“Yeah, yeah,” Brennon said. “Says Mister Married-with-Kids all by the age of thirty. Thank you for your encouraging words.”
Carl laughed. “Well, you’re welcome. What are younger brothers for? Anyway, so tell me who this chick is. Where did you find her? Does she have kids? Please tell me she doesn’t go to the university.”
Brennon chuckled then looked away. He wondered if he should even divulge to his brother who he was going to see tonight. He and his brother were three years apart, so they grew up rather close. Their bond had gotten even stronger in their twenties since they both wound up going to the same college at the same time for roughly two years. While Brennon’s goal had been to travel and see the world while he had the chance, Carl took the more conventional route. Shortly after graduating from college, he met a woman and wound up getting married. By 28 years-old, he had his first child; his second at 29; his third and last, as of now, by the age of 32.
“No, I didn’t meet her at the university,” Brennon said, shaking his head. “Carl, why would you even say that? You know how colleges really look down on something like that...especially when the professor is much older than the student. It’s not like I’m fresh out of college and this is my first teaching job or something. Anyway, you actually know her to be honest.”
“Oh...yeah?” Carl said. “I know her? Is it someone we grew up with? Dude, please don’t tell me it’s what’s-her-name that you used to see off and on. Man, let her go. She was crazy and everybody was trying to tell you.”
“No, I’m not talking about Beca,” Brennon quickly explained. “It’s Katy.”
“Katy who?” Carl said. “Come on, man, we both know a lot of women with the name Katy out in the world.”
“It’s Katy Katy, Carl,” Brennon said. “You know… Katy. Richard’s daughter...Melanie’s cousin.”
“Oh,” Carl said. The word seemed to slip out of his mouth. It was then followed by a long pause. “You mean Katy Katy.”
“Right, Katy Katy, Carl,” Brennon said. His eyes slanted toward the phone. He could tell by the tone in his brother’s voice, as well as his long pause after hearing it was Katy Miller, that he probably had some kind of opinion.
“Oh, okay,” Carl said. “And you two are going on a date?”
Brennon put a couple of sprits on his neck and wrists then set the bottle down. After looking at himself one more time, in a different mirror, he turned the light out in his bedroom and headed for his living room at the front of his apartment. He checked the time then plopped down on the couch, figuring that he would be getting off of the phone with Carl soon so he could call Katy. “Yup, we are,” he answered. “I’m going to take her to this restaurant downtown I think. I’m not totally sure yet. So, we’ll see.”
“Interesting,” Carl said. He was clearly holding back his words. “Man, are you sure about that?”
“What do you mean am I sure about that?” Brennon knew exactly what Carl was referring to, but he wanted to hear him say it to be sure.
“You’re going on a date with Katy Miller?” Carl asked. “Melanie’s cousin? The one you used to give rides and stuff when they would want to go somewhere? Isn’t she like twenty-six or something like that?”
“Yeah, something like that, Carl,” Brennon said.
“Does Richard know?” Carl asked.
Brennon peered out of the window. Richard had been the very topic of his thoughts for the last week or so. Despite how Brennon tried to rationalize that Katy was a young woman know trying to make her way in the teaching profession just like he had more than ten years ago, his mind still came back around to one thing: how this might look. But something in his heart – in his soul – lit a fire for Katy. “I don’t know what he knows, Carl. I didn’t tell him anything if that’s what you mean.”
“Hmm, I see,” Carl said. “Well, Brennon, don’t you think it might look kind of bad you dating Katy? And please don’t take this the wrong way, but I know, man, you gotta be seeing how this looks. You have to be.”
Brennon sighed. I shouldn’t have said anything just yet, he thought. “Well, I can see what you mean. But like I said she’s a young woman now, so what are you gonna do?”
“I get that, Carl,” Brennon said. “And if this was some chick you met at a bar or some conference or something, who was the same age as Katy, then it might not even be an issue. But this is Katy, man… Melanie’s cousin. You’re like twelve or thirteen years older than her.”
“I know, Carl,” Brennon said. “I can do math. And so? What does that mean?”
“Dude, whatever,” Carl said. Morsels of frustration came out in his voice – his tone. “I’m just hoping you know how other people might see it. You used to take her and Melanie places when they were little girls and you started driving.”
“I know,” Brennon said. “I remember. But it’s not like I was trying to date her or have any kind of relationship with her then. Really, I didn’t even think about Katy for years until I heard she was going into the teaching profession. Dude, she has become a beautiful woman...really. We talked on and on at their house when I went over there for that shindig they had. Then when I went to see Richard about some things, she was there. Richard wound up having to leave so I was there with her for a little while before I had to get back on the road. I’m not going to worry about what other people think and just see what happens.”
Brennon finished up his conversation with his brother Carl. Carl did little to nothing to hide his disapproval of his brother Brennon considering starting something romantic with Melanie’s cousin’s daughter. Nonetheless, the two brothers agreed to disagree then Brennon hung up. He stood up, paced around the floor, and dealt with his nervous feelings. As much as he didn’t want to believe what Carl was saying, he knew indeed that people might see this potential relationship with some skepticism. At this point in his life, though, he really couldn’t care. If it was meant to be, it was meant to be.
Brennon listened as Katy’s phone rang, anxious to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey,” Brennon said. “How are you doing?”
“I’m okay, how are you?” Katy asked.
“Doing well, I must say,” Brennon said. He smiled in a way he hadn’t smiled in a very long time. “So, um, do you think you’re about ready to go?”