Page 124 of The Other Brother

Tears sting my eyes.

Damn. I’m going to start blubbering worse than Ethan when he got his head wet. I can feel the storm swirling inside, and there’s no way this weather system will die without making contact with land.

I do the only thing I can. I stalk away.

Out the doors, down the steps, and into the manicured gardens surrounding the church. The prickling tears make good on their escape, blurring my vision.

I walk and walk until I find myself at a rose garden at the far edge of the church grounds. The sweet scent of roses choking my nostrils is so at odds with the feeling inside me right now.

There’s a wall at the back of the rose garden. It’s only when I get closer that I realize it’s a memorial wall displaying plaques in the memory of people who have died.

My footsteps slow.

Kate said Mum and Frank had Joshua’s funeral here. I walk slowly along the wall, scanning the names, wiping my eyes impatiently. Until I find the name I want.

Joshua Frank Abbot. His date of birth followed by a date of death a mere four months later. Proof that he existed, even if it was only for a short time.

I stand there, staring at the name for a long time. What would have happened if he hadn’t died? Would Mum and Frank’s relationship have survived? Would Cody and I even exist?

A rustling sound behind me finally makes me turn.

Cody’s standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets.

My heart leaps into my throat.

He moves forward past me, crouching down and reaching out to gently touch the plaque. He runs his hands over the name.

“I can’t believe we had a half-brother,” he says, his blue eyes staring up at me intently.

I scrub my hand over my face. “Yeah, I know.” My voice sounds rough. I clear my throat.

Cody’s gaze doesn’t waver. “What would he have been like, do you think?”

I take a few seconds to compose myself enough to answer. “A male version of Mel and Kate. It’s a scary thing to contemplate.”

“Yeah.” He stands up, dusting off his hands. “I’m beginning to see what you mean about them. I just got yelled at.”

“What?”

“After you left, they took me into the chapel and tore me into shreds.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Really?”

There are a few beats of silence between us with nothing other than the noise of birds chirping and the sound of a lawnmower somewhere in the distance.

“Are they right?” Cody asks finally.

“What about?”

“About me breaking your heart?”

I suck in a deep breath. I could joke this moment away, try to hide my feelings. Try to protect myself from getting hurt further.

But screw that.

I hold his gaze. “Yeah, you kind of did.”

He smiles a wry smile. “I guess I deserved the yelling then.”