And he was. My stepfather had stepped up to be the man my mother and I had needed in our lives. He’d been more of a father to me than mine ever was.
“So, was that pep talk enough to convince you to come home for the family reunion?”
As if.
The woman never gave up. It didn’t matter how many times she’d asked, my answer was always the same.
“We’ve been through this before,” I answered, trying to keep my voice light and airy for my own sanity. “You secure me a date with Jon Snow and I’ll come to your family reunion.”
“Game of Thrones. I can work with that. Are we talking the actor or the fictional character?”
“Um… I prefer the fictional character. But not if he’s wearing that big snowy outfit. It’s not his best look. I like the sexy leather number he wears in warm weather but, you know, I’m not picky. Surprise me.”
“Sure. I’ve got a call in to his agent.”
“Yay.”
Silence broke into our lighthearted banter and I braced for the begging.
“Breeze?”
I took a deep breath. “Mom?”
“Please come. For me?” When I sighed she was quick to add, “If not for me, then for Terrance. He misses you.”
My stomach clenched. Typically I’d do anything for her and Terrance. But this was asking too much. “He’ll be there. I just can’t. Besides, I’ll be home for Christmas a couple weeks after the reunion.”
“I know, and I can’t wait, but I hate to see you avoiding the family because of a man. You’re letting Brandon win and that’s not like you at all.”
Letting him? My ex was the one with the charmed life. Married to the perfect woman. Father to a two-year-old, with another on the way. I was the one whose only legitimate suitor was an eighty-three-year-old Alzheimer patient. Maybe it was selfish of me but there was no way in hell I was going to face Brandon without, at the very least, a fictional television character by my side.
You might be wondering how my ex wound up attending our family functions in the first place. Well, I’ll tell you why. While he was engaged to me, Brandon was having unprotected sex with my cousin, Jenna. I discovered their deception a mere week before the nuptials after I took notice of Jenna’s swollen belly and innocently asked who the father was.
And just like that, I’d become a horrible cliché—the jilted bride. Object of behind-the-back gossip. The last one in on the joke.
I hadn’t been able to get out of town fast enough, retreating south to join my best friend Mason in the land of sun and surf. I’d managed to reinvent myself in this county by the sea. New friends, a new job… a new life. It should have been enough, but it wasn’t. The stigma remained, if only in my own mind.
Not that I was still hooked on Brandon. I’d gotten over the sting of his betrayal long ago, and even moved on from plotting his murder. But the scars from his deception remained, bloody and raw, even more than two years after the fact. So yes, I’d once again be missing a family function because I couldn’t stomach the idea of watching Jenna and Brandon live the life that should have been mine.
I shook my head, casting off the memories. “I’m just not ready yet. Besides, I’m pet sitting that week and I can’t flake on this lady. She’s one of my best customers—gives the big tips. You know, like those people who hand out the giant candy bars on Halloween?”
“How can I compete with the king-sized candy bar lady?” Mom asked, sounding bummed but resigned.
“I’m sorry, Mom. You know I want to be there for you. It’s just hard.”
“I get it, baby. I do. I just wish he’d picked a girl outside of the family unit to screw.”
“You and me both.”
“So, what exotic location should I tell them you’re visiting this time?”
“Mmm… good question,” I pondered, relieved to have the Brandon discussion out of the way. “Oh… how about an African safari?”
“No. That won’t do. You were in Zimbabwe for Garrett and Laura’s fortieth anniversary.”
“Crap, you’re right! Good catch. How about an expedition to Antarctica?”
“In the winter? I don’t think so, Breeze.”
