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“I guess that makes one of us.”
“I deserve that.”
“Yeah, you do.” A small smirk fighting at the corners of his mouth. It’s not much, but I’ll take what I can get. As if by muscle memory we walk in silence to the half-wall partition that separates the house into sections. Jonathan hops up first then gives me his arm helping me up.
“So, Jack?”
“He’s been messaging me on and off for the last couple months trying to find Mark. I told him I didn’t know where he was or what he was doing. When that didn’t work, I just ignored his messages and calls.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? You’re not the one who left your family and only recognize your children when you need or want something from them.”
I pat Jonathan’s arm, hoping it conveys even a smidge of the things I don’t know how to say. We sit in silence. I want to speak, but I also don’t want to interrupt whatever thoughts are racing through his mind.
Jonathan finally speaks. “I don’t really think they are alike. Mark. He’s nothing like our father.” He lets out a puff of air. “He cares about people too much. Jack Winters doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
I give his arm another squeeze. He continues, “Mark always tried to protect me, even when I didn’t need it. Even when I didn’t deserve it.” He gives a humorless laugh. “Especially when I didn’t.”
“He’s your brother. He loves you.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“Do you? Because I don’t think he knows that.”
“I’ve been a pretty crappy brother, haven’t I?” Jonathan bumps my leg with his knuckle. “And friend.”
I manage to hold back my full smile, but a smirk still escapes. “C+, but I hear there’s extra credit available.”
“Oh, good. I’d never hear the end of it from my students if it got out that I got a C+.”
This time I can’t hold back, and a snort escapes, causing us both into a fit of laughter. Tears are streaming down our faces as Jonathan’s students start to filter in. I wipe my cheeks as I wave hello to them. Jonathan and I hop down from our perch, and he wraps me into one of his signature all-encompassing hugs. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that somehow, some way, Jonathan and I will be okay.
Chapter 31
Mark
Ihaven’t seen Millie all day, and it feels like an eternity. I was hoping I’d run into her at the high school when I was at practice because I knew she was going to try and talk to Jon, but no such luck. I came straight home to shower and change so I could head over to her place. I’m about to grab my keys when there is a knock on my door. I hope with all my being that it isn’t Krystal. I don’t have it in me to deal with her. Though those encounters have been almost non-existent since her encounter with Millie.
“Dan, what are you doing here?” I step aside to let Dan Jacobson in.
“I was in the neighborhood and realized I hadn’t seen your place yet.” I quirk an eyebrow, the movement making me wince after that fight. In the neighborhood? “Or maybe there was something I wanted to talk to you about.” Here it is. The lecture about not telling everyone about me and Millie. “Jack is in town.”
That was unexpected.
“How? When?” I can’t seem to make any complete sentences. I knew my father would eventually come to Ridgeview. I haven’t responded to his messages or calls, and Jack Winters doesn’t give up easily. Especially if he thinks that makes him lose. Lose what? I don’t know, but the number of times I have heard his mantra Winters never lose rings through the front of my memories.
“He came by the house earlier today. He said he’s been trying to get a hold of you, but you haven’t been responding.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That if you weren’t responding you were probably not ready to talk to him and that he should respect your boundaries.”
“Thank you.”
“Mark, I’m not sure why you moved back to Ridgeview, or why you don’t want to talk to your dad, but I know you have your reasons and when you’re ready to talk, you will. You were always an introspective child. I would suspect you are the same as an adult. Just know if you ever want to talk, I’m always here. You’re not a kid anymore, but I still might have an ounce or two of advice. At the very least, I’m a pretty good listener.”
In all this time, I’ve hardly thought about the why of my actions. I simply acted on impulse. Except it wasn’t impulsive moving to Ridgeview. As much as I thought of it as running away from my father’s control, I was coming back home. I was coming back to where I knew I was loved and valued. I’ve done a pretty terrible job at showing how much that means to me.
