"Is everything okay?" Brett asks, returning with Benji following in his footsteps.
"My ex is in denial."
"Your ex?" I realize I didn’t divulge into my personal fun-facts on the plane ride, and we have exchanged very few words other than conversations about The Barrel House, and memories from our childhood Ihardly remember.
"Yeah, it’s a long story. To sum it up: he’d rather not commit but would love to have a wife around to do her wifely duties."
"Ah, I’ve seen the type. Good for you for doing what will make you happy. It’s not always an easy decision to make."
"I take it you know from experience?" I know my eyes are narrowing in on him, trying so hard to figure out his story, but by the downcast look I see, I can tell I’m no closer to figuring out this puzzle.
"No, I can’t say I’ve been through anything similar. I’m sorry, though. My brother,on the other hand, he should have seen the red flag warnings years before they had a daughter, but like I said ... life happens."
My phone rings again, interrupting our conversation, and I glance down once more at the display, assuming it would be Ace calling back, but it’s Mom this time.
"Mom? Is everything okay?"
"Yes, yes, sweetie. Your father fell asleep so we want to let him rest. We’re heading home now. Are you still at the house?”
"Yes, Brett took me home because Journey ... mistakenly ... gave me the wrong keys."
"Yes, we’ll go with amistake," Mom says through a sigh. "Okay, are you staying with me tonight, or did you want to stay with Journey?"
"I’m staying with you.”
"Thank you," she whispers. "I’ll be home in a few minutes."
"Okay, love you." I end the call and drop my phone down onto the bench.
"Is your dad okay?" Brett asks.
"Yeah, visiting hours are over, I guess, so you don’t need to bring me back."
Brett seems uncomfortable for the moment and takes a second to glance around the foyer, spotting the same family portrait I was staring at a few minutes ago. A smile tugs at his lips. "We’re lucky to havegood families, huh?"
"We are."
"Out of all my friends' parents, your parents are the only ones who stayed together aside from mine. It' has been sad watching their generation fall apart."
"I’ve always thought the same, but I guess luck can’t go on forever."
I think Brett forgot about my situation for the brief second he spoke his thought out loud. "Yeah. Hey, have you eaten anything since you left The Barrel House today?"
I close my eyes and shake my head. "I’m not very hungry."
"You need to eat something," he says, walking past me, back into the kitchen, which he apparently knows his way around. "Your mom keeps a stocked fridge like my mom, huh?"
"Always."
I follow Brett into the kitchen and watch as he pulls out lunch meat and cheese, then circles around until he sees the bread box. "Sit down," he says.
"Are you always this demanding?" I ask, pulling out a seat from the table like he demanded.
"When someone needs help, yes, I am. Sit."
"I don’t need help, Brett."
"That’s bull. You will need to be a lot more convincing to stop me from making you a sandwich."
