“Dad, I grew up in the nineteen eighties and nineties, not the eighteen eighties and nineties.”
“I know, Son,” he said, waving me off. “Listen, I guess we should’ve done a lot of things differently in this house when you boys were growing up. Maybe the events that led to our divide never would’ve happened if I’d been a better father.”
“Dad, neither you nor Mom were responsible for what happened. I had a wonderful, happy childhood. You might not have been the kind of dad to read bedtime stories and watch Christmas shows with us, but you taught us by example. The first thing you did every night was kiss Mom hello and make her giggle before you’d rumple our hair and ask us about our day. You demanded that we show women respect at all times. You worked extra jobs when crop prices were down so we could have the things we needed. I’ve taken those lessons and applied them to my life. Jack’s actions are all on him, not you.”
“Knock knock,” came a soft voice from the foyer. Maegan stiffened beside me, and I knew it was because she thought Brandy had stopped by. I reached for her hand beneath the table and brought it to my lips for a kiss.
“We’re in here, Daphne,” Mom said.
A petite brunette with big brown eyes and hair pulled back in a ponytail walked into the kitchen. “Hello. I’m so sorry to interrupt dinner. I just wanted to drop off the casserole dish I borrowed before it never made it back.”
“No problem,” Mom told her. “Are you hungry? We have plenty.”
“Oh, heavens no. I’ll just go set this on the kitchen counter and be on my way.” She dropped a kiss on my mom’s head then circled around to do the same for my dad before she left the room. Who the hell was this woman who knew my parents so well? I might’ve thought she was a homecare nurse until she kissed them affectionately. She popped her head back in the dining room when she was finished putting the dish back. “All done.”
“Daphne, this is Elijah, Jack’s younger brother.”
“I figured as much,” she said warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Elijah.”
“Likewise,” I said, although I had no clue who the hell I was meeting. “This is my girlfriend, Maegan.”
“Hello,” Maegan said cheerfully but looked as confused as I felt.
“Good to meet you, Maegan. I need to be on my way. Have a good night, everyone.”
“You too,” we all called out after her.
Mom and Dad went back to eating while Freckles and I shrugged at one another. “Um, who was that?”
“That’s Daphne,” Dad said.
“She’s Jack’s girlfriend,” Mom added. “They’ve been dating for a few years now. The kids love her.”
“You weren’t the only Markham Brandy fucked over,” Dad said. “At least you didn’t have kids to tie you to her for the rest of your life like Jack does.” Was I supposed to feel sorry for him? “He also learned that being a single parent isn’t so great, but at least the kids are happy and cared for with him.”
“Jack has custody of the kids?” I asked.
“She didn’t even put up a fight because she’d found the next sucker who thought she was a prize,” Dad fumed. “She moved to New York City. Good riddance, I say. That hateful woman has caused this family enough pain.”
“Jack,” Mom admonished.
Maegan set her fork down. “Don’t sugarcoat it on my behalf, Jack. I’ve dreamed about scratching that bitch’s eyes out every night since I learned about her existence.”
Dad hooted with laughter. “I like your Freckles, Elijah.”
“I’m quite fond of her too, Dad.” The fierceness in her eyes showed her passionate nature.
After dinner, I helped Mom do dishes while Maegan helped my dad back to the recliner. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me about Dad’s cancer diagnosis? Did you think I wouldn’t want to know?” I was careful not to use an accusatory tone. My mom wasn’t a suspect; she was the woman stuck in the middle of a horrible situation.
Mom released a long, shaky breath like she’d anticipated the question all afternoon and was grateful it had finally been asked. “I should’ve told you, but I didn’t want to use emotional blackmail to get you back home. I would’ve called you sooner if the doctor had given your father a bad prognosis. Your father was convinced from the offset that he’d beat it, and…” Her voice trailed off. “I don’t think he wanted you to see him in his weakest condition. He wanted to feel better when he made his apologies. He didn’t want or need your pity; he wanted and needed your forgiveness.”
“I’m getting there, Mom.”
She looked up from washing her pot roast pan and smiled brightly. “You are going to marry Maegan, right? There’s something different in your voice when you talk about her. I can hear how much you adore her.”
“I do adore her, and I’m absolutely going to marry her.” There was no doubt in my mind.
“Good, because there’s something special I’d like for you to have.” Mom reached into her cardigan and pulled out a red velvet box I immediately recognized. I knew a two-carat antique ring carefully rested on a ring pillow inside.
