Love Survives(19)

“I can’t help it. I think Branch is keeping us from each other and I don’t get it. We’re family, and he knows how important you’ve always been to me. You’re thousands of miles away. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want us talking.”

So I’d been right. “Kat, Branch found the letter. He went into my room after you fell asleep and read it. He called me that morning before you woke up.” I couldn’t believe he hadn’t mentioned it to her. If she was my girlfriend, I’d want answers. I would have gone to her immediately and let her have it. The fact that he hadn’t mentioned it was like a red flag. Something was up with Branch. It was as if he couldn’t bring me up in conversation to Kat, and I wanted to know why.

“What?”

“Yeah. Do you really think that I would talk to everyone else on the phone and not you? If I had to pick anyone to call, you’d be my first choice.”

“He knows about what we did?”

“Yup. He knows.”

“What did he say to you? Did he threaten you? Do your parents know?”

I could almost see her expression clearly as she questioned me. Kat was freaking out, and I couldn’t blame her. This was her livelihood on the line. She’d never be able to face my parents if they knew the truth. Kat was too good of a person to live with that kind of guilt. “Kat, he doesn’t blame you. You didn’t even know, which I’m just going to put it out there, it’s sort of weird. I know I’m a way better lover than my brother, but that’s beside the point.”

She giggled, reassuring me that she was okay.

“Anyway, we had words, and he made threats. It’s why I wasn’t going to come to the wedding.”

She interrupted. “You have to come, Brooks. I want you there.”

“Yeah, I heard. When he called to tell me the date had been moved up, I was shocked I was invited again. He’s pretty much said that if I come within ten feet of you and he isn’t around he’s going to kill me with his bare hands. Honestly, I’d like to see that fucker try it. After all this time, I’m pretty sure I’d rip him apart.”

“Okay, I don’t need to know all that. Forgive me for saying that, but I find it hard to believe that he’s never confronted me about us being together.”

“Kat, you’re innocent in all of this. Don’t you get it? He doesn’t even know you saw the letter. He thinks I left it under my pillow and you never found it. At least, that’s what I convinced him happened. As far as you know, we’ve never done anything. It’s all on me.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I think you know why.” The line got quiet, and I knew I’d crossed a boundary again.

“Brooks, I want you at the wedding, and Branch isn’t going to touch you. I appreciate that you kept me out of it, but it doesn’t change anything either way. I’m marrying Branch because I love him and we have a life together. I hope you understand that.”

As impossible as I knew it would be, I had to be there for her. Sure, I’d support my brother as well, but it wasn’t the same. I was coming home for Kat, and she needed to know that.

“I get it, Kat. I’ll be there for you on your special day and I won’t cause problems. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

“Thank you.”

“Listen, I need to go.”

“Wait. Can I call you again?”

“You can, but you may want to use someone else’s phone. Branch may act all innocent, but I guarantee he checks your phone bill for my number. You’ve got a month to come up with a good excuse as to what we talked about and why you called me today.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Bye, Kat.”

“Bye, Brooks.”



Our short conversation left me vulnerable, and fearful of how far I’d go to speak to her again. I imagined talking her out of marrying Branch, and what other extremes I was willing to go to save her from being committed to him. Still in my heart she was meant to be mine. Nothing had changed. There was something in her voice reassuring me.

With only five months until they tied the knot, I was running out of ideas. All I could hope was that she’d wake up one day and realize that she’d made the wrong choice. Thankfully, Kat started calling on a regular basis, brightening my days with her comforting voice. She didn’t know that her talking about a clogged drain, or being stuck in traffic calmed my nerves. It reminded me of being home with the family. She wasn’t the only person I’d missed. Somewhere along the line I’d pushed my parents away. In the back of my mind I figured it was the right decision, but yearned to make things right, somehow, someway.