Page 126 of Double Dare
Kade answers it on speakerphone. “What?”
“Get home. Now. Grandma died.”
No.
No.
I cried when my grandma’s ashes were spread, and I cried even more when they settled into the bay and disappeared forever. I held Laken’s hand while she also held Kade’s, and I didn’t give a single fuck that some of our cousins, aunts and uncles were looking at us weird. We needed her, and she was there, crying with us.
Grandma got sick and kept that shit to herself like some old bitty who wasn’t afraid to die. Cancer. She didn’t even tell Grandpa. She hid it so well that he went out fishing, and when he got home, he found her struggling on the floor. At the hospital, she passed away under medical care from end-stage cancer she didn’t tell a single person about.
Tough old bat. I’ll give her that.
“Boys.” Mom wraps her arms around me and Kade. “I need a minute with both of you.”
The whole family is here at the house for a wake, or whatever the fuck they’re called. I guess the family reunion started a bit early.
Kade looks at Laken to make sure she isn’t getting harassed by our extended family. She’s sitting with Uncle Randy and Zahn, and she looks okay, so we follow Mom to her bedroom where Dad is already waiting. He closes the door behind us, which feels weird. We aren’t a private family.
“What’s wrong?” Kade asks, alert. “Did something else happen?”
“No,” Mom laughs. “Sit.”
We sit on the edge of their bed while they stand in front of us. Something feels weird about this, but I don’t really know what. This whole day—the past few days—have been emotionally draining.
Dad has an envelope in his hand. “We haven’t gone through the will yet, but your grandma kept a sassy to-do list on the fridge for Grandpa. That day, she left him instructions to check her jewelry box. There are letters for all of you, so we wanted to let you read yours in peace without everyone watching you.” Dad’s eyes leak tears. “That fucking woman knew she was going to die and didn’t even think to call.”
Mom rubs his back. “Your letters were grouped together, just like the twins’, so here.” Mom touches Dad’s arm and he hands the letter to me. “We can leave while you read it.”
I don’t even know what to do. “Don’t leave.” I hand the letter to Kade, wanting him to open it.
Jed & Kade,
You two are the wildest pair of assholes I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Right from when you were kids, the two of you were thick as thieves, and I’m glad to see you still are. I might have been going deaf, but I can lip-read, and the shit you say astounds me every day.
I’m glad the two of you came to your senses about that beautiful girl. She belongs in this family, and you’ve both known it since day 1. Which is why I wanted to give you this. It’s not a house or a fortune, but suck it up because this is what you get.
I know it isn’t conventional, legal or socially acceptable, but who cares? In my old age, the world has changed so much since I was your age, and more love needs to be open and respectful like yours is. I even talked to Laken about it, and she told me she couldn’t picture her life any other way, so why should she try to conform? She’s right, you know. So take this. It might not be official by law, but you can make it official between family. When the time is right, of course.
I’m heartbroken that I won’t be there to witness it, but I’ll be haunting you from heaven…probably hell…for all of eternity.
Your grandfather gave this to me on our first anniversary, and ever since that day, my life has been complete, joyous, rowdy and growing. When you feel ready, make that girl yours, and I hope you find the same joy as I did.
I love you both more than you’ll ever know. I love Laken as if she were my own. You’re brothers, so fight as much as you want, but always remain as close as you are.
Love you forever,
Grandma.
I’m fucking leaking. Tears are streaming down my cheeks and I’m half-ass drooling, and I’m sort of sweating from trying to hold it all in, and…fuck. Fuck you for dying, Grandma! Kade’s not doing much better, but he’s trying to hide it and hold it all in. He closes the envelope and hands it to me while Dad hands him another tiny package.
“You weren’t the firstborn or the first to propose, like she stipulated, but she wanted you both to have this.” Dad wipes his eyes.
Grandma’s wedding ring falls into his palm, and I start leaking all over again. For the second time since our three-person relationship started, we end up in a half hug and he finally lets those tears loose.
“She’s probably laughing her ass off right now,” I say, sniffling. “For dying right as we were about to…”
Kade chokes on a laugh. “Oh, she totally did that on purpose. Her way of cracking one more joke.”