“Hannah and Parker,” Isla says, “duh.”
“Thanks, kiddo,” I respond.
Journey twists her head to the side. “Oh, that must be—”
“Who? Who must it be, and why do you know and I don’t? Why didn’t you tell me? Why does the other person look exactly the same?”
Journey grabs my wrist. “Isla go hang out with aunt Melody for a minute.” Melody hears Journey’s request, and her eyes widen as if she knew this moment was coming but didn’t know when. She swoops in and takes Isla by the hand and pulls her out of sight, and Journey manages to push me into the backroom.
“What in the world is going on right now?”
“Hannah wanted to surprise you with something tonight, and I need you to smile and drop your shoulders about five inches. Right now,” she says.
Journey places her hands on my cheeks. They’re thankfully cold, which lowers the rising temperature scorching my face. “His name is Kellan. He’s a good guy. He goes to Brown, and his family lives in New Hampshire. Breathe.”
“Why didn’t she tell me about this … Kellan … guy.”
Journey tilts her head to the side and stares up at me. “Because of this.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, feeling mildly annoyed because I have asked Journey not to keep any more secrets from me. This whole girl code thing is old, and I don’t like it.
“Because of this,” she says again. “Hannah is twenty-two and you need to cut it out already.”
“He’s not good enough for her,” I say. “No one is.”
“You don’t know that, Brody. Take a deep breath and count to ten. Now.”
Because the moment wasn’t hard enough while trying to digest this new boyfriend or whatever he is bringing to my daughter’s life, Brett comes flying through the back door with rage in his eyes. “Who the hell is Kacen, and why is his arm around Parker?”
Journey is standing between Brett and me, and I feel like it’s not the best place for her at the moment, but she’s aware of the situation, which is why she doesn’t move. “Brett, breathe. Now,” Journey says.
“No, why am I breathing? Who is Kacen?” Brett growls.
“Okay, so, Kacen is Kellan’s younger brother who Hannah might have introduced to Parker a couple of months ago. Um. They’re dating. Parker and Kacen, and Hannah and Kellan. They’re very nice boys who come from a good family. I think you two need to have a drink and take a minute to collect yourselves so you can act appropriately around these two, very nice young men.”
“You knew?” Brett snaps at Journey.
“Your wife knew too, Brett. You two are impossible when it comes to the girls dating, and you need to stop. It’s going to happen whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t have to accept anything,” Brett continues.
Journey drops her head and licks her lips. “Okay, let me say this so you understand me. If you two try to stop them dating this pair of brothers, they will most likely go off and do something stupid to prove their independence—like get married in Vegas or—”
“Okay, okay,” Brody says. “We don’t need to relive your past through Hannah and Parker.”
“I’m just saying. It can happen even with two understanding parents. If you push them, they will go the other way. So, embrace them and their dates. Okay?”
Journey slaps both Brett and me on the back and leaves us standing in the back room alone.
“Can we kill them?” I ask him.
“Yeah, we can,” Brett says.
“Why would they bring them here tonight of all nights?”
“Safer in numbers,” Brett continues.
“In a Bourbon distillery? I’m guessing no one thought this through,” I say.
