A Better Man(27)

Before the funeral, he'd barely noticed, because he'd been too overwhelmed with shock and grief. Now it seemed like all he could see were the flaws. The condition of the place surprised him. He knew his father and Ryan had been working hard to develop new blends of wine for a more competitive brand. Maybe that's where all their focus had gone instead of on the bed-­and-­breakfast or the event center.

In recent years, his father had commented that the wine business in Washington State had exploded. Properties that were once open wilderness and rolling hills had been sold off to those who'd learned that their winemaking hobby could be profitable. Plus the lifestyle in the area had become very desirable. Other than a domestic call here and there or a group of beer-­drinking teens causing a little trouble down at the river, Sunshine had virtually no crime.

The brochures set up in the tourist information center at the edge of town boasted the area to be a great place to raise wine and kids. But as Jordan turned the SUV up the winding road to the main house on the hill, he realized their corner of paradise needed some TLC. The big question for him was, why hadn't anyone else noticed? Surely his mother could have seen the deterioration. Why wouldn't she have done something about it, or at least said something? 

He parked in the driveway, then, feeling like a guest instead of a family member, he knocked on the front door of the large two-­story home. Footsteps could be heard on the hardwood floor from inside before the door swung open.

The amber light above Aunt Pippy's head intensified the fireball glow of her hair. Today's outfit was a yellow and orange mini dress with a wide white vinyl belt that buckled at her hips. Earrings that looked like melon balls topped with Shriners' fez hats swung from her ears. White vinyl ankle boots finished off the look that might have been better suited for American Bandstand in the 1960s than a home in a conventional wine town.

"Jordy!" Aunt Pippy's eyes, under bright blue eye shadow, popped wide with her surprise. "What are you doing knocking on the door?"

Good question. He should feel free to come and go in the house as he pleased.

He didn't.

And that was his own damn fault.

"Is Nicole home?"

"She sure is." She waved him inside, where the aroma of spaghetti sauce tickled his nose and made his stomach growl. "She's in the kitchen helping Riley with a school project."

"That's a good sign."

"Oh, sweetums." She patted his arm. "Don't get too excited. It's a third-­grade diorama. Come on in. We were just about to eat. You can join us."

He glanced around the living room that now seemed cold. The eerie absence of his parents balled his stomach up in knots. "Where's Ryan?"

"Working late. He's got Declan locked up in the office with him. I think they're going over the financial reports."

Sounded like a ton of fun.

"You doing okay?" he asked her. After all, she'd lost her sister, and everything had to be as hard on her as it was on the rest of them.

"Just trying to get through one day at a time. Your mom and I went through a whole lot of sister stuff together. Being the oldest I always thought I'd go first." Her chest lifted with a long stuttered sigh. "Guess you just never know."

"I'm so sorry." He drew his aunt into his arms. "And I apologize. It's easy to get wrapped up in your own grief and forget that others are suffering too."

She patted his back and leaned her head against his shoulder. In that moment he didn't care if her makeup smeared all over his shirt, all he wanted to do was offer comfort.

"Jordy? You can't walk around your whole life apologizing for everything. At some point in time you just have to get on with getting on. We're all here for each other and we'll need each other in the coming days, weeks, and months. Don't forget that." She looked up, stroked his cheek with her long orange fingernails. "You're home now. And if you need to leave, I know you'll come back. When you do, we'll all be here for you."

"I appreciate that, Aunt Pippy. But I'm not planning on going anywhere."

"Never say never. Some things in life you learn quick. Some things you learn slow. Doesn't matter how long it takes, just that you're open to interpretation. As this great loss just taught us all, make sure you always grab hold of life with both hands and hang on tight."

"I'll try."

"I know you will." She patted his cheek. "Now how about some of that spaghetti before it gets all gummy? The rest of the boys went into town for dinner. Seems they weren't too keen on the idea of chicken going into the spaghetti. Parker especially had a problem. Told me I was breaking the rules."