Page 14 of Really Truly Yours
She reaches for my hand, covering it. “I know, Gray. It can’t be easy, but you do care. If you say otherwise, you’re lying to yourself. You have a tender heart.”
I roll my eyes hard. “You’re not supposed to say stuff like that to a man, ’member?”
She snickers. “I like keeping it real. Are you going to go over there again?”
“I don’t know.” Yes, you do.
But can I be civil with the man who walked out and then signed me away like I was a dog at the pound? Mom and Dad told me that once. Minus the dog part, that is. “The courts didn’t terminate his rights. He surrendered them voluntarily. He didn’t fight for me, Avery. He didn’t want me.”
Her expression settles tenderly. She worked in the child protective system for years. She’s seen a lot, enough that a case like mine probably doesn’t even rate as far as some of the atrocities she’s been privy to. “Gray, I would never presume to tell you what you should do or how you should feel…”
But you’re about to.
“Have you considered what Donny’s life was like? I don’t imagine it was a ride you would have wanted to tag along for.”
I pull my hand away, much as my brother did last night. Not because I’m angry, not with her. I just need to think. “Why does he show up now? Is it because now I’m a guy who can do something for him? Throw him cash or impress his friends?”
She pulls her lip in. “Is that what it looked like?”
When I close my eyes, all I see is that blasted, off-kilter chair.
“No.” My eyes squeeze until I see stars. “He’s dying, Avery. He’s dying, and I believe that’s why he contacted me now.”
In the quiet, with only the sound of birds on the patio greeting the day, she delivers a warm hand-hug. “Then I think you and I both know what you’re going to do.”
I return the grip. “It isn’t fair.” My life was fine.
“Nope.”
“Tripp wouldn’t do it.”
“No.” Her sigh makes me sad. “He’s such a good man, and he’s worked through so much, but whenever the subject of his biological father comes up, not even the counselor can touch it.”
According to Tripp, the only thing our mother ever told him about his biological father was that he hadn’t wanted anything to do with his son. I hope someday Tripp will be able to forgive, for his own sake. Odds are, though, he’ll never have to do it in person.
“Pray for you brother, Gray.”
I nod. “I always do.” And that includes during those times when I was out there being a hypocritical fool. My family is everything to me.
Her smile is gentle. “I appreciate that. And I want you to know, I’m always praying for you, too.”
Chapter 4
Sydnee
If the calendar says it’s fall, it should feel like fall. Sadly, autumn is pretending to be summer this year.
My predisposition to run cold these days notwithstanding, I’m beginning to sweat, even though I’ve parked myself in the blast zone smack in front of the window unit in the living room. Donny is the one I’m worried about, however. He was fine when I helped him with breakfast, but the mercury has climbed since.
On top of this heat, he’s nursing a shattered heart ever since that jerk of a son who thinks he’s too good for a broken old man bolted two days ago.
After breakfast, Donny asked me to plug in the box fan he keeps around. The rickety old thing may have blown itself over by now. I told him to text if he needed me.
Chill, Syd. He still gets around when he needs to.
Thankfully. His insurance is worse than mine, and home-health, in spite of Donny’s desperate need, only makes it out once a week.
A car door slams in the distance. I’d peek through the gap in the drape and see if by chance that louse baseball player has returned, but I wore a brand new path in the carpet yesterday watching Donny’s driveway, and I refuse to repeat the process today.