Chapter 5 #3
“Keep trying. You’ll find something in common. We didn’t like everything Mom and Dad introduced us to. Remember debate club?”
Ethan grimaced. “Don’t remind me.”
“After I finished catching up with Tisha, I took two back-to-back calls from new clients,” Luke said. “I’ll give you the updates when we get home. We’re booked solid for the next few weeks.”
“Sweet,” Ethan said. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Make it quick because Mom’s going to have lunch ready soon.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll give Brody a couple more minutes.” Ethan’s pulse sped. Luke would probably give him a hard time about this, but he had to know. “Why do you think Tisha’s back in town?”
“Same reasons you are, probably. Family, small town, fresh start. Coping with grief. Why?”
Ethan avoided his brother’s curious gaze. “I know that you and Chase were close. Thought you might have some insight into why she came all the way to Alaska.”
“Oh boy.” Luke kicked at a small chunk of ice and sent it skittering across the ground. “You’d have to ask her about all that. It’s complicated.”
Complicated? Ethan frowned. Not the answer he’d hoped for.
“Not that you asked for my opinion, but if I were you, I’d tread carefully,” Luke said quietly. “She’s been through a lot.”
Ethan pinned him with a look. “I don’t know what you’re implying, but there’s nothing to worry about on my end. Brody and Sadie sometimes struggle with getting along, that’s all.”
“Looked like they were getting along fine to me.”
“For now, they are. It’s just…I don’t know. Things felt different today.”
“Different how?” Luke’s brow furrowed, concern creeping into his voice.
Ethan shifted from one foot to the other. Maybe he’d misinterpreted the way Tisha had looked his way. Probably best to keep that thought to himself. “They clashed at school, but in their church class, evidently, they got along fine. Can’t figure out why.”
“Huh.” Luke watched the kids throwing snowballs. “Different teacher with different expectations?”
“Maybe.” Ethan shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to see how our next meeting with the school counselor goes.”
“That was nice of you to apologize this morning,” Luke said. “Was your last meeting a little rough?”
Ethan huffed out a laugh. “More than a little.”
“Tisha puts up a cheerful front, but I bet she’s struggling to find her footing here. With the festival coming up, she’s got a lot to do working for the Binfords and getting Sadie back on track. Don’t be too hard on her, man. You two are really not as different as you think.”
Except she was all sunshine and happiness and sugary sweetness.
No thank you. Ethan scrubbed his palm over his face.
“Well, I just agreed to coach a team of seven- and eight-year-olds, plus you said we’re booked out, and Brody’s giving me a run for my money.
So I’ll slog through this restorative-practices thing and try to be on my best behavior.
” He cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. “Brody, let’s go. Time for lunch.”
Brody waved goodbye to the other kids, then trotted toward them and tossed a snowball at Luke’s feet.
“Hey, pal, don’t you start anything!” Luke lunged for him, and Brody spun out of reach, laughing.
“Wow,” Ethan said, “you’re brave. You know what happens to kids who throw snowballs at their uncles, right?”
“No,” Brody squealed, his eyes wide with feigned horror.
Then Luke picked the boy up and flung him over his shoulder and pretended to toss Brody into the snowbank nearby.
“No, it’s cold—don’t do it!”
Laughing, Luke settled Brody gently on his feet. “All right, big guy, I’ll see you back at the resort. Grandma’s got lunch waiting.”
“That was fun, Dad! After lunch, can we have a snowball fight with our family?”
Ethan laughed, feeling warmth spread through him at his son’s excitement. “We’ll see.” Was now a good time to tell Brody he wanted to sit down and get some extra practice reading? Brody would probably hate that more than he’d hate shooting baskets in the shed.
They walked toward the Suburban together.
Brody kept up a running commentary about his epic battle with the other kids.
Ethan tried to pay attention, but thoughts of Tisha’s bright blue eyes and her engaging smile clashed with Luke’s insight.
Although now that he thought about it, when he’d apologized, she had relaxed a little.
And that smile had impacted him more than he cared to admit.
As much as he hated to acknowledge his younger brother’s wisdom, Luke had been spot-on.
He and Tisha had both been through a lot, and they had huge responsibilities.
So what if they’d both flirted? That was normal.
But it needed to stop. Because he had no business thinking about Tisha when Brody needed all his attention.
He couldn’t afford to let messy emotions surface now, especially not with Tisha around.
She clearly had a ton of baggage. He had to stick with fixing his own family because he was not going to fail again.