Branch looked down and scratched his head. When he looked back at me, he held out his arms. “I think we’re here to make amends, Katy.”
I didn’t move from beside Brooks. If he thought for one second I was going to hug him, he was dead wrong.
Then I looked at Melissa, who’d said nothing. Just knowing that she’d spent the past two years trying to be the perfect future daughter-in-law made me want to laugh. She’d never be me, no matter how sweet she acted, or how much they visited. Brooks shrugged as his parents came into the room. B went running toward Danica. “Mom mom, yook.”
She pointed to her father’s twin.
Danica scooped her up. “B, this is your uncle. His name is Branch. Can you say Branch?”
“Banch.”
Branch laughed, and then he did something that I would have never expected. He held his arms out for her. “Hey, little cutie. Come here and say hi.”
She peeked over Danica’s shoulder to look at Brooks. He smiled and motioned that it was okay. I watched her, being taken into Branch’s arms. He hugged her with more love and affection than I’d ever seen him have. Brooks put his arm around me and kissed me on the top of the head. His brother, who was still in awe over her, finally looked our way. “She’s beautiful.”
I felt guilty, after he’d said that. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but Branch was different. He seemed so sincere. Melissa, started talking to B and I began to relax. Brooks was right about living in the past. We weren’t going to make progress if we didn’t move forward, so I walked over toward them and smiled. “It’s been a long time, Mel.”
She hugged me and I slowly let my arms reach around her back. “I missed you so much, Katy.”
I pulled away and tried to be as nice as I could be. “I missed you, too. Obviously a lot has happened.”
Branch handed B back to Brooks. She still seemed confused.
It was my turn to hug Branch. I was okay with it until he smiled and held his arms out, as if he expected it. I backed up until I felt Brooks’ body touching my back and then I reached out my hand. “It’s nice to see you, Branch.”
“I don’t get a hug?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not ready for that yet.”
He let out an air-filled laugh. “It’s okay. I guess we all need to warm up to each other.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
Brooks pinched me on my back. “Don’t mind her. She’s gotten bitter in her old age. I think it has something to do with motherhood.”
“Am I the only one here that thinks this is completely insane?” I was losing my cool while Brooks cracked jokes.
Branch laughed. “It’s only weird if we make it that way, Katy. Look, we’ve all moved on now and clearly it’s for the best. Whatever you have against me needs to be worked out. We were a family before, and we’re even more of a family now. Look, Mel and I are getting married. You’ve got a kid that I don’t think any of us knew about. You’re obviously with my brother now. We wouldn’t have come today if we knew it was going to make you so mad. If it makes you happy, we can leave.”
I looked around the room at the family that I’d just started to get back. As much as I wanted to resent him, I had to bite my tongue. These people were all I had left and I needed them now more than ever. I had to forget about being with Branch and start over, only remembering the times when we were growing up. The damage had already been done to everyone in the room. Out of all the times that I regretted what I’d done, I started realizing that closure was the only way to find forgiveness. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry for lying about my feelings. I’m sorry for hurting everyone in this room, especially Brooks. All of this could have been avoided if none of you ever loved me.” I felt so lost, so hurt that I knew I had to get out of there. With no regard for what anyone had to say to my confession, I went running upstairs.
I heard them talking, deciding on whether Branch and Melissa should stay or go. I also heard them arguing about who was going to come calm me down. When I heard the bedroom door opening, I turned to see the last person I expected to be standing there.
Chapter 46
“Branch?”
He walked in and sat at the foot of the bed. “Brooks is probably going to beat my ass for what I’m about to say to you, but I think it’s time you and I got some things out in the open.”
I pulled my legs up to my chest and sat there looking at him. Though they were the same, there were also many differences in the two of them since the last time we’d all been together. Branch was clean cut and thin, while Brooks was muscular and probably had a good twenty pounds on his brother. “Fine. Say what’s on your mind. I know you’re dying to.”