“My boys are here!” she screams excitedly, hugging Caleb first and then engulfing me in a warm embrace. She ruffles her fingers through my hair and kisses my cheek. “We missed you last Friday for dinner, Matty. I even made your favorite dessert, chocolate cream pie.”

“I’m sorry, Ma.” It’s always been hard to call Mrs. Brody “Mom” because I felt like I was dishonoring mine in some way, even before the cancer took her from me. When I was in middle school, though, I started calling her “Ma” and it stuck.

“I ended up having to work late on a new project. I’m sorry I missed it.”

“Well, lucky for you”—she winks and nods her head toward the kitchen—“I just finished one up. Go on ahead in the living room and I’ll bring it out. Grumpy’s sitting on the couch, glued to the TV.”

“He’s still grumpy?” Caleb replies, kicking off his shoes and leaving them by the front door.

“He’s extra grumpy,” his mom yells from the kitchen. She pokes her head out. “You know, with his hip, he’s not getting any.” Like mother, like son, I think to myself and chuckle.

“Mom!” Caleb scolds, rolling his eyes in my direction and shaking off his mom’s off-color remark. “Is that really necessary for us to know?”

“Caleb, you have five brothers and sisters. I think you know that your dad and I quite enjoy our time together,” she says, waggling her eyebrows, a smile turning up one corner of her mouth.

Caleb cranes his neck out to the living room and motions to his dad. “Okay, then. I’m going to say hi to Dad.”

I follow behind him, pausing to take a look at all the family pictures lining the wall, my face in so many of them it tugs at my heart. “Hey, Pops,” I say, walking over to the couch and bending down to give him a hug. With his thick salt ‘n’ pepper hair, Duke sweatshirt, and matching sweatpants, Mr. Brody looks nowhere near fifty-five years old. “How’s the old man doing?”

Caleb slaps his dad on the back and sinks down beside him. “Yeah, how’s my old man doing?”

His dad presses a button on the remote and tosses it on the coffee table. “Let’s see, I’m stuck on the couch and your mom’s withholding sex from me, other than that I’m great.”

Caleb leans forward, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. “Oh no, not you, too.”

“A man’s got needs, son,” his dad says, and we all bust out laughing until he finally directs his attention at me. “What’s that in your hand, Matt?”

“Your favorite apple pie. I thought maybe it could help bring you out of your foul mood.” I set the box on the table. “Do you want a piece?”

“I’m afraid there’s only one thing that’s gonna bring me out of my foul mood.” He chuckles and slaps his knee. “I’ll have one later, thanks for bringing it by. So what’s up with you boys? How’s the conference going?” He rests his legs on the coffee table, folding his hands in his lap.

I take a seat on the recliner across from the sofa. “It’s going well. I’m giving a presentation tomorrow so that should be interesting.”

Caleb tucks his hands behind his head with a fiendish grin. “Matt missed the entire first day. He got stuck in an elevator and then went out gallivanting…with a hot brunette.”

“Now that sounds like a story I want to hear.” He winks, elbowing Caleb in the side.

My mind wanders to Fran and a smile inhabits my mouth, one that’s pretty hard to get rid of, and I glance at my watch to check the time. “There’s not much to tell. We ended up on the elevator for a while. It was pretty uneventful.” If you don’t count the warmth of her skin as I was massaging it with my finger or the calm I felt by having her so close to me.

Caleb’s mom comes out with plates of pie and hands one to each of us, taking a seat next to Caleb on the sofa.

“So? What did I miss?” she asks, eating a bite of pie and closing her eyes, clearly enjoying the taste. “I can’t deny how good this is. I do make a mean chocolate cream pie.”

“Matt’s hot after his future sister-in-law’s best friend,” Caleb says, laughing, and I nearly stab him with my fork.

“It’s about time,” his mom and dad say at the same time, then look at each other and smile. “It’s about time you find a nice girl, Matt.” His mom clears her throat, glaring at Caleb. “We’re waiting on you too, Caleb.”

“Mom. We just had this conversation. You’re gonna be waiting a while. Been there, done that. It didn’t work out all that well for me.”

“Well,” she says, taking our plates and wandering back into the kitchen, Mr. Brody’s eyes never leaving the subtle movement of her hips, “there are plenty of fish in the deep blue sea.” He continues to stare at her and it never ceases to amaze me. Even after more than thirty-five years of marriage, he still can’t take his eyes off of her.

“Speaking of fish,” Caleb’s dad pipes in, finally tearing his gaze away, “do you remember that time we went fishing out on Achorn Lake and you and Matt had to grab hold of that fishing line to reel in that ten pounder? Now that was a fish.” He points his finger to a picture of Caleb and me when we were twelve years old, holding the trout with pride, the head of it almost bigger than the two of us combined.

My eyes move from the picture to my watch and I tap it in a subtle attempt to get Caleb’s attention, motioning to the door when he looks my way.

“Well, we should probably get going,” he announces, pushing himself up off the couch.

“Already?” his mom asks coming out of the kitchen, her chin down, a glint of disappointment in her eyes.

“Yeah, Mom,” Caleb says, giving a quick hug to his dad and putting his arm around his mom. “We’ll be over next Friday for dinner.” He glances over at me. “Right, Matt?”

“Absolutely. Also, give Tracy a hug for me.”

I say goodbye to Caleb’s dad and his mom walks us to the door, a genuine smile spread clear across her face. My own smile grows wider knowing just how happy this visit has made her. I give her a hug and a kiss before we head out.

“Love you!” she yells as we traipse down the driveway.

“Oh man, dude, your parents crack me up.” I chuckle as I climb into the driver’s seat. “Even I have to admit, it’s sweet.”

“Yeah, real sweet.” Caleb laughs. “You’re not the one who had to hear them going at it through the walls at least three times a week growing up.”

I edge onto the highway that’s now lined with rush hour traffic. “My mom and dad were a lot like that, too, remember…before she got sick. They were so affectionate with one another. I often wonder how different things would’ve been if she’d lived, you know?”

Caleb stares out the window and a moment of silence passes between us, both of us lost in thought. “Do you think you’ll ever speak to your dad again?”

I scratch my chin, pondering his question. It’s not an easy one to answer. “I don’t know. I’m not the one who cut off contact. Do I think about him? Sure. Wonder what he’s doing? Yeah. But he left us emotionally after Mom passed and then physically after Clara died. I wouldn’t even know how to find him at this point. Last I knew he was in Wyoming.”

“I’m sorry,” Caleb says with the utmost sincerity. “I wish things could’ve been different for you.”

“You know what, Caleb?” I smile warmly, keeping my eyes on the road. “Ever since I can remember, your family has felt like home to me, and for that I’m not sorry at all. You have an amazing family and a mom and dad who love you. I hope you know how lucky you are.”

“I do,” he replies, knocking his head back against the seat. “As crazy as they are, I do.”

The remainder of the ride back to the hotel is quiet. Thoughts of Dad, Mom, and Clara taking up residence in my mind. Dad wasn’t the only one who changed. I changed, too. I lost my faith and became obsessed with making sure things were perfect in my life, but it dawns on me now just how far from perfect they really are.

* * *

“What do you want to drink?” I ask Caleb as he heads off to grab us a table.

“I’ll just have a beer, man, thanks.”

I squeeze through the crowd at the bar and while I’m waiting to catch the bartender’s attention, I pull out my cell phone and text Fran.


Hey. We’re downstairs in the bar. Waiting on you.


I was about to type “Can’t wait to see you” but something held me back.

A second later my phone dings.


Be right down.


And just like that my chest feels lighter, my breathing steadier. I may not be able to voice it out loud, but my head is screaming that I can’t wait to see her.

I order two beers and scan the crowd, drumming my fingers against the bar to keep busy. Something catches my attention near the entrance and I turn my head just in time to see Fran and Peyton. It’s almost as if I could sense her presence, the hairs on my skin letting me know she was close.

“Wow.” I know I said that out loud. She’s exquisite, wearing a black dress that hugs every curve, her hair cascading over her shoulders in sleek, dark waves. Even from here I can glean the sparkle in the green of her eyes. She’s stolen all of my breath and maybe even a sliver of my heart. I quickly take a swig of the beer set down before me, my throat dry as I watch her make her way toward me. I can’t move or breathe, and when she’s finally standing in front of me, I can barely speak. “Hey,” I manage, unable to pry my eyes from hers.

“Hey, yourself,” she replies, and a huge grin breaks out across my face.

I vaguely hear Peyton coughing to make her presence known and I shift. “Hi, Peyton.”

“Hi, Matt. Oh, I see Caleb. I’m going over.” She continues walking but calls back, “Can you get me a vodka tonic, Fran?”

“Uh huh,” Fran replies, and I finally decide it’s time to find my voice.

“You look…beautiful, Fran.”

“Thank you,” she says, her eyes raking over my body. “You look pretty decent, too.”

“Don’t go overboard with the compliments,” I tease, motioning toward the bar. “What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have a rum and coke, please.” She eyes the table, Caleb and Peyton already getting cozy in the corner.

“Why don’t you go on ahead. I’ll bring the drinks over.” I won’t deny I want to watch her walk away and Jesus, as she does, it was completely worth it. Her ass is perfectly outlined through that dress and she’s all legs and—shit, she just turned around and caught me staring.

I make two trips to bring the drinks over and then take a seat across from Fran. Peyton and Caleb are already lost in their own little world, so for all intents and purposes, Fran and I are alone.

She takes a sip of her drink and catches me eyeing her again. “You like what’s on the menu?” Her voice is low and sexy and my breath catches.

“Maybe.” I grin, but then for once in my life decide to say fuck it. “Yeah, I do.”

Her eyes light up with surprise, a subtle shade of pink sweeping her cheeks at the same time a smile tugs at the corner of her lips.

Right answer.

Fran sits back against the chair and pulls her drink along with her, mixing it with her straw. “So… how is Caleb’s dad feeling?”

I chuckle before setting my beer down on the table. “He’s okay. A bit irritable, but that’s to be expected. He’s kind of immobile right now.” My mind drifts to the more important reasons behind his mood change and I smirk.

“What? What’s so funny?” Fran asks, peeking at me over the glass, that cute little wrinkle in her forehead popping out.

“Well….” I try to figure out a way to put this without being too blunt. “Because of his hip, his dad is feeling a bit…deprived.”

Her eyebrows squish together and her nose crinkles until the light bulb goes off in her head. “Oooooh,” she says, smiling, “that.”

“Yeah.”

She cocks her head, tapping her fingernails on the side of her glass, contemplating me. “You really love them, don’t you? His family?”

“Yes, as if they’re my own,” I say fondly. “They’re the closest thing I’ve had to a home since I was seventeen. After my mom died, well, things started to fall apart. My dad was devastated and started to withdraw from us a little every day. When Clara passed away eight years ago, he finally left and I haven’t spoken to or seen him since.” I let out a hard sigh, running a hand through my hair roughly. “It’s not that I can even blame him, though. First he loses the love of his life, and then years later he loses his daughter, both to the same illness. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to cope with that.”