“Mmm?”
“The pregnancy…”
“Oh, great, thanks.Not even a little nausea this time.”
“I’m glad to hear it.And congratulations.I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, I didn’t want to be intrusive at Chris’ house, and I didn’t know if you…”
I move quickly and throw my arms around his neck.Martin stands there with his arms up, looking embarrassed.
“Thank you for bringing him home.He is back, I know.I can feel it.It’s him, and you… You did it.”
Martin’s tense shoulders relax as he leans into my arms.His voice shakes a little as he whispers, “Thank you.”
I pull back and look him in the eyes.
“Thank you for what you did for him.Thank you, thank you, thank you…” He squeezes me again.“You are a splendid woman, and you have raised a splendid man.”
“I only did what any sister would do for her brother.”
“No, you did much more than that.”
“Am I interrupting something?”Jamie’s voice behind us makes us pull apart, and Martin quickly wipes his eyes.
“We were just…”
“Was he thanking you?”Jmaie asks.
Martin shakes his head.“Something like that.”
He doesn’t even pretend, and I like him even more for it.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” I say.
“I am always here.”
“Now… now you really are.”
Sitting at the table,I discreetly observe Jamie eating, talking, joking, and laughing.I also watch Martin, who doesn’t miss a single one of Jamie’s movements.He looks at Jamie, enraptured by his manner, face, gestures, even the stupid jokes that don’t make me laugh but always provoke something in him.Martin watches at him, and Jamie knows he is being watched — he is happy about it.Some things you can’t fake; not even a liar as good as him could pull it off.
And then Martin listens to one of Ian’s locker room stories.Jamie rests his hand over Martin’s on the table.Martin glances at Jamie and smiles faintly; Jamie meets his eyes and returns it.
I watch the whole scene with my heart full of love, pride, and happiness.I feel everything.
My life finally feels whole.My brother has the life he wanted, not just the one I promised him.He earned it.He struggled, went through so much, and still made it through.Now he’s better — not completely well, but better.I believe he’ll keep healing because now he has his Doctor, his love, and me.
I have my little brother back: my sweet, sensitive Jamie.
I have my family back.
I step outsideand sit next to Jamie on the steps.He’s finishing his beer and looking up at the stars.
“Still inside?”he asks, meaning the others.
“Ian is loading the dishwasher, and Martin is enjoying Jamie.”
“He’s in love with that little girl,” Jamie says.
“And he is in love with you,” I say.
