“I’d like to be an aunt, and while mom and dad haven't said it, I know they miss you too,” she said softly.
“Mom called me on Christmas,” I said, still not believing it.
“I know, I told her she was missing out, that for all we knew you could have babies and a partner and a whole other life, but they had no idea because they couldn’t get past their medieval ways.”
“I mean you still salvaged their archaic ways,” I chuckled. “You did marry Renee.”
"That's why I told mom their anger was getting old. We still completed the merger, but even if we hadn’t, you should have been more important than a stupid dairy farm,” she said.
I clenched my jaw, loving my baby sister even more now. She was the only one who stuck by me after everything happened. I knew my parents were going to be pissed, but when a few years had passed and I was still iced out, I knew that it would be a cold day in hell before my parents forgave me. I always told myself that it didn't bother me, but it did because their business was more important than their son.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to forgive, but I do want to see you. I think it's been long enough," I said.
“It has and I think your niece deserves to know their uncle.”
“What?” I dropped the phone and scrambled to pick it back up. “Shit. Holy crap, Melanie.”
My voice broke.
“I finally knocked her up,” Melanie said, her voice a little wobbly.
I chuckled while sitting up. “I thought you gave up on IVF.”
“We said one more time. Well, she did. I was done, tired of seeing her in pain and disappointed, but she wanted to try one more time, so I was helpless to say no,” she sighed.
“I hear happy wife, happy life is the mantra,” I said, rubbing my chest.
“Yeah, I'd do anything to make sure she’s happy and I’m glad we did this,” she said softly. “She’s due in a few weeks.”
“Congrats, I’m so fucking happy for you,” I said. “I wanna come down and see her, see you guys.”
“Well, go sort your men out. Crawl, beg, say you're an idiota and give them orgasms. They're men so that should be enough,” she said, matter-of-factly.
“I don’t know if I should be offended or not,” I said. “But?—”
“No buts, they mean something to you or else we wouldn’t be having this conversation, so get your ass up and drive back to Sterling Ridge,” she said, already perfecting her mom voice. “You can think of an apology on your way back.”
“I’m stuck in a motel outside of Amarillo, there's a snowstorm,” I grumbled.
“Well get your ass to sleep and as soon as that storm breaks, dig your truck out, get yourself some breakfast and move your ass,” she said.
“Yes ma’am,” I said.
“You love them, right?”
“Yeah, Melanie, it was fucking instantaneous and it fucking scared the life out of me,” I whispered.
“Como si se pudiera elegir en el amor, como si no fuera un rayo que te parte los huesos,” she said, with hope in her voice.
As if you could choose love, as if it weren’t like a lightning bolt that breaks your bones.
“At least I think that's how the saying goes,” she chuckled. “I don’t think any of us are ready for love, but fear is good, Tony. It keeps you on your toes, makes your heart race and there's nothing like having someone just get you. Stop running, you're missing out on the best things in life. Stay still and enjoy.”
“Dammit, Melanie,” I said, wiping my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Cabron,” she said. “Now answer your damn phone when I call next time. Si no, I will go to Colorado and kick your ass. Te quiero!”
“I will,” I chuckled. “Te quiero.”
