“Same as you, apparently.”
“I stayed up too late last night working on a project.”
Brandon owned an art studio calledThe Weekend Wandererthat focused mainly on his photography but had some other handcrafted items as well.
“Is business good?”Fred turned on the water and soaped up his hands.
“Yeah, not bad.I need to replace another picture forTheBaked Apple Café.Cari wasn’t wrong about that being a great place to show my photographs.That makes three sales from there in less than a year.”
“Hey, that’s great!And your studio is seeing sales, too?”Fred tossed his paper towel in the bin.
Their sister Emma and Cari Welsh owned and operatedTheBaked Apple Caféand food truck.And with their older brother Will running his own home construction… flipping… renting… whatever business, that left only Fred and Eddie as the non-entrepreneurial Bennetts.And even Eddie had a side hustle in editing.Running his own business – even just as a side gig – didn’t interest Fred one iota.
“Yep, though, to be honest, a lot of it is coming from the online shop and not foot traffic.”Brandon shrugged as he washed his hands.“Not that I care about that.I actually prefer to not see people too often.It gives me more time to play with new concepts.”
Brandon was not the social butterfly of the Bennett family.That moniker likely belonged to their brother Henry.
“Did I see that some guy is here with Esther?”
“Yep.Steve.They’re dating.”
“Ah, so he’s the guy she was out with on Friday so that she couldn’t come to our movie night?”
Fred nodded.
“And how are you doing with that?”
Fred shook his head.“Okay?”
Brandon laughed.“Yeah, I know that okay feeling.It’s not pleasant.”He pulled out his phone.“A friend from college posted this on social yesterday.”He handed his phone to Fred as they exited the washroom.
On the screen was a picture of a happy bride and groom.“Zoe?”
Brandon nodded.“Guess that door is shut and never opening again.”
Zoe was the girl that Brandon had thought he was going to marry until she dumped him via a letter three months after their graduation.
“Aw, man, I’m sorry.”
“Me, too, but at least, I know for certain that she’s not meant to be mine.”He blew out a breath that was filled with sorrow.
“And that’s why you were up so late.”
Again, Brandon nodded.He was the sort who either spent a weekend in the woods or locked himself away with a project to process stuff.He had always been that way.Even when they were kids, they all – except maybe for Henry – knew to leave Brandon alone to sort through whatever was in his mind and making him disagreeable.The grumbling and glares would pass if he was given time and space.
“How do you do it?”They had reached the sanctuary doors, and on the other side of those doors, Fred would have to see Esther sitting with Steve.
“Do what?”
“Survive?I guess?”
“Just take one breath and then another.And pray.”Brandon gave Fred’s sleeve a tug to guide him to the side of the doorway towards the welcome center.“Listen.It was bad for me, but I didn’t have to see her all the time.I can’t possibly know how much worse that is, but bro…” He shook his head.“Don’t just sit and wait.Life doesn’t end because some girl has broken your heart.I wish I had been willing to take that advice, but you know me.I brood, and brooding works for my personality, but it’ll kill you.You’re so not the brooding sort.Step back from things that involve her if you need to, but don’t brood.”
There was that advice to step away again.But… wow, it seemed to be an impossible task.“I don’t know if I can,” he admitted to Brandon.“I mean, she’s been my other half, my partner in crime, for so long.”He shook his head.“And I love the worship team.”
“I’m not saying give it all up today.I’m saying be open to the possibility, and maybe try to find another partner in crime.”He held up his hands.“I know.I know.That doesn’t seem possible right now, but at least, consider it.”
Fred shook his head again.“I’ve tried.I’ve gone on a few coffee and lunch dates, but it hasn’t worked.I keep seeing how they aren’t her.”He lifted his shoulders and let them drop.“I might just have to face the fact that my calling is to be the cool bachelor uncle.”
