell that intensely contrasts her bubbly personality, wrapping her hands around herself.
“Well, yes and no. Itwasawkward. We knew our dad had another son but he was rarely mentioned. It was like he only existed in ideas or memories. Never physically, you know?”
She waits for me to relate to her, but I can’t. Never experienced someone being close by blood but never by heart.
When she realizes I have no two cents to add, she keeps talking.
“Years ago, dad randomly announced Grant is going to come around more often. Said we need to welcome him like he’s been here the whole time, because he’s our brother and that’s our job.”
“That’s a weird thing to say to your kids.”
“I know. My dad likes to remind us we have jobs to do as McCarthys.” She sighs, turning away from me and looking back at the city. “Do you know what it’s like being my dad’s kid?”
My vision bounces around. “Uh-”
“That was a rhetorical question. Of course you don’t.” Billie chuckles, quiet and hollow. “No one does, except for me and Locke. It’s not absolutely horrible. We’re spoiled rich kids who can buy whatever we want, and that’s nice. But it’s kind of… empty sometimes.”
Her voice drops and I lean in to hear her more clearly. The closer I get, the easier I can see the tears gathering in her waterline.
“So, yeah, it was awkward when Grant suddenly showed up. For our entire lives, Locke and I only had each other.”
“You guys do seem close.”
“We are. He’s a good brother. He was the oldest growing up, and he takes a lot of shit from my dad, and he’s so afraid of him. And then in comes Grant, and now he’s the oldest, and he’s giving our dad attitude and getting an art degree which totally pisses him off, and-” When Billie turns to look at me, a single tear rolls down her cheek, but her face is bright with amazement.
“Even if he hasn’t been around for however many years, there’s finally someone else who gets what it’s like to be Keller McCarthy’s kid. It’s not just the two of us anymore.”
A distinct emerald green glints in Billie’s eye, one that’s become comforting and familiar. It occurs to me that the three of them, the McCarthy siblings, are bonded, regardless of the time they spent together or apart.
The muscles of my heart tighten. The lost expression Grant gets when he mentions Locke and Billie flashes. I assumed it was resentment knowing they spent their lives with Keller. I realize how wrong I was.
It’s jealousy. In the middle of his loneliness, he assumed they had two parents to turn to. In reality, they’ve depended on one another, because their father didn’t afford them emotional support. While Grant’s consumed by false perceptions of them, Billie and Locke know what he must be going through.
“I had no idea you guys saw him that way.” Neither does he.
“Of course we do.” She shrugs like it’s so simple to explain their relationship. “I know he’s nicer to me, and he really hold a grudge to Locke, but we love him the same. He’s our brother.” The crisp air is suddenly warmer. Her words come out in a whisper, as if this information is too personal for me to know. “I wish he wanted a relationship with us, or that he didn’t hate us so much.”
Pity piles up in my chest.
I want to tell her that he loves them, too, but from what I know, it’d be a horrible lie to tell.
Billie glances over at me. I feel the need to say something, but before I can come up with it, she shakes her head. Quickly wipes away the few tears that have escaped. Snaps her fingers, and her demeanor completely changes.
“Anyways!” The redirection sends me for a loop. She doesn’t seem fazed, smiling like she didn’t speak Grant’s hatred into realization. “I know I already said it, but I want to thank you again for the card. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
“It’s really nothing.” I strain a smile. She’s going to be sorely disappointed to find the $50 makeup store gift card shoved in the envelope, and not some luxury brand necklace.
Her hand squeezes over mine. “No, really. I love it. It’s the first birthday gift I’ve ever gotten from family.”
“The first?” I gape at her, shocked by the revelation and by being referred to as family. “But your dad must have gotten you something before?”
