She stepped back and patted her hair, slightly flushed. “Well, I’ll be done today, unless you need some final touches later this week. I’ll be available depending on the storm damage. Call me sometime.”
“Thanks!” He called out and headed out the door, a renewed perspective and hope motivating him.
Maybe he had a chance.
ChapterEighteen
Grady came downstairs after a quick shower to wash off the grime from the day. He had gotten a lot done on the cottage and shored up the wedding venue for Caroline. His muscles were pleasantly achy and tired, and he was ready for a cold drink and a relaxing night by the fire pit. Most of the group was already outside, but Matthew waited in the kitchen for him, a beer in hand. He jutted his chin to Grady and handed him a bottle.
“You got a minute?”
Grady shrugged. “Since I’m here at your invitation for your wedding, I think all my minutes are yours. What’s up?”
He jerked his head to the front of the house, away from the group, and they headed out the front door. Matthew sat on the step and took a long swallow of his beer. After a considering look, Grady also sat down and sipped his beer.
“I didn’t know you drank beer. I thought it was wine or scotch or whatever you lawyer types drank,” Grady commented.
Matthew shrugged. “I like the occasional beer, especially when I want to get drunk.”
Grady’s eyebrows shot up. “Everything okay?”
“Depends on what you consider okay.” Matthew took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m sorry Dad can’t be here for the wedding.”
Grady froze in the act of taking a sip, the subject completely unexpected, then took a deep swallow, sensing he was going to need the fortification. “Dad can’t leave the home anymore, you know that. He barely knows me most days. In fact, the days where he knows me are few and far between now. The dementia has taken hold of him. And with the Parkinson’s, we could never manage him for the wedding.”
Matthew nodded, still not looking at Grady. “But that’s not what you wanted to talk about, was it, Matthew?”
Matthew sighed. “No. Mom will be there on Saturday. With Richard.”
A familiar anger spurted within Grady, but he tamped it down, trying not to show the emotion, knowing how close Matthew was to their mother and stepfather, two people Grady didn’t know. He sucked at his beer and then let the bottle dangle between his legs. “Don’t worry, Matthew. I’ll stay away from them, not embarrass mom with my blue-collar ways.”
Mathew whirled around and glared at him. “I never treated you as less. Never.”
Grady held up a hand. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Matthew settled for staring out at the driveway again, lost in his thoughts. Grady sat next to him, resolved to wait. He was patient, used to taking his time. Finally, Matthew spoke.
“Divorce sucks, you know? That’s why I waited so long with Caroline. I wanted to be absolutely sure about this marriage, not wanting to subject our kids to what our parents did to us.” He looked at Grady. “Mom wants to see you. Saturday. She wants to talk to you, not just wave at you from a distance.”
The words fell between them like a hammer on a finger, hard, brutal, and swift, bringing with it the same pain and intense reaction that he always felt when that happened. Blood roared in his ears and Matthew’s words continued as if from a distance.
“I know you don’t want to see her. I saw you Friday night at the reception, how you left the room to avoid talking to her. This is my wedding. You can’t leave, Grady. You’re my brother. I need you there.”
“And she’s your mother.” The words came out thickly, as if past a swollen tongue.
“Our mother,” Matthew corrected him.
Grady shook his head. “She stopped being my mother twenty years ago when she walked out of my life. I can’t, Matthew. I can’t forgive her.”
Matthew gripped his arm. “I’m not asking you to forgive her. I’m asking that you give her ten minutes of your time to talk to her. To listen to her, truly listen. Then, if you want to walk away, I’ll support it. But you have to remain civil during the wedding. No walking out or avoiding.”
Grady stared at him. “I would never walk out on your wedding. What kind of a brother do you think I am?”
“Just do this for me. As a groomsman gift. That’s all I ask.”
“Did Caroline put you up to this? I thought I was giving you a week of my time,” Grady grumbled.
Matthew smiled, as if knowing he had won. “This is a bonus for being my brother.”