Page 25 of Grouch-ish

This makes me laugh. I like Wisconsin well enough but it’s not exactly the place I’d consider a destination for a wedding.

“Some fancy hotel in the northern part. A real winter wonderland for their wedding.”

“Is the expensive, exclusive wedding the issue or the marriage?”

“Does it matter?” He runs his thumb nail over the bottle’s label.

“You don’t want her marrying someone else?”

“I don’t want to be unmarried myself,” he finally states, loud and agitated.

My eyes widen at this response. “Are you saying you miss being married?”

Brock lifts his beer bottle again, and drinks heartily. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows gulp after gulp. When he finishes, he stares down at the empty container and shrugs.

“I liked being married. Liked knowing that at the end of the day, Melissa and I were coming home to each other. We were partners. We were together. Or at least, we had been at first.” He exhales. “I always wanted a family. A unit that was my own. I have a nice house and great kids. And at least, my kids were happy to see me.” He sighs. “Eventually, I’m not certain they were so thrilled.”

“What happened with your kids?”

Brock shakes his head, darkness suddenly marring his features. This is a subject he won’t touch. We’ve already crossed a line speaking about his ex-wife.

However, his admission about marriage is reassuring. I’d have never guessed Brock might have a little romantic nature buried deep inside him.

That path is dangerous. I don’t need to get ahead of myself. That’s how I ended up with Reggie.

“What about you? You were married. Don’t you miss it?”

“I don’t miss him, that’s for sure.” I chuckle, more good-natured than Brock about my ex. Our marriage didn’t fall apart with a human third party involved. Gambling was Reggie’s mistress, and while no less deceitful, at least it wasn’t a physical person, or my best friend, that made him unfaithful.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell Brock what I really miss, whether in marriage or otherwise. Sex. Rather than a true love bringing me a bird in a fruit tree, he should bring on the orgasms.

Brock snorts, drawing my attention back to him. “Guess we aren’t meant for true love.”

My brows pinch. “Oh, I still believe in true love.”

Brock leans forward, bracing his elbows on his legs while turning his head to look at me again. “Even after your marriage failed?”

“I didn’t fail at loving. Had I once thought I loved Reggie? I did. Evidently not true love, but love in all its mysterious, foggy ways. And I still believe true love is out there.” I dramatically wave through the air. “Somewhere.”

Silence falls between us a second before I add, “My parents had a true-love match.”

With a pensive hum, Brock lowers his head to peer at the fire. The blaze is dying back and his gaze lifts higher to the decorative panels above the mantel. He tips his beer bottle toward the bird images painted on the doors.

“Doves. Mates for life.”

“My mother loved the birds,” I state, my voice low at the sudden reminder of my mom. A misty haze of memory where she is laughing and my dad cups her face, bringing her close for a kiss. He was so sweet on her.

Clearing my throat, I nod toward the panels. “But those birds don’t mean romantic love. They represent . . .” My throat grows thicker. “They represent my sister and me. Pear.” I point at the left panel. “And Peach. My twin sister.”

“Ah, the ninja turtles in the photo on Cap’s bedside table.”

Dad still has that picture? I hadn’t noticed. It’s been years since I’ve been here, seeing Dad more often in Chicago. Yesterday, I only changed the sheets on the bed and did a quick scan of the room for dirty laundry. I didn’t give the framed images on his bedside table a second glance.

Softly, I smile. “My sister loved turtles and begged me to dress up as one for Halloween to match her. Our mom was still alive then and our parents joined in. The four of us represented The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Melancholy hits like a blunt sword.

Brock lightly chuckles, as if he can picture the four of us. Then again, he saw how Peach and I looked in our costumes.

“Pear and Peach, cute.”