“But you will manage to keep it from him, right? Andy and your parents will never forgive me if they find out I let the cat out of the bag.”
“You didn’t,” I reminded him. “I guessed.”
“That’s right, Nancy Drew. I need you to promise me you won’t let this slip.”
“Of course, I won’t.” I had much better control than Milo did. Elijah stared at me as if he wanted to believe me, but worried about the competitive streak running through my blood. “Besides, I’ll get a secret thrill every time we talk because I know something he doesn’t.”
“That’s my Freckles.”
I’D KNOWN ALL ALONGJACKIEand Dennis were joining Andy and me for golf while Maegan went digging for treasures and Milo went to drag rehearsal. The Queen City Divas were putting on a charity event to raise money for an HIV transition home owned by Milo’s friend, Archie. It seemed like the perfect time to put our proposal plans into action. Andy had become my best friend, so of course I told him about my mom giving my great-grandmother’s ring to me to give to Maegan. Andy confessed he was planning to ask Milo to marry him too. That’s when we started planning our proposals so they wouldn’t overlap or take away joy from each other.
Lying and keeping secrets from Maegan felt wrong, and I didn’t enjoy doing it, but I couldn’t tell her Andy and I purposely invited her parents so we couldbothask them for their blessing to marry their children. I also couldn’t tell her I knew how far Andy was going to give her twin brother a proposal he’d never forget. I had never planned to tell her anything about Andy’s proposal, but my body language or tone of voice must’ve given something away. So, I threw poor Andy under the bus. At first, I worried Maegan wouldn’t be able to keep the secret from Milo, but then I realized my fear was unwarranted. She’d go to any lengths to see her brother’s dreams come true.
On Wednesday, instead of our usual French toast brunch, Maegan and I headed to The Ohio State University Hospital for my dad’s surgery. I was nervous for many obvious reasons like something going wrong during my dad’s surgery or finding out the cancer was more progressed than they thought. The biggest cause for my tension was knowing I would see my brother for the first time since I kicked his ass in his front yard after finding my wife in his bed pregnant with his baby.
Maegan and I arrived a few minutes after Dad checked in. Mom was sitting by herself looking calm and serene as she waited to be called back in to see Dad before surgery.
“Oh, Elijah,” she said, hugging me tight. “Thank you for coming. He will be so happy to see you.”
“I’m where I want to be,” I assured her. “Well, maybe not in the hospital but with you and Dad.”
“Maegan,” Mom said, holding out her arms for the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. “Thank you for being here with us today.”
Maegan slid her hand inside mine after hugging Mom. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jack and Daphne approach. I reminded myself to breathe and remember I wasn’t there for Jack; I was there for Mom and Dad. Maegan and I stepped back so Mom could greet them too. Maegan released my hand and slid her thin arm around my waist and pressed into my side. I raised my hand and rested it on the back of her neck because she loved the weight of my hand there. If we were alone, she’d lean into my touch more and practically purr from pleasure.
“Hello, Elijah,” Jack said calmly, but his expression gave away how anxious he was. “I hear you’ve both met Daphne.”
“Hello again,” she said sweetly.
Maegan and I returned her greeting, and I knew I had two choices: introduce Jack and Maegan or pretend he didn’t exist. My mom had been through enough and didn’t need for me to act like a child.
“Hello, Jack,” I said coolly. “This is Maegan.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Maegan said pleasantly.
“Likewise.”
The pager in my mom’s hands lit up and buzzed, signaling we could go back and see Dad for a brief visit before he was rolled into the operating room. A calm hush settled over us as we followed the nurse through the corridors as a Markham united front for the first time in ten years. Some of the players were new, and past transgressions weren’t suddenly forgotten, but in that moment, we only wanted to give Dad peace of mind.
“Mercy me,” Dad said when all five of us stepped inside his little curtained cocoon. Mom went to the right side of his bed and slid her fingers through his. I saw him squeeze her hand to assure her he was fine. “I didn’t expect all of you to get up so early.” His eyes searched mine, looking for signs of distress, but I’d be damned before I showed any. “I hate that you took time off for this. I’ll be right as rain in no time at all.” His voice shook just enough for me to detect he wasn’t as calm as he wanted us to believe.
I walked to the left side of his bed and took his other hand in mine. “You took the day off when I had my tonsils removed.”
“Of course, I took the day off. You were a frightened little boy having surgery for the very first time.”
“And you’re my father who’s having surgery for the first time. There’s no other place I should be.” Tears formed in my dad’s eyes, and one slid down his cheek. It was going to take some time to get used to seeing my dad express emotions this way. The man I grew up with wouldn’t have cried if he cut his arm off with a chainsaw. He would’ve told my mom to stitch it up so he could get back to work clearing the fence line. “Everything is going to be just fine, Dad.” It had to be.
“I know.”
I stepped aside, and Maegan took my place briefly to give Dad a kiss on his cheek. “We’ll see you when you come out of recovery.”
“I’m liable to be grouchy and not the charmer you’re accustomed to seeing.”
Maegan giggled. “That’s understandable. I won’t hold it against you.” She patted his hand and joined me in the corner so Jack and Daphne could wish him well too. Daphne was as sweet as Maegan, but when it was Jack’s turn, Dad crooked his finger for him to lower his head then whispered something in his ear.
Jack lifted his head to look into Dad’s eyes, nodded, and said, “Yes, sir.” Dad squeezed Jack’s hand like his actions and words pleased him greatly. Jack and Daphne moved to the opposite corner of Maegan and me so Mom could have all of Dad’s attention.
