Chapter 116
Maple
@CaseyTylerNJ, TikTok
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I watch him ordering me a dirty soda and a slice of cherry pie.
The conversation with the server goes on longer than seems necessary, so it’s not a total surprise when he turns around and there’s a candle pushed into the pie, its flame flickering in the draft sneaking under the door of the oldest diner in St George.
‘Happy birthday,’ he says, a little awkwardly as he sits down opposite me.
My birthday was actually last weekend. Dad took me to see a mountain lion he’s been tracking, and even though he was technically just taking me to work with him – he’s got a new job as a ranger in Zion, his dream job at last – I still loved spending the day with him.
‘Thanks,’ I murmur, blowing out the candle. ‘And thanks for the pie.’
Brandon shrugs. ‘Thanks for agreeing to see me. I mean, we didn’t exactly meet in the best circumstances.’
I think about the last time I saw Brandon, three months ago, saying goodbye to him at the sheriff’s office.
We were all there for hours, the twins eventually falling asleep in the sheriff’s dog’s bed.
Luckily it was an Alsatian, so the bed was pretty big.
The officers interviewed us individually, and got the local doctor to check me over, but eventually we were free to go.
All except Brandon, who had to wait for the FBI from Vegas to arrive.
They had some questions for him, about soliciting child images.
He asked for Dad’s number before we left though – not Mom’s; she was too mad with him, although whether that was down to him tricking her with the modeling bullshit, or just him still being on the planet, was hard to tell – and he messaged Dad the next day to say he’d been let go without charge.
And that he’d love to see me again, when I was ready.
So here I am.
‘Not the best,’ I agree. ‘But I know you had good intentions. And you distracting Jake gave Dad the chance to shoot him.’
‘I thought he was going to kill me,’ Brandon admits quietly.
‘I was an idiot, running straight at him like that. But I couldn’t stand how he was talking to you.
’ He smiles at the table, an embarrassed smile.
‘You know, it’s funny. I’d never met you, not properly, and yet I had this urge to protect you so strong, a fire in my belly that wasn’t going out. It’s crazy what biology can do.’
I think about my mom, the other half of my DNA. Would she have put herself in the line of fire like Brandon did? I mean, it’s hard to picture.
‘I don’t think it’s just biology,’ I mumble, also finding something interesting on the table to stare at. ‘I guess it also shows that you’re a good guy. You know, deep down.’
‘Yeah, very fucking deep.’ Then Brandon’s eyes widen. ‘Shit, sorry for swearing. Shit. Oh jeez, I’m not used to being around kids.’
His discomfort makes me laugh. And then he laughs, and it feels pretty good to be laughing with him. ‘I’ve heard worse, I promise,’ I say. ‘Like when Dad told Mom he was moving to St George and taking us kids with him. She cried and cursed and threatened a million things over that.’
‘I’m sorry; no one likes to hear their parents fighting.’
It’s funny. Brandon has a certain look. Gruff, worn down, rough around the edges. But he keeps coming out with stuff like that.
‘She says she’s turned over a new leaf,’ I tell him. ‘That she’ll do whatever it takes to get us back.’
‘And do you think she will?’ he asks. ‘That she can? I mean, take it from me, changing your spots isn’t the easiest thing to do.’
I think about the messages Mom sends me every day. The apologies and promises and inspirational Instagram quotes (because people can only change so much). ‘I know she’s trying,’ I choose. ‘And maybe I’m ready to give her a chance.’