Deep pain flashed in Lucas’s eyes, and he was momentarily quiet. “No, but everybodyisworried. You’ve never been one to drink until recently, and you’re spiraling out of control. You’re asking for trouble. I’ve been home a week and can already see that.”
“I’m fine. I just need to let loose after a long week of work.”
“That’s a copout and you know it. Letting loose is going to watch the game or have a few dances or whatever. Being irresponsible is getting plastered and making poor decisions.”
“So now I’m irresponsible?” Rex couldn’t take much more of this conversation. He fit the rod into the holder and clenched his hands together above his head. He took a deep breath, which did nothing to calm him. “What do you know about me? You go away, come back every few years and barely call in the process. Jenna looks up to you like every little sister should, but I don’t know why. She wasn’t even a teenager when you left and now you barely give her the time of day. Do you think seeing her one day every few years is being responsible?”
A dangerous glint sparked in Lucas’s eyes. “You don’t know-”
Ticked off, Rex interrupted him and continued his tirade. “I call Mom almost every day just to say hi and let her know someone is thinking of her, even before I moved back. Every weekend I’m home, I mow her lawn and help her around the house. How often do you talk to her? And what about Beau? He was crushed when Daniella left and all you could do was send an e-mail saying you were sorry, and it was for the best. You weren’t there for any of us when we needed you, so why now?” Out of breath but not done, he shook a finger at his brother. “Don’t talk to me about responsibility. I’ve never understood how you can go off serving your country and fighting wars, but you can’t give your own family a moment of your time.”
Lucas, who let everything roll off his back, jerked, visibly taken back by the comment. Their stoicism was one of the few characteristics they shared, even if displayed in different ways. Both of their careers depended on that attribute. He shook his head, let out a regretful sigh. “Everyone has their own demons little bro, something they want to escape.”
A bite on one of the lines rescued them from their emotional overload and gave them an opportunity to diffuse. For the time being, they set aside their disagreement as they reeled in the catfish and then another. The bites continued throughout the morning, and a cooler full of catfish accompanied them home.
They returned to Rex’s house in the early afternoon hours. Working side by side outside the shed, they cleaned the fished. It was a seasonably cool day, free of the oppressive humidity that had lingered into the beginning of September.
Lucas took a break and leaned against the shed wall. “Contrary to what you believe, I miss it here. I’ve been all over, but nowhere except here feels like home.”
“Then why do you stay away.”
Lucas frowned. “You drink your problems away. I run from them.”
The statement puzzled Rex and he furrowed his brows, unable to fathom his brother having anything to run from. “Everything you do is on the straight and narrow.”
Lucas stared off, his expression years away. When he turned around, darkness tortured his eyes. “Maybe it’s time to come clean.”
“Come clean? About what?”
“I’ve never told anyone.” Lucas squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, he wouldn’t look at Rex, but he shared his story.
Rex listened carefully, confused and broken. He was stunned speechless, an accomplishment not many could boast of. He saw his brother in a new light as he understood why Lucas had left, rarely to return. “I’m sorry Lucas, I had no idea.”
There were no other words to say.
“No one knows.”
“One day you’ll have to deal with it. You can’t run away forever.”
“And you can’t keep drinking yourself into oblivion.”
“Touché.” Rex leaned back in the lawn chair he sat in and put his hands behind his head. “We’ve made a mess of it, haven’t we?”
“That’s life, I guess. At least Beau has it together.” Lucas smirked and his eyes gleamed. “Let’s make a brother pact.”
Rex raised his eyebrows, curious what his brother had in mind. “We haven’t made a brother pact since we were fifteen and sixteen and promised never to reveal our hiding spot for sneaking girls home.”
“Which was a complete failure since Dad found you kissing Kelly Manfield a week later.”
“Hey.” Rex held out his hands. “You were supposed to be my lookout.”
“You didn’t give me any warning you were there.”
“Oh yeah. That might have helped.” Rex chuckled, then steered the conversation to its purpose. “What’s this pact you have in mind?”
Lucas met his gaze with steely but genuine eyes. “I’ll come home more often, and you stop drinking.”
“Deal,” Rex answered, and they shook hands to seal the promise. He slapped Lucas’s shoulder. “Enough serious talk. C’mon, Mom is waiting on us.”
