#4
Eventually, my guilt over having deceived Mercer waned.
Reluctantly, I accepted a loan, and we headed to the thrift store, where I stocked up on clothes that I could wear while working on construction sites with Simeon.
Mercer was right—the guy barely spoke—because of a severe stutter.
He’d often send me instructions the night before by phone.
Eventually, though—once he understood I wouldn’t judge—he began speaking to me. And eventually, we became friends.
Deanna was suspicious of me—and I didn’t blame her.
I’d offered to sleep in Korden’s old room, but Mercer wouldn’t hear of it.
He decided he could do whatever he wanted, as long as he was careful, and his sister was old enough to accept that or move out sooner.
With no small amount of self-preservation, she stayed.
Once she got her commercial pilot’s license, though, she was leaving.
Korden and Andie were more welcoming. Both remembered Gawain and myself, them having been ten and eight the last time the Piazzi twins had graced their house.
“What are you thinking?” Mercer tapped my nose as I sat across from him at breakfast one random morning. Well, Thanksgiving morning.
“That I’m lucky.”
His smile softened. “You heard from Gawain?”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Again, thanks for the netbook. Being able to email helps a lot. Funny how he’s so remote, but they still have internet.”
“And you made it clear he’s welcome anytime? Korden’s old room is always available.”
“He knows.” To my surprise, Deanna and Andie continued to share a room as they had as girls.
Mercer hypothesized they wanted to change as little as possible since losing their parents.
With Andie away at vet school and Deanna flying much of the time, we didn’t see them often.
Everyone, though, was going to be home for Thanksgiving dinner tonight.
“Your parents?”
I winced. “Well, Gawain said they got my email. They called him to ask for his advice. He told them to forgive me. We’ll see. I don’t deserve—"
Mercer put his fingers against my lips. “Even bad boys deserve a chance at redemption.”
I kissed his finger and reluctantly pulled back. “Do I? Do I really?”
“Well, if you don’t believe me, I’ll just have to show you tonight after the kids are in bed.”
It's funny how he called his siblings kids—even though all were in their twenties.
“I like that idea.” We’d both gotten tested and ditched condoms. We’d also had a conversation about kids. Neither of us felt the pressing need. He’d make a good uncle when the time came.
“So, I asked what you were thinking.”
“That this will be the best Thanksgiving ever.” I had plans for Christmas that I wasn’t yet ready to share. Epic plans.
Life was pretty fucking sweet.