Epigraph #4
“I got it. Y’all got business to take care of,” Bru said. I think we were both surprised Thatcher called so early this morning. The three of us had already been headed to the park. We were early risers with Bailee.
Bru glanced at Thatcher. “Good seeing you, bro.”
“As always,” Thatcher said, then gave Bailee one final tickle that made her laugh. She proceeded to skip off to the slide with Bru. Thatcher folded his arms. “Still can’t believe you’re a dad.”
“You and me both,” I said.
Thatcher waved again when Bow did from her park bench. Bow gestured and mouthed, “One sec,” before turning back to her computer. That was probably why she waved initially. She wanted to get her brother’s attention.
“Dad must be running her ragged,” Thatcher said, but we both knew that shit was the opposite.
Bow was one of those first-into-the-office-and-last-out type of people.
She worked for their dad at his security company, and I think we all knew that was where she was headed in college.
Thatcher wanted to play ball first before getting into their family businesses, but Bow had always been moving toward the corporate life.
Thatcher and I sat on a bench. We watched his niece play for a bit before I spoke.
“I heard you really messed up,” I said, handing him the keys to an old theater here in town. Half was a theater and the other half was my restaurant. I opened it up after culinary school, and it was the first of many.
Thatcher rolled his eyes. “Y’all talk too much in the group chat.
” The word around the street was that he and Aspen were going through it a little, and I figured that was confirmed since he wanted keys to the theater.
He was planning a private date for her. It was supposed to be a surprise after he picked her up from the airport.
“Well, I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Yeah.” My friend looked a little unsure, and that surprised me.
I didn’t care what this fucker did, there was no way his girl wouldn’t forgive him.
They just had so much love. I was honestly surprised they hadn’t gotten married yet or at least engaged.
Bru, Bow, and I had done a small commitment ceremony.
It wasn’t legal, but that didn’t matter to us.
I patted his chest. “Seriously, whatever you did, I’m sure Aspen will forgive you.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but Bru interrupted.
“Bailee wants Papa,” Bru said. “Dada isn’t cutting it.”
I stood. “Duty calls.”
“No problem.” Thatcher smiled. “Hug my niece again for me.”
I promised him I would, then headed off to Bailee, who was waiting for me near the slide. She ran and jumped into my arms. I swung her around—but I could do that. I was her papa.
And she was one of the brightest lights in my life.
Bru
“So what’s the one piece of advice you’d give to someone after having a kid?” Thatcher asked when I sat down beside him.
I laughed. “Why? You thinking about having one?”
He jumped a little. He started to wave, but I nudged him.
“I’m just messing with you. Probably patience. The same goes with settling down.”
“What do you mean?”
I stared at my family. Bow must have gotten a break in her work because she was over with Bailee and Wells.
She kissed Wells before reaching down and picking up a toddler that was barely much bigger than she was—okay, so that was an exaggeration, but Bow was super petite.
My girl was stunning, and my family was beautiful.
Wells and Bow hugged Bailee, making her laugh, and my insides managed to bloom with even more happiness than I already felt. I had a great job working at one of my dad’s companies, and I got to come home to them.
I smiled. “You’ve got to understand that not everything is going to go your way, but be okay with that. You’re okay because they are.”
Thatcher glanced at the group of people who were his family too. “Thanks.”
“Good luck,” I said, and he frowned. I laughed again. “I heard you and Aspen got into it a bit.”
“Y’all really talk way too much in that fucking group chat.”
He was probably right about that, but whatever. My business was in there too, so I didn’t feel bad for him.
I patted his arm. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“You promise?” he said, and my head tilted. He waved his hand. “Never mind. Hey, can you have my sister come over here for a minute? I want to talk to her about something.”
“Sure thing. But it will be fine, Thatcher.”
He nodded. “I know.”
I squeezed his arm. I headed back to my family, wishing him luck, though I had a feeling he wouldn’t even need it.
Bow
My brother stopped our stroll through the park to pull out a box.
“Are you serious?” I asked when he opened it.
It was a ring. Actually, that was an understatement. It was a rock. The diamond was canary yellow, and the size of, like, several rings. It was square cut and absolutely beautiful.
In awe, I gazed up.
Thatcher’s grin was sheepish. “You think Snowflake will like it?”
My mouth parted. “Thatcher, it’s the size of a small island. She’ll love it.”
He laughed before handing it to me. I got a closer view when we sat on one of the park benches.
“It’s so pretty, Thatcher. Seriously.” And, oh my God, I would have Aspen as a sister-in-law. I freakin’ loved her, and she was so perfect for my brother.
“She surprised me by coming home early from tour. She just finished her last tour date for a while,” he said. “She wants to finish school and spend some time with me.”
They’d already moved in together, but I was sure that was hard with their jobs. She was a concert cellist and had gigs everywhere. Thatcher traveled a lot for football.
“This is so beautiful, Thatcher,” I said, snapping the black box closed. I handed it back to him. “What have the others said about the engagement?”
“You’re the only one I’ve told, actually,” he said, and my mouth parted again. He chuckled. “You’re surprised?”
“Well, yeah.” He had several best friends, including my partners. I could imagine all of them were priority over me, his little sister, regarding any and all important news.
Thatcher wrapped one of his hulk-like arms around me. I laughed, hugging him back.
“Bow, you’re my sister.”
“I know.” We never had heart-to-hearts growing up. That was mostly because he was all macho, just like his friends. I squeezed him. “Thanks for telling me first.”
I started to choke up, and he rolled his eyes. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket; I didn’t even know he had one of those. I blew my nose in it before handing it back.
His eyes lifted again. “Keep it.”
“Thanks.” I blew my nose once more. I was just so freaking happy. My brother was getting married.
After I was done (and composed myself), my brother put the ring away. He put his arm on the back of the bench. “I have to admit, I have an ulterior motive telling you first.”
“Okay.” Honestly, this whole conversation was throwing me. From how it sounded in our group chat, he and Aspen were arguing, so this was quite a surprise.
He smiled. “I’ve been asking everyone advice. About life, marriage, kids…” Pausing, he chuckled to himself. “I think everyone thought Aspen and I were arguing, but, really, that was my stealthy way of getting advice out of them.”
Oh, that was funny.
“So now, I ask you.” He leaned forward, putting his hands together. “What advice do you have for me?”
“Regarding what?” I asked, and he shrugged.
“I know I’m the big brother, but you’ve literally created life. You have a family and…” He rubbed his hands together. “I guess I just want to do it right. Snowflake deserves that. She deserves a good life, and I want to give that to her.”
Oh, dang I nearly cried again. My brother could be such a softy sometimes, even if he didn’t want people to know it.
I touched his shoulder, and, in all seriousness, I told him the one thing he needed to hear about life and relationships. I told him the one thing to be okay. “You are enough, Thatcher. You’re enough for her, and that’s all you need to know.”
He blinked, like, a few times. It was as if he was confused by what I said.
I squeezed his arm. “You’re enough, big brother.”
I hugged him then, a nice firm one, and he hugged me back, so hard.
He released a breath. I knew he understood what I said when he breathed out, “Thanks, sis.”
Aspen
“Thatcher, what is this?” I asked, my eyes widening. He brought us to a movie theater, but it was filled with candles. They weren’t real candles, just flickering plastic ones, but it was still lovely.
It was beautiful.
When Thatcher told me we were having date night at an old movie theater, I hadn’t expected this. The flickering candles lined the aisles of the empty theater. I stared in awe.
Thatcher took my wrap. “Told you I had something fun planned,” he said, then chuckled.
He looked so handsome tonight in a cable sweater and tight jeans.
He was usually in t-shirts and high-tops.
Today, his shoes were shined, but he left his spiked earrings in.
They were ones I loved: dangling crosses sharpened at the tips.
He folded my wrap, then placed it on a theater seat. “We have to celebrate the end of your tour properly.”
Grinning, I bit my lip. There was a reason I decided to shorten my tour, but I kept that to myself.
Thatcher directed me to take my seat. We were right in the center rows of the theater.
“So, what are we watching tonight?” I asked.
I was absolutely stuffed. He’d made dinner for us tonight, too, at our house here in town.
We had a couple of homes, since he played football away from his hometown.
That house was temporary, though. I had a feeling we’d both end up here in Maywood Heights.
Our house was actually in the same cul-de-sac as his closest friends.
Thatcher put his big arm around me. “Something to make you laugh, of course,” he said, then proceeded to sit back in his chair. It squeaked a little from his weight. He grinned.