SEAN
Glen hadn’t complained about the birthday party. He didn’t sound excited, either. Although, he was eying the ever-growing pile of gifts in the corner.
“Holy guacamole,” Nadya said as she walked through the door, craning her neck at Glen. “You’re not thatlittle of a brother.”
“Kids these days. They have no self-control in the growing department,” Vera said, taking the long box from Nadya and adding it to the pile.
Mince joined us as well, but instead of blending into the gloomy shadow in the corner, he kept close to Ljuba, Vera’s younger sister. The two chatted quietly, Ljuba developing a permanent blush on her nose.
Did they know each other? Mince just moved to New York a year ago, after the less than stellar reunion with his ex-girlfriend. The bitch couldn’t get over the scars.
“So, do we celebrate like the boring people do by eating till we can’t move or do it the smart way by opening the gifts first?” Nadya asked.
“Pull his arm, why don’t you,” Vera answered, then gave Glen a questioning look.
It took my little brother a moment to catch on that he was given a choice. As it sunk in, he smiled, then went for the gifts.
Choices, huh? That’s what got him to smile. Or maybe just being treated as a person who mattered on his own birthday.
Damian elbowed me lightly, then nodded at Glen with a questioning look.
“He’s good,” I answered.
“Does he need anything else? I mean, tutors, rehab, a therapist. Anything?” Damian asked.
Tutors maybe, but Vera had been helping a lot, and not only with math. Rehab wouldn't do anything we weren’t doing already. “I don’t know if he’ll agree to a therapist. Maybe. He’s seriously doing way better, though.”
Glen went for the largest box first. It had to be furniture to be that size. But as the wrapping paper fell away, a giant machine came into view. I looked at Damian, wanting to know what the hell he got our little brother.
“Is that for screen printing?” Glen asked.
“It is,” Damian answered. “I figured I already had a job at your age, but it sucked. So, you can make money doing something you enjoy.”
Except Glen’s wrists might not have healed completely. Or was this an encouragement? If it was, it worked.
Glen grinned, examining each moving part of the machine. Good thing we had a finished basement ‘cause this thing needed to go somewhere.
“Okay, open mine now,” Nadya shouted.
Glen did, finding a wide format printer. Then he checked out the bookbinder Lara gave him.
Well, damn. My little bro could open his own business. He only needed to start drawing again.
Mince’s box came next. Glen pulled out everything Cobra Kai, the show I had just gotten Glen to watch. Had I told Mince about it, or was he keeping in touch with Glen?
Ljuba’s gift was a gaming chair with a Miyagi Do logo. Okay, she definitely knew Mince, then. This couldn’t be a coincidence.
Finally, Glen opened mine and Vera’s gifts, grinning ear to ear the whole time. We had nailed it. We had nailed it so good.
I put my arm around Vera, loving the feel of her pressed against me. Without her, I’d probably be still at one-word answers with Glen.
“Thank you,” I whispered into her hair.
“I didn’t do anything,” she answered.
She did everything and then some.
“What are those two?” Nadya asked about the two small boxes left untouched. Grandma had sent them a week ago.