Chapter thirty-six
“Here.” Tyler handed me a shot of whisky.
“Thank you.” I took a sip as I looked out over the horizon, where Helena was pushing the twins on the swing my father had placed in a tree at the back of the house.
“Beautiful.”
“She's beautiful...”
“A little too young for you.” He squeezed his eyes shut to try to analyze her better.
“Shut up, man!”
“I'm just telling the truth.”
“I didn't ask your opinion on that.”
“It seems he's already in love.”
“It took me a long time to open up to another woman.”
“Do you think she's the right girl?”
“Look at them.” I pointed while my daughters laughed and played with my girlfriend.
“Are you looking for a new girlfriend or a mother for your daughters?”
“You can't disassociate one from the other.”
“What if she doesn't make you happy?”
“She's already making me happy.” I turned to face him. “Look who's asking me that question.”
“What's wrong?” He shifted his shoulders. “I worry about you.”
“I know that, but you're not the best love advisor there is. You only have affairs.”
“That's why. I get the best out of every woman.”
“Then she threw them away.” Deborah came out onto the balcony and pulled up a chair to sit at the table, joining us.
“This happily ever after thing is bullshit.”
“Maybe because of men like you.”
“I thought you loved me.” He crossed his arms.
“Just because you're my brother.” She shrugged and took his glass, drinking the rest of the shot. “Stop agonizing over Thomas's relationship; he deserves it.”
“I'm in mine.”
“I know...” Deborah looked up.
“Aunt Deby!” Mary came running up the small wooden steps from the balcony where we were standing.
“Be careful not to hurt yourself.” My sister went over to her niece.
“Come and play with us .”
“Do you want me to go on the swing?”
“Quelo!”
My sister looked at us, and I nodded in encouragement.
“I think she'd be a great mother,” Tyler commented when our sister walked away from us.
“Everything has its moment.”
“You're getting old, man. Talking just like Dad.”
“Life changes us.”
“I hope not.” He crossed his legs and stared at the horizon.
I swore that I would never put another woman in my life, much less get involved to the point of giving my heart away, but there I was, looking with a passionate air at the woman who played with my daughters. I knew that Tyler would also be challenged by fate at some point, but that wasn't my concern at the moment.