Chapter 29
Bryan had been thinking about what Asa had told him all night.
He’d confirmed with his eldest boy, too.
B.J. had made it clear John had been agitated about something—and Cass had been upset.
She hadn’t said anything when she’d gotten home—it had been a rough shift in the ER—but she had wanted Bryan to hold her.
Of course he had. He’d hold that woman every minute of every day for the rest of his life, if he could just make that happen. She was his heart and soul.
But he knew…John had upset her first. John had liked upsetting her for years.
He got off on it for some reason. He always had.
Ever since John’s wife had left him so long ago—it was like he’d had a problem with Cass and all of Bryan’s sisters-in-law since.
It had gotten so bad for a while ten or twelve years ago, Bryan had banned John from getting anywhere near Cass.
His two other brothers barely talked to John now at all.
John had said it was because they all had a different mother than he did. That it was all Bryan’s mother’s fault. John…John just couldn’t seem to accept responsibility for his actions any longer. Hell, John was fifty-six years old. When would he grow up?
“I told you not to come to the house if I am not there. You know why.”
“That shit was in the past. We’re family; she should have gotten over it by now.”
“Bullshit and you know it. I don’t want you arguing with my wife.
I don’t want you around her if I am not around.
And I don’t want you around my kids any longer.
” The older three had made it very clear that they did not want John around, that they did not feel comfortable with him in their home.
And that was enough for Bryan. He was tired of trying to fix life for John now.
Eight years separated them in age. John was never going to change.
“I’m not going to hurt them.”
“I know you won’t. But I also know you like upsetting Cass. That upsets them. She’s their mom. They feel protective. And I won’t have it.”
“Fine. I’ll stick to where I belong. Cleaning up your own fucking trash.”
“I can always pay someone else to do it.” Bryan was so tired of this. Why did it always fall on him to take care of the screwup that John had become? “So are you going to be here Saturday or not? I need to get this done.”
“Shit. You know I need the money. Which house and what time and what are we doing?”
“The Gibson place. I’m…cleaning out the garage. I’m going to tear it down, put up a carport instead. The damned roof is caving in. I just need to get all their stuff out first.”
John was silent for a moment. “Whose shit is it? Can’t they come and get it.”
“It’s the Gibsons’ things, John. Who is going to come get it now?”
“You kept all their things. I thought you got rid of it years ago. That’s bullshit, man. Just bullshit. What are we supposed to do with it? That’s insane you kept it. Weird, man. Totally weird.”
“Just…are you coming or not? Or should I just pay B.J. your share again?”
Of course, John would be there. If Bryan didn’t pay him for these odd jobs, he’d be reduced to living in that old RV he’d set up on their great aunt’s place decades ago.
John had…nothing. He hadn’t in more than a decade.
Bryan was getting so tired of fixing all of John’s problems for him. When would it ever end?