Shock splays across our three faces, because none of us expected Kent to agree.
I step aside as Keaton hugs his brother, and if he notices how Kent tenses up again, he doesn’t make it known. Tears sneak out of my eyes when Kent slowly, cautiously, slides his arms around Keaton’s back, hugging him in return. Keaton chokes on a sob, Kent’s shoulders heave, and Austen rubs at his eyes.
All of us are overwrought with emotion and the significance of today. I truly hope it’s a turning point for them. That they can start to heal.
Austen looks from them to me, and we share another silent promise. We know this is a temporary, tentative truce, and we agree to do what we can to make it last. I hope it lasts long enough for Keaton and Austen to have the best wedding day, because it’s nothing less than they deserve.
***
I’m in Alex’s home office an hour later, chatting to her about some pressed-flower pictures she would like to commission me to do, when there’s a knock on the door. Alex opens it, revealing a sheepish-looking Keaton. He looks at me. “I was hoping to have a word with you. Just the two of us.”
I nod, not surprised he has sought me out. Since the tense conversation at lunch, I’ve caught the concerned looks he has sent Kent’s way when he thinks no one is looking, and I knew he’d find some way of reaching out to me.
“We were just done here anyway,” Alex says. She hands me her business card. “Email me with pricing and potential delivery dates, and we can firm up something next week.”
I have no clue how to price my drawings, but I guess Etsy could help. I’m still in shock she wants to use some of my pieces for a few of her client projects, but I won’t pass up the opportunity. I am beyond excited, and Kent is thrilled for me too. Probably because he knows it means I will have to spend more time at his place, using the amazing studio he built for me. “Thank you so much. I still can’t believe this,” I tell her, returning her warm hug.
“You are very talented, and I like to nurture up-and-coming talent.” She eases out of our embrace, smiling at me. “Besides, I would do just about anything to help my sons and their partners succeed, especially the woman who has put a smile on my Kent’s face. You’re so good for him, Presley. I have never seen Kent this happy. Don’t let him push you away.”
She must be under the misconception our breakup was Kent’s fault. I would set her straight, but Keaton is waiting to talk to me, and we won’t have long before Kent comes looking for me. We are due to leave shortly for the city since my shift starts at seven.
Alex leaves, closing the door behind her, and I waste no time getting to the heart of the matter. “I don’t know what happened, and even if I did, I could never betray Kent’s confidence. He will have to tell you in his own time.”
Keaton props his butt against the desk while I remain seated in the chair. “But he has said something? Something did happen to him?”
“I think so,” I truthfully admit. “But it’s only a recent discovery, and he’s not ready to talk about it, if he ever will be.”
“I feel sick,” he whispers as tears well in his eyes. “Kent was so out of control when we were teenagers, and I never stopped to question why. None of us did. We just accepted that was the way he was. Wild and out of control. An attention-seeker.”
“You don’t know it wasn’t that,” I say because we don’t know what Kent is hiding. Just that it’s difficult to talk about. “And he wouldn’t want you to upset yourself over this.” I might think that’s why Kent doesn’t want to say anything this close to his brother’s wedding, but the fact he can’t even tell me confirms it’s more than that.
“I feel so stupid that I didn’t do anything before now. I haven’t said anything to the others and—”
“And you shouldn’t.” I place my hand on his arm. “I know you’re worried about him. So am I, but Keaton, he’s happy. We’re happy, and I know there is something there, something from his past, something that he needs to face up to, but you and I can’t make him face up to it. No one can. He has to face up to it by himself. All we can do is love him and support him and let him know we are here for him if he ever wants to talk about it.”
He wipes his tears away. “Do you love my brother, Presley?”
“With my whole heart and everything I am.”
His answering smile is wide. “I’m so glad he has you. Will you let me know if there is anything I can ever do or if anything happens and you need me or he needs me?”
I stand, hugging him without hesitation. “I will, Keaton, but in return, you have to promise me something.”
“Anything,” he says when I pull back.
“Don’t worry about Kent. Let me take care of him. Focus on the important things like getting married to a wonderful man and having both your triplets by your side.”
I’m not sure exactly why Kent agreed to do it, but I know he pushed past his demons to do the right thing for his brother, and I am going to do everything within my control to ensure Keaton gets the wedding day he deserves and that Kent has my support every step of the way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Presley
“Pres?” Kent asks as we are en route to the castle resort and spa in Vermont where Austen and Keaton are getting married tomorrow. We’ve already been on the road for over three hours, so it shouldn’t be much longer now. The rest of the family arrived earlier today, since they wanted to get the kids settled, but we should make it in time for dinner.
“Yes, honey?” I ask, barely lifting my head from my phone. I’m scrolling through Pinterest, pinning items of inspiration. The pictures Alex commissioned are due in a couple of weeks, and I’ve been working around the clock to get them finished in time.
Alex has also spoken to me about setting this up as a legit side business. She thinks there is a market for one-off handcrafted pressed-flower drawings like this, and she has already confirmed she will be placing more orders, so I’m seriously considering the idea. Eva has offered to help with a website and online store, and Cheryl has said she’ll take photos for my catalog, so the only obstacle is time. God knows I have enough supplies because Kent buys me flowers at least a couple of times a week, and everything else is in the cupboards of my art studio.
