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“Hey, Kelly, I was just going to call you,” Serena answered.
“Do you have news?”
“Yeah. Dennis has a new girl.”
That was an interesting change. Since his marriage collapsed, my older brother hadn’t had any women in his life that we knew of.
“Who?”
“He hasn’t admitted it yet, but I think it’s the girl who started working for him recently.”
“What’s her name?”
“Jennifer, but you didn’t hear it from me. Anyway, enough about him. What’s new with you?”
I’d called to pump her for information, not the other way around. “Tell me what you know about Dennis and Adam Cartwright.”
“You should ask Dennis that question.”
“You know he won’t tell me, so I’m asking you.”
“Why the interest in Adam Cartwright?” She’d always been stubborn about releasing information without getting some in return.
“I saw him at a coffee shop, and I was curious.”
“Curious like you think he’s cute?”
I was still getting nothing from her. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
“Well, there’s another issue between Dennis and Adam, and it’s not pretty.”
I waited for her to continue.
“They got in a fight in college, and Adam came out of it injured. The worst part is that Dennis was in the wrong, and he’s never apologized, so this one is on him. I’m sure Adam hates Dennis for it, and he’s right to. But Dennis despises Adam as well, probably projecting his guilt is all I can figure. He refuses to talk about it.”
“Why?”
“Pride, I guess. You know, one of those I’m-too-manly-to-discuss-my-feelings kind of things. Let’s just say it was not one of our brother’s best moments.”
“Oh.” That was all I could muster as my heart sank.
“Now are you going to tell me why you’re asking?”
“I said I saw him and was curious.” Both things were true, even if the explanation was incomplete.
“You know I’m going to bug you until you tell me the truth about this.”
That was her way.
“I am telling the truth. Gotta go. There’s somebody at the door.”
“Later then, but I’m not letting you off the hook.”
We hung up, and I lay back on the bed.
Now the animosity made sense. Dennis had hurt Adam, and it had been my brother’s fault. No wonder Adam despised me. Guilt by association: same last name, painted with the same broad brush.
As I returned downstairs, I heard Yolanda’s voice coming from the kitchen. “What exactly do you guys at State do anyway?”
