They headed inside the house. Soon Walter was tinkering with the thermostat. Roan poured them both a cup of coffee.
“Okay, I think I figured out what was wrong,” Walter said. “Should be working much better now.”
“Great. Jason comes in this afternoon, so heat’s a good thing.”
“Looking forward to seeing him. I mean, other than on television. And Grace wondered if you were free for dinner tomorrow night. You and Jason.”
“Jason mentioned meeting up with some friends tomorrow night, but I can come.”
“Great. Your aunt has an idea she wants to share with you.”
“An idea?”
“A charity for at-risk teens. She’s hoping you’ll help.”
“Since I was one back in the day?” Roan asked.
“Maybe.” Walter clapped him on the shoulder. “Still can’t believe you’re actually home.”
“The house is magnificent. Mom would have loved the changes.”
“I was pleased with how it turned out, especially now that you’re here.”
Roan walked Walter to the door. His uncle gestured toward the bin full of holiday decorations. “If you’re not up to looking at all that, just take it up to the attic.”
“Maybe Jason and I can look at it together.”
“How’s it going at the gym? You ready for the grand opening?”
“Yep. Opening next week.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Reese wasn’t too happy with all the racket.”
Walter studied him, cocking his head to one side. “How was it? Seeing her after all these years?”
He looked down at the wood floor. “Hard. She’s still very angry at me. Not that I can blame her.”
“Give it some time. She’ll come around.”
“Thanks, Uncle Walter. But honestly, I don’t think so. She has every right to hate me. Still hurts, though.”
“My mom used to say that everything in love and war eventually works out how it should.”
“I thought it was that all was fair in love and war,” Roan said, chuckling.
“My mom had her own way of thinking about things. Anyway we’ll see you tomorrow night.”
After Walter left, Roan sat on his new couch, thinking how different it was from the worn sofa they’d had as kids. He looked around the room, remembering how his mother used to decorate for the holidays. The Christmas tree would have been in the bay window, decorated with homemade ornaments. Stockings his mother had made hung on the mantel. Mom’s collection of snow globes was displayed on the shelves near the fireplace.
It was up to him to make it feel like Christmas. But he wasn’t sure he was ready to face whatever was in the bin. However, it comforted him to think Jason would be there too. Being a twin meant he didn’t have to do it alone.
Roan made good time to Burlington, the roads clear despite the snow. Jason had texted ten minutes before that he had landed and was waiting for his bag. When Roan pulled around to arrival, he immediately spotted his brother through the crowd. Jason wore a leather jacket, designer jeans, and a baseball cap. Sunglasses shielded his eyes, despite the overcast Vermont sky. He often wore a hat and sunglasses when he traveled, hoping to remain incognito. Jason was good to his fans, always stopping for a selfie if asked, but it grew tiresome. That was the pricehe paid for stardom. Emmy wins. A hit television show. Jason’s dreams had all come true. And no one deserved it more than Jason and his heart of gold. Sometimes Roan wondered why all the goodness genes had been given to his twin, leaving him with only the salty ones.
Roan honked once and Jason’s head snapped toward the sound. He grinned, grabbing the large suitcase next to him and jogged over to the SUV, tossing his bag into the back compartment Roan had left open, and coming around to climb into the front.
“Dude, it’s freezing here,” Jason said, slamming his door shut.
“You’ll get used to it.”
As Roan pulled away from the curb, he felt his brother studying him. “You look good. How’s the neck?”
