CHAPTER 2
Brent
I got off the plane and walked to the car parked near the runway that Mom sent. She sounded so distraught over the phone as they waited breathlessly for news and I just wanted to be there. Brent followed me, quietly and I knew that he was dealing with this in his own way. I was almost surprised that he didn’t stay back since he seemed so into the blonde and was bigger on avoidance than I was. Just because we were twins it didn’t mean that we were wired the same. We were close though. I loved the partying and the women as well, but I was actually considering going to school like Dad had been asking both of us to do for the last couple of years.
Dad.
What would happen if he…I shoved the thought away. Dad was healthier than most men I knew and he’d fight. He wouldn’t leave us, not when I didn’t know what to do if he did. I slipped into the back of the car while Brandon sat across from me, looking quietly out of the window. The car pulled out of the airport and headed to Presbyterian where our family was waiting for us.
It was about a thirty-minute drive and I was shaking by the time Walter pulled into the ER parking lot. I jumped out of the car and Brandon followed me as Walter parked the car to join us in a few minutes. I knew that they were in a private room and strode towards them with my brother following me, seeing my blonde mother and sister sitting together as they listened to something that a man was telling them. He was dressed in the white coat of a doctor, though I noticed that the material was wrinkled as we approached. I saw my mother look past the man to the two of us; the tears sliding down her cheeks as I paused. Brandon crashed into me, asking what was wrong as my mom stood and walked out towards us, followed by a crying Ashley.
I knew that Dad was gone.
We stayed at the hospital for a while longer before I drove all of us to the brownstone in the city, my family’s main home. Ashley was still in high school and lived here to go to the private school that Dad insisted on. She was his princess and mom his queen and he spoiled them to no end, though my brother and I had it good as well. Dad treated all of us well and I didn’t know what was going to happen now.
I got my mom to sleep after a few strong cocktails that she deserved after tonight. She wasn’t normally a drinker, but her nerves were shot and she fell asleep on the couch in front of the television set before I covered her with a blanket.
Ashley was passed out in her room after crying herself to sleep, and I looked in on her for a long moment. She was just sixteen and her life was turned upside down now.
I made my way to the third floor where Brandon and I had large rooms and a loft, seeing his door open. I noticed when he disappeared after we got back here and I was trying not to resent that fact. I walked into the master sized bedroom and saw him looking out over the city from the fortieth story of the building. “Are they asleep?” Brandon asked in a soft voice and I walked over to join him.
“Yes. I think we have tomorrow free to let this settle in. I’d like you to handle as much as possible with me after that, Bran. I need you.” I looked at him as he nodded, knowing how hard this was going to be.
My parents were married for twenty-six years, still in love. A lot of my friends had money as well but their parents weren’t like mine. I grew up with real love and my brother was my everything. We’d slept holding hands in our crib, according to my mom and then shared a room until we needed our space. We were still close and I knew that he might be tempted to handle this a bit differently than I was going to, but we needed to remain a team.
“Of course, I’m just so stunned by this. He was supposed to live longer than anyone, Brent. Both were.” I could hear the pain in my brother’s voice as I looked at the bright lights through the thick window pane.
The days following were a blur. Our family was small, with the only set of grandparents living out in California. There were so many friends, though. They were at the house with Mom a lot while Ashley went to her friend’s house to escape. I think it was a break from lots of sad talk and casseroles for her. Dad was ahead of the game and had details about what he wanted from here. His funeral was to be held at the large Catholic church in town that we’d attended when we were younger. None of us were practicing anymore but Dad was raised Catholic and always held his faith in his heart. Brandon and I picked out a coffin for him and planned the long service, along with the gathering at our house. It was going to be catered by Dad’s favorite restaurant.
It was the longest day of my life. Both my brother and I stayed away from the beer during the entire event, but hit the whiskey the second it was over. There was a lot of grieving as well as a lot of laughter. People told stories about Dad that brought back happy memories and I felt a bittersweet ache in my heart as Brandon passed me the bottle.
We shared it, feeling numb when we went to sleep late into the night. Tomorrow was another day of rest and we were meeting with the family lawyer the following day. I knew Dad and he had his finances all sorted out, so there wouldn’t be any fighting about anything. I just didn’t know what it meant for Brandon and me.