“Okay, that's what we'll do then. But, Brad?”
“Yes.”
“I don't want to look at them again.”
“Me either.”
They walked through the crowds slowly, with Brad once again holding her hand. They were just friends. Friends held hands, Macy reminded herself.
They found everyone still together. Cubby and Newman had their heads through the holes in a board, and Ethan was attempting to throw a wet sponge at them, and failing.
“That's pathetic,” Brad said, releasing her and stepping forward. “Seriously pathetic. I'm almost embarrassed to share a name with you.”
“It's harder than it looks.”
“Step aside.”
Macy watched Brad pull out some money and pay Mrs. Winslow, who looked after Billy at preschool. She tried not to look at his back pocket and what was poking out, but her eyes were drawn there.
He’d seen her hands and feet. Seen some of what Brian had done to her. Shame washed over her.
Find your anger, Macy,she reminded herself.
“Go, Brad!”
Macy saw the excitement and hero worship in her son's eyes and held back the sigh she felt. She'd been fooling herself if she thought neither of them would be hurt when he left Howling. They would both suffer, and poking about in the region of her heart, she realized that her pain would be significant and last a while. She wouldn't do anything to stop him, because she wasn't ready for a man in her life, just as he wasn't ready for a woman in his. She also had to thank him for that. Making her feel again. Bringing her back to life.
“You want to throw one and me the other, Billy?”
The boy nodded, and Ethan handed him a sponge. Her son threw it with everything he had, but it fell short.
“Close, Billy boy, maybe next time,” Newman said. “What you got, TJ?”
“He’s got squat,” Cubby called. “Weak Texan just like the other one. Anyone who supports the Longhorns should take up ballet.”
Macy saw the corner of Brad's mouth curl, but he didn't say anything.
“True that, Cubby.” Newman added his voice. “All looks and no substance.”
“Go for Newman, and I'll take out Cubby.”
Ethan had paid for another turn, and stepped up beside his brother.
“Lordy lordy, how is a woman to stand so much beauty in one place?” Mrs. Winslow said. “Anyone got a fan handy, I feel faint.”
Annabelle snickered.
They are beautiful, Macy thought. Yet she liked the harder edge to Brad more. Ethan was softer, his edges rounded by time and Annabelle. Brad was still a work in progress.
“On three then, bro?” Brad said.
“Yup.”
They threw in perfect harmony and hit their targets dead center, and if Macy hadn't been standing behind Brad and seen the edge of the pictures, she could probably have clapped too.
She felt steady enough, but she didn't have a laugh in her.
“You doing okay there, sweetheart?”
