Rise - Part Three (Rise #3)(4)

I'd taken a few bites of the dinner Lilly prepared as I worked my way through the dozens of messages on my phone. I'd excused myself to the solace of Clive's home office when I called my brother. He's handling it he told me. My father is as fine as can be expected. He has a competent lawyer and he's anxious to get back to Boston to clear everything up.

My brother told me he'd call me tomorrow after he landed in Boston. He loved me, he whispered, and our father loved me too.

"It will all be okay, Tessie," he managed to say before he ended the call.

"Landon is worried about you." Dane looks over my shoulder to the steady stream of traffic on the street. "He asked me to come here to see if you're okay. He tried to call you but there was no answer."

Eighteen missed calls.

When I'd finally looked at my phone there had been eighteen missed calls from Landon. I didn't listen to his voicemails, or read his text messages. When I talk to him again, I want it to be face-to-face. I need to look into his eyes as I hear him explain how his father and my father are connected.

"Are you okay?"

"I guess." I shrug, unable or maybe unwillingly to reveal too much of myself to this man. "I'm fine."

"Can we go for a coffee?" He gestures towards a café down the street. "I'd like to talk to you."

I stiffen. I hadn't realized until right now how much I was looking forward to meeting Landon's brother. He's an extension of him and in my innocent thoughts I imagined the two of us laughing as he shared stories about the things Landon did when he was a young boy. "I'm really tired."

"I'm messed up about my dad...about Frederick," he corrects himself. "I know what you're going through. I won't take a lot of your time."

I glance at the entrance to the café before I level my eyes back on his face. "I can spare a few minutes. I can't promise you more than that."

***

He's slightly taller than Landon. His hair is a bit longer and the color of his eyes is a deep brown. The smile is exactly the same though. I caught a fleeting glimpse of it when he held open the door of the café for me and I thanked him.

"Landon told me you're a fireman." I don't look up as I settle myself into a chair next to a small round table. I'd ordered a hot water with lemon. I don't need the extra energy that a dose of caffeine would give me at this time of day. I may not be able to sleep tonight, but I want to try. I need the rest if I'm going to deal with my life tomorrow.

He empties a packet of sugar into a large cup of coffee. He pops the plastic lid back on before he shakes it. He curses softly as a few drops of the dark liquid fly from the slit in the lid and land on the arm of the sweater he's wearing.

"I'm a fireman." The corners of his mouth perch into a grin. "You're an event planner."

I return the smile. I like that he not only knows that, but that he remembers. "Landon told you that?"

He takes a sip from the cup. "Landon told me a lot about you."

It's surprising given the fact that their family has been caught up in the drama surrounding their father's return from the dead and his subsequent arrest. I've only known about my dad's past for less than twelve hours and it's taking all the effort I can muster to carry on a conversation that doesn't focus on him.

I nod, searching for something to say in return. "He told me about your baby."

"He did?" His brows rise. "What did he say?"

I can tell my words gave him something he needs. Maybe it's reassurance that his brother is excited about the birth of his child? Or perhaps it's much simpler than that. "He said that you were coming back to New York from Paris so you and your girlfriend can get married here and have the baby."

The paper cup in his hand shakes slightly before it stops in mid-air halfway between his mouth and the table. He lowers it quickly. "My brother told you all that?"

I look down at the cup in front of me wanting to mask my expression from him. I'm surprised by the intensity of his reaction. I didn't reveal anything private or secretive. I simply laid out the meager details that Landon has given to me.

"He didn't say much when I told him about the baby," he confesses softly. "I couldn't tell then if he was happy or not."

It mirrors what happened when I pointed out to Landon that he'd be an uncle when his niece or nephew is born. He'd panicked enough to leave the room. "We haven't talked about it a lot."

He looks past me to where two young men are having a rousing conversation about the merits of running versus biking. "He's talked about it non-stop since I got back from Paris. He bought the baby some books. They're picture books about airplanes."

It's a glimpse into the man I've been sharing the most intimate parts of myself with. I smile at him. "It's good to hear that. He likes being a pilot. I know it's an important part of his life."

"It is," he acquiesces as he leans back in the chair, stretching his legs out. "Being a pilot is part of who he is but you're the most important part of his life, Tess. That's why I'm here."





Chapter 4


––––––––

I drink the last of the lemon water as I try to focus on my smartphone. Dane had taken a call from his girlfriend and as he whispered that he loved her and would be home soon, I'd felt guilty for hearing the words and even guiltier for wishing that the phone hadn't rung in the first place. It had interrupted him just as he was talking about Landon.