He tipped his beer at me. “That it is, little sis. That it is.”
30
AARON
THE RIG HAD never, and I mean never, looked this good. Then again, I’d never been an absolute robot with nothing to do but slog through my days in a fog of despair. I threw the rag into the hamper and heaved myself up the stairs into the firehouse.
How had I lost myself so completely to her, so quickly? Especially when I’d known the end result?
The days were colorless, blurring into each other. The only indication that time was passing was the twice-daily feeding of Daisy and Samson. Samson seemed to have decided his loyalties were with me, which was irony at its fucking best.
Inside the firehouse, I made my way to the couch and slumped down. Samson hopped on and wedged himself against my leg and Daisy lay her head on my knee, while I stared blankly at a football game I didn’t give a shit about. I wasn’t on shift, but no way was I going home. Everything there reminded me of Devon. Once my brothers had forced me out, I’d been there as little as possible.
“Aaron,” Chief boomed. “My office. Now.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes and stood up. I wasn’t in the mood for one of his famous talks. I didn’t know if I’d ever be again. I dragged my feet, and when I got there, I leaned against the doorjamb and shoved my hands in my pockets.
Chief looked up over his glasses from his chair. “Get in here. Shut the door behind you.” He motioned impatiently. “This year.”
I did as he asked, but slowly. Sullen teenagers had nothing on me.
He reclined in his chair and folded his hands over his slight belly. “I heard.”
I clenched my jaw. “Of course you did. I’m sure it’s all over the Facebook group.”
He waved my comment away. “It’s not your fault, you know.”
I huffed out a sad laugh. “Chief, it’s always my fault.”
He looked at me quizzically.
Fuck it. “They never stay. Literally none of them. Or haven’t you and everyone else realized that? It started with my mom and it’s been downhill since.”
“What are you talking about?”
I grunted. “You heard me. They leave. I’m not good enough to keep them.”
Chief leaned forward. “Listen here, son. You are the best among us. And I can’t speak for what happened with you and Devon, or even any others, but I can sure as shit tell you that your mom didn’t leave because of you.”
“You can’t know that.”
He raised an eyebrow.
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying your brothers owe you an explanation.”
A faint buzzing sounded in my ears, and my fingers and toes tingled. “What are you talking about?” I pushed.
He shook his head. “Not my story to tell. Never has been, and they’ve been idiots to keep it from you. Go to the Daily Dose. Your brothers are there.”
I furrowed my brow. “What the hell is going on? Why do I need to meet them there?”
“I’ve said enough. Go find them.”
I stood and opened the door to take my leave. Chief wasn’t making any sense.
“Aaron.”
I looked back at him.
“I meant what I said. You’re the best of us. Your mom leaving? Not your fault. Remember that.”
I headed down the stairs and out of the firehouse, both dogs at my heels. Minutes later I stepped inside Daily Dose and scanned the room, looking for my brothers. I froze. They sat in the back on opposite sides of a table, and our mother was with them.
All three turned to look at me as I crossed the room, but I only had eyes for Will. I knew he’d orchestrated this. I pulled out the remaining chair, still looking only at Will, and sat. “Why is she here?”
“Because it’s time you heard the truth,” he said evenly.
I’d had enough. “What truth? The one where she ignores me my whole life? The one where she leaves and doesn’t bother with an explanation? Or maybe it’s the one where she never manages to visit her kids after she leaves? Or after her husband dies? She’s never bothered to give us shit. You honestly think it’s going to start now?”
“Yes,” Mom said from across the table.
Finally, my stomach in knots, I let myself look at her. She’d aged in the three years since I’d seen her, the lines around her eyes and mouth growing more pronounced. Her hair was completely gray. But her eyes, the ones with my and my brothers’ exact coloring, looked different. Brighter. Less troubled.
“It’s so good to see you,” she said, a tentative smile spreading across her face.
I shook my head. “Enough with the pleasantries. Just get out whatever it was you came to say so you can leave again and not come back for, what, another three years?”
