“It’s beautiful,” Mom said, still behind us. “Paxton didsucha good job.”
“Always knew you were going to marry her,” Dad said. He looked like he’d stepped in horse manure, but he could deal.
“Yeah, I am.Despiteyou.”
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want you happy, Paxton,” my father began, trying to bluster his way out of the situation.
I stared at him, and he deflated. “What will it take to get you to leave?” I asked.
“That’s no way to talk to your brothers,” Hugo said.
“Some brothers you proved to be—you backed Dad when he asked you not to tell me about Hana’s accident.”
Devon had the decency to look ashamed. “We didn’t know Dad was a cheater and a liar,” he said. “He said you were too wrapped up in Hana, and…we agreed. That’s on us, and I feel bad about it, but look! You two figured it out despite our meddling, so it’s clearly fate.”
“We should have told you,” Hugo said. “I’m sorry we didn’t.”
“Yeah, scout’s honor,” Devon said, crossing his heart with his index finger.
“Again, what’s it going to take to get you to leave?”
“Paxton,” Mom chastised. I ignored her.
“We thought we’d take you to dinner,” Devon said with a sigh.
“Don’t want to go.”
“Then close your door so you’re not air-conditioning the neighborhood. Invite us to sit so we can hash this out,” Dad said.
I shook my head.Unbelievable. “Why? You lied. I found out. Then, when that didn’t work, you tried to make sure I wouldn’t ask Hana to come to Houston. I couldn’t understand why you came to that game, talking that nonsense about Hana. But it’s all come out now, hasn’t it? You finally had to come clean that we might be related. Thank God it’s that bonehead Aiki instead. So really, I’m not impressed with any of it, and I wish you weren’t related to me at all.”
Dad swallowed. “I’m sorry, Paxton. I didn’t think it would come to this.”
“That’s because you’re a lying, scheming?—”
Hana slid her palm against mine and leaned against my side.
I took a deep breath. “Close the damn door,” I muttered. Hugo did so.
We all stared at each other.
“Want something to drink?” Hana asked.
“I could use something,” Hugo said. He shot Dad a cranky glance. “We had to chase him across the damn state.”
“He did a runner,” Devon said cheerfully. “Shows you what we’ve had to overcome in the personal-fortitude department.” He rubbed his hands together. “I heard Houston has good beer. I hope you have some of the local stuff.” Devon owned a brewpub in our hometown and had been getting more serious about both beer and cider.
“I just want to sit quietly and not listen to Dad try to explain why he thought having an affair, especially with Mei Sato, was a good idea.” Devon grimaced. “No offense, Hana, but your mother wasn’t the nicest of women.”
“None taken,” Hana said. “She and I didn’t get along. You guys got way luckier than me in the mom department.”
My mother smiled at Hana, doing an expert job at ignoring my father, who was sending outhelp me!vibes. I was pretty proud of her resolve. After making him the center of her world for over thirty years, Mom was showing her strength, and I had lots of faith that Dad would rue the day he’d met Mei Sato—and not just because he’d fathered Aiki.
“Rosemary—” Dad began.
“Drinks are a good idea,” Mom said. “I’ll help you.”
Hana squeezed my hand before she and Mom headed to the kitchen, which left me with the three men I’d looked up to my whole life.
