Page 71 of Newly Tied

“And you know her,” he said, exhaling, putting an arm around his sister’s shoulders. “There’s no way she doesn’t keep us in school. There’s no scenario where that could have ever been an option.”

“That’s right, you’re right.”

“Plus, she had a job she loved at the school district, and so no, she wasn’t about to give up her dream so that Duke Webster could follow his.”

Talia nodded.

“She wanted everything to be steady and secure for us. That’s how she is. She’s a rock, and that doesn’t mesh with a nomadic life, living in motels and dragging her kids around the country.”

“So really, even though there was clearly another woman, fact is, he left because he needed a different life,” she concluded, taking a breath, her face suddenly looking better. Her light was back, all because her brother made her see the truth of the matter without sentiment or sadness.

“And a different kind of family,” I chimed in. “They’re different kinds of people, he and your mother. I’m sure they’re both a heck of a lot happier apart.”

“Precisely,” Lang affirmed, smiling at me, taking hold of my chin for a moment before giving his sister a gentle squeeze.

“Okay.” She took a breath. “It’s been a long time. I need to let it go.”

“People are funny about time,” Lang told her. “They think if enough of it passes, you shouldn’t be angry anymore, or hurt, or in pain. But that’s crap. Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Some of them are too deep.”

She nodded furiously.

“But listen,” he said hoarsely. “You got Mom, you got me, and you got Del. You’re not losing any of us, Talia Jean.”

Her faint chuckle over Lang using her middle name was good to hear, and when she leaned back, taking a deep breath, then releasing it, her mother was suddenly there with a box of tissues.

“We will not cry in front of these people,” Etta commanded all three of us. “We will hold ourselves up until they depart.”

“And when will that be?” Lang asked her, sounding pained.

“I suspect after they eat and visit a bit more.” She slipped her arm through mine. “Also, your father wanted to see you and introduce you to his family.”

“Why are they here?”

“His youngest son, Maynard, has been accepted to Juilliard, and their whole family is taking a road trip together.”

“From where?”

“New Orleans.”

“What family?”

“Duke, Selah, and their four kids—Jasmine, Ford, Drea, and Maynard.”

“How old is Maynard?”

“Eighteen,” Talia answered. “He’s going to be a freshman. How old do you think he is?”

“That’s quite the gap in ages.”

“Why do you care?” Etta asked him. “And Selah was thirty-two when she had him; only a year and some change older than your sister is now, son.”

“That’s true,” Talia said, leaning into her brother.

“Wait now,” Lang said, squinting at his mother. “How do you know how old she was when she had Maynard?”

“Because I can do math,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Selah was twenty-five when I first met her at one of Duke’s shows, and Jasmine was four at the time. I remember feeling ancient despite being merely eight years older.”

“What show?” Talia wanted to know.