Chapter 3
ROAN
The first morning after his return home, Roan shivered as he got out of bed and turned up the heat. He was freezing. His blood had thinned during his time in Los Angeles. He threw on a pair of sweats, a thick pair of socks, and headed downstairs to make some coffee.
Walter had done a good job updating the place for renters over the years.
Fresh paint, new carpet, modern fixtures.
The kitchen had been updated with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and a farmhouse sink.
His mother would have loved it. The main floor was open concept now, as Walter had knocked out a wall between the kitchen and living room, modernizing the space.
Even with all the changes, the house felt the same as it always had.
Like home. The living room window still looked out at the yard where he and Jason had tossed a baseball back and forth.
The floor still creaked in the same spots.
He started coffee and stared out the window at the snow-covered fields. In the distance, he could see smoke from Grace and Walter’s, as well as that of the house his cousin Luke lived in with his wife and children.
As grateful as he was to be back in the house, every room held ghosts.
Each time he entered a room, he half expected his mother to be standing there.
But it was also full of good memories. Christmas mornings opening presents.
Summer evenings grilling in the back yard.
The three of them watching movies together on the couch.
It had been a simple life but a joyful one.
Until they lost the woman who had given them everything they needed.
At times, the pain of the loss still felt fresh.
Other times it felt like a hundred years ago since he’d seen his mother.
The coffee maker beeped and Roan poured himself a cup, black. His phone buzzed with a text from Jason.
Jason
On the plane. See you soon.
Roan
Lots to tell you.
Jason
Intriguing.
Roan smiled into the phone. He and his brother had never really been apart since birth. In L.A. they’d been in and out of each other’s apartments, sharing meals and holidays. He couldn’t wait to see him.
Roan had taken the largest bedroom instead of the one he’d shared with Jason when they were kids. This was his home now. He had to take the room that had once been his mother’s, even though it felt strange to do so.
He took his coffee upstairs to shower, then spent the next hour doing things around the house.
The heat was still spotty. He’d have to ask Walter to look at it.
He made the bed in the guest room for Jason, pulling out fresh sheets that Grace had brought over and hanging towels in the guest bathroom.
Around ten, he headed out to the wraparound porch that circled three sides of the house.
Walter and his cousins had recently repaired some of the loose boards.
The porch swing still hung in the same spot, though the chains were new.
Roan had spent countless summer evenings on this porch as a kid, reading comics, doing homework, talking with his mom about everything and nothing.
He could almost see her there, sitting in the rocking chair with her glass of iced tea, asking about his day.
Always interested and present. Her attention had always made him feel special.
Even when he was acting out in middle school.
If only he could go back and change the moments he’d given his mother so much trouble.
A car pulled into the main driveway and Walter got out, raising a hand in greeting. Roan walked down the porch steps to meet him as his uncle opened his trunk, hauling out a large plastic tub.
“Morning,” Walter called out as he walked toward the porch. “Just wanted to check on the heat situation. Grace said you mentioned it was acting up.”
“Yeah, it’s sluggish. Takes forever to warm up.”
“I’ll take a look. Probably just needs a tune-up.”
“I appreciate it.” Roan gestured toward the bin. “What’s that?”
“Grace kept your mother’s Christmas decorations. In case you ever came home.”
“No way.”
“They’ve been safe and dry, but I have no idea what’s in here,” Walter said. “But your Aunt Grace said you boys would want it.”
“That’s kind of her. Aunt Grace always thinks of everything.”
“It’s true. Sometimes it’s hard to be married to a saint.”
Roan laughed. “I’m pretty sure no one in this town feels one bit sorry for you.”
They headed inside the house. Soon Walter was tinkering with the thermostat. Roan poured them both a cup of coffee.
“Okay, I think I figured out what was wrong,” Walter said. “Should be working much better now.”
“Great. Jason comes in this afternoon, so heat’s a good thing.”
“Looking forward to seeing him. I mean, other than on television. And Grace wondered if you were free for dinner tomorrow night. You and Jason.”
“Jason mentioned meeting up with some friends tomorrow night, but I can come.”
“Great. Your aunt has an idea she wants to share with you.”
“An idea?”
“A charity for at-risk teens. She’s hoping you’ll help.”
“Since I was one back in the day?” Roan asked.
“Maybe.” Walter clapped him on the shoulder. “Still can’t believe you’re actually home.”
“The house is magnificent. Mom would have loved the changes.”
“I was pleased with how it turned out, especially now that you’re here.”
Roan walked Walter to the door. His uncle gestured toward the bin full of holiday decorations. “If you’re not up to looking at all that, just take it up to the attic.”
“Maybe Jason and I can look at it together.”
“How’s it going at the gym? You ready for the grand opening?”
“Yep. Opening next week.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Reese wasn’t too happy with all the racket.”
Walter studied him, cocking his head to one side. “How was it? Seeing her after all these years?”
He looked down at the wood floor. “Hard. She’s still very angry at me. Not that I can blame her.”
“Give it some time. She’ll come around.”
“Thanks, Uncle Walter. But honestly, I don’t think so. She has every right to hate me. Still hurts, though.”
“My mom used to say that everything in love and war eventually works out how it should.”
“I thought it was that all was fair in love and war,” Roan said, chuckling.
“My mom had her own way of thinking about things. Anyway we’ll see you tomorrow night.”
After Walter left, Roan sat on his new couch, thinking how different it was from the worn sofa they’d had as kids.
He looked around the room, remembering how his mother used to decorate for the holidays.
The Christmas tree would have been in the bay window, decorated with homemade ornaments.
Stockings his mother had made hung on the mantel.
Mom’s collection of snow globes was displayed on the shelves near the fireplace.
It was up to him to make it feel like Christmas. But he wasn’t sure he was ready to face whatever was in the bin. However, it comforted him to think Jason would be there too. Being a twin meant he didn’t have to do it alone.
Roan made good time to Burlington, the roads clear despite the snow.
Jason had texted ten minutes before that he had landed and was waiting for his bag.
When Roan pulled around to arrival, he immediately spotted his brother through the crowd.
Jason wore a leather jacket, designer jeans, and a baseball cap.
Sunglasses shielded his eyes, despite the overcast Vermont sky.
He often wore a hat and sunglasses when he traveled, hoping to remain incognito.
Jason was good to his fans, always stopping for a selfie if asked, but it grew tiresome.
That was the price he paid for stardom. Emmy wins.
A hit television show. Jason’s dreams had all come true.
And no one deserved it more than Jason and his heart of gold.
Sometimes Roan wondered why all the goodness genes had been given to his twin, leaving him with only the salty ones.
Roan honked once and Jason’s head snapped toward the sound. He grinned, grabbing the large suitcase next to him and jogged over to the SUV, tossing his bag into the back compartment Roan had left open, and coming around to climb into the front.
“Dude, it’s freezing here,” Jason said, slamming his door shut.
“You’ll get used to it.”
As Roan pulled away from the curb, he felt his brother studying him. “You look good. How’s the neck?”
“Happy I’m just not getting thrown off trains anymore.”
Jason settled back in his seat. “Any pain?”
“Not really. Doc said I healed well and, as long as I stay out of trouble, I should be fine.”
“And he said it’s okay—the CrossFit workouts?”
“I have some restrictions, but overall I’m feeling great. I open next week.”
“Good for you. I’m proud of you for bouncing back.”
“It was time. New season and all that.”
“How’s Mom’s house?”
“Too empty. But it looks amazing. Uncle Walter did a lot of remodeling.”
“Cool. Can’t wait to see it.”
Roan’s hands tightened on the wheel. “There’s something I didn’t tell you before I came out here.” He drew in a deep breath, knowing his brother would question his sanity. “My gym’s right next to Reese Monroe’s dance studio.”
Jason’s head whipped around to stare at him. “Reese Monroe is back in Sugarville Grove?”
“Yep. Three years now. She retired from ballet, and now runs a successful business.”
“How is that possible? As in, how did you not know that when you bought the business?”
“I knew.”
“What? Are you kidding me? Dude, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know exactly. I just felt this pull to come home, and, when I started looking around for available spaces for the gym, there it was. This is going to sound a little bonkers, but I took as a sign that it was finally time to make amends.”
“Amends?” Jason asked. “Is that all?”
“I’ll be lucky if she ever forgives me. She wasn’t too thrilled to see me.”
“You’ve talked then?”