Dylan’s Redemption(27)

“Go to the jobsite and report to James like I told Marilee yesterday. I’ll take care of the house. Did the lawyer contact you?”

Brian nodded. “Dad left everything to me, the house and all its contents. A savings account from the sale of Dad’s business and whatever he had in his checking account. You should have gotten half of everything. You were his daughter.”

She held back her automatic retort, not really. At least, not according to her mother. It didn’t really matter. She didn’t need the money or half the property. She had her own house and money. Brian had a wife and child to consider. He needed both more than she did.

“I’m fine with the way things turned out.”

“You’re fine with how things turned out? You’re fine?” He put his hands on his hips and stared her down.

She felt his anger, which had nothing to do with their father or what he’d left to Brian. He suffered an attack of conscience. She didn’t want to rehash the past and all the times he’d walked out the door while Buddy punished her for being her mother’s daughter.

“Brian, listen very carefully, because you and I are only going to have this conversation once. Today I am burying the past. I hope you can too. What’s done is done. I can’t change it, and neither can you. As far as I’m concerned, you and I are starting over today. I expect you to show up to work tomorrow morning and be the man I always knew you’d be. Maybe you don’t want to be in construction again, but I’m giving you a chance to get back on your feet, and I hope you’ll take it. Whatever you want to do once you’ve gotten out of the hole you’ve put yourself in is up to you. You’ll be able to provide for your family. I want us to get to know each other again. I’m going to be an aunt. I’d really like to watch my niece or nephew grow up. Nothing would please me more than to be a part of your life.

“We were kids. You were just a kid. You knew what would happen if you tried to step in and help me. I’ve grown up and I can look back without it hurting so much. I have a new life now, one I’m proud of.”

“I hear everything you’ve said and everything you didn’t. I am two years older than you and was just as big as Dad by my freshman year in high school. I had the height and the strength to stop the old man. I didn’t. Never even tried. He scared me. I was afraid he’d hurt you more. At the time, it seemed so much simpler to turn my back and pretend nothing happened, so he didn’t come after me.

“I can remember so many times he’d hit you and you’d stand your ground. Tears would come to your eyes and fall and I could tell you begrudged each and every one of them. Every time he hit you, and you didn’t bend or cry out, he’d get angrier and hit you harder. Bruises. God, the bruises all over you.”

Unable to move, her chest tight, she stood, listening. Her hands on her hips, she leaned on her right leg. His words and the hurt in them washed over her and she slowly raised her face to the sky and her eyes filled with tears.

“The more he’d argue with you and you countered everything he’d say, he’d just be meaner. So many times I wished you’d just back down one time. Let him win one time. You never did. It’s taken me this long to realize even if you had, he still wouldn’t have stopped. I don’t know how you took so much and never broke.

“I don’t deserve what you’re doing for my family and me. I’ve never been more proud to call you my sister than I am right now. Somehow, I’ll make it possible for you to be proud to have me as your brother.”

She turned away from the sky and let the tears roll down her cheeks. She didn’t want to see those images in her mind again. Brian needed to heal, like she’d tried to do over the years. He wanted her to know where he was in that process.

“You’re not to blame where Buddy and I are concerned. As much as I regret the past, the only thing I’m thankful for is you didn’t have to go through what I did.” His eyes widened with shock, and he actually took a step back, absorbing an imaginary blow. “Better me than you. If you were in my shoes, you’d feel the same way. You wouldn’t wish Buddy Thompson on someone else if you could help it. That’s why I always nodded for you to leave.

“You want to make me proud. Quit killing yourself slowly with booze. Be a good husband and father. Be the man Buddy never was, but I know you are.”

Stunned by her words, it took him several seconds to give her a nod of agreement. “I’ll see you at work.”





Chapter Ten



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ONE OF THE grounds keepers uncovered the mound of earth by the graveside and stuck a shovel into the pile of dirt. After handing him some money, Jessie told the guy, “Take a hike.” Bills in hand, he left without looking back.