“We’ve got this,” I said, standing up to hug him.
Benjamin kissed the top of my head and squeezed my shoulder. “And if you need us to castrate Jacob Queen, we will,” he said, deadpan. I punched him in the gut, but considering my brother had an eight-pack, all it did was hurt my hand.
“Go dig something. That hurt.”
“You shouldn’t have hit me,” he said lightheartedly and then strolled out of my office, leaving me with a smile on my face. Truthfully, after that morning, I honestly hadn’t thought I would be able to. Likely, that’s what Benjamin had wanted.
My family might be loud, rambunctious, and a little nosy, but I loved them more than anything.
Chapter 4
Jacob
From the outside, there hadn’t been too many changes to the home I grew up in. The tall oak tree still stood in front of the house—though it seemed a bit taller to me. Flower beds lined the front, though those changed with the seasons as my mother loved to plant things that could outlast the Colorado winters. Mom and Dad had painted the door a bright, cheery red, a color that stood out amidst the rest of the exterior’s dark gray and white tones. Some of the other neighbors had gone with similar concepts in colors they liked, and it always brought a slight smile to my face. The idea that my parents had been able to not move on per se, but find strength, made me feel as if we’d done something right. They were living in the now, rather than wallowing in what we had all lost so many years ago.
I’d been to this home numerous times since I moved away for college. I spent holidays here, although I never stayed overnight. It had always been easier for me to drive the hour or so back down south to my home.
Now, I was closer because my parents needed me, and it was about time they let someone help and take care of them.
I pulled in next to an unfamiliar car and frowned. I didn’t think anyone would be here tonight for our family dinner, but maybe I was wrong. Or perhaps it was only a neighbor visiting before they left for the evening. Either way, if it made my mother smile to have company, that was all that mattered. She needed smiles more than ever these days—Dad, too.
I got out of the car and grabbed the bouquet of wildflowers I’d brought. My mother loved fresh bouquets, even if some didn’t last more than a few days in water. She loved the blooms, and I would do anything to keep her blooming right along with them.
I went to the front door and let myself in. My mother wasn’t up to running towards the door these days, and I didn’t want to bother Dad when he could be busy.
“Honey, I’m home,” I said, keeping my voice light. They didn’t need to know that I’d had a tough case today, and my temples pulsed with stress. They didn’t need to know that I had moved in next door to the girl they loved—one I couldn’t stand. Or maybe she was just the person I told myself I couldn’t stand so I didn’t have to deal with the fact that I’d lost my baby brother.
I quickly pushed those thoughts away because they didn’t matter. I was only letting my shrink’s words slide into my brain, and they were muddying everything up.
I knew what Annabelle had done, and there was no changing that.
“We’re back here, son,” Dad called from the sunroom. I slipped off my shoes before making my way inside, looking around at the changes from when I had lived here. There were more open spaces now, places where my mother’s wheelchair needed to move, and though the house was one story, most everything was up in the front where my parents’ master bedroom was located. They had the sunroom in the back, but they rarely used it, at least from what I remembered.
Maybe Mom was having a better day and they wanted to use the space. I sure as hell hoped so.
As I moved into the back, I frowned, recognizing the woman kneeling by my mother. Annabelle Montgomery was next to my mother’s chair, smiling softly as she patted my mom’s hands, and the two of them shared a conspiratorial laugh.
My hands clenched, the flowers’ stems crushing in my grip. I forced myself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing my hold.
“Oh, Jacob, you’re here,” Mom said, beaming up at me.
She looked gorgeous, even though she had lost half her weight over the past few years. She’d had diminished function in her legs first, and now, she was losing mobility in her hands. She was having a more challenging time keeping her head up these days, too, and leaned against the chair’s headrest more often than not.
She was my mother and looked exactly like the woman who had raised Jonah and me, yet she also looked like a stranger. It wasn’t fair. Mom had been through enough. My father had been through enough. I hated that he had to watch her slowly lose her freedom, just like we’d had to do with Jonah.
“I didn’t know we’d be having company,” I said through gritted teeth, though I tried to keep a smile on my face.
My mother’s eyes widened and then narrowed as Annabelle stood up and smoothed down her dress.
“Hello, Jacob. Your mother and I were just commenting on the fact that you moved into my neighborhood.”
“We told you, son, it’s a good development,” my father said, handing me a beer as he passed.
I looked down and scowled. “So you knew the Montgomerys built it?” I asked, trying to keep the derision out of my tone.
Annabelle raised her chin, and my mother gave me a speaking look.
“We wanted you to have the best. The Montgomerys do the best. I didn’t know you’d be moving next door to Annabelle, though, since it’s not like I know every street number up there. However, I’m glad you’ll be close. In case she needs to take care of a spider or something,” Mom said, winking over at Annabelle.
The woman I wasn’t sure what to make of rolled her eyes. “I can take care of spiders on my own.”
“Really?” I asked dryly.
Annabelle squared her shoulders. “Of course, I set them free. They help eat the other bugs that I hate. But we’re in Colorado. There are trees everywhere. There are going to be bugs. And don’t worry, I have many brothers and cousins who can help me if needed. You don’t need to worry your pretty little head.”
I ignored the tone, even as my mother grinned at it.
Well, it seemed I knew whose side she was on. Not that she was supposed to know there were sides at all.
“I’m just glad you’re back in town,” Mom said softly.
Putting all thoughts of her from my mind, I moved forward, dropping to one knee in front of the woman I loved more than anything.
“I’m glad I’m back, too,” I whispered and handed her the flowers, making sure to rest them on her lap so she didn’t have to grip them.
She smiled at me, her eyes a little watery, and I reached out and rubbed my thumb across her cheek, brushing away a tear.
“They’re lovely, Jacob.”
“As are you,” I teased.
“You’re such a charmer. I have no idea why you aren’t married yet.”
“I have a few ideas,” Annabelle mumbled under her breath, and my mother’s eyes twinkled with laughter.
My dad coughed into his beer and then shook his head. “You know, I like her. And, Jacob? You do have a sly tongue. You’re nice and sweet to your mom, but I’m pretty sure you get all lawyered out when it comes to dating.”