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time I was there, she hugged me so tight, like she was afraid it would be the last time.
Maybe I m afraid it was, too. I was so sure that this would blow over and Gabe would see
reason. We d both apologize and move on. But I ve never gone this long without talking to my brother
before. It would be one thing if he was mad and yelling at me but this silence is chilling.
It s like he s already written me off as out of his life.
When I get a call from Debbie on a Wednesday asking us to drop by, I agree even though I
don t feel like going out. We ve always had a routine where they would come to Gabe s for dinner
during the week and we d go to their house for dinner on the weekends. It made it easier for us
working late hours at the garage if dinner was waiting when we got home.
But avoiding Gabe has meant that I ve seen less of our moms than usual, too.
As soon as I pull into their driveway and see Gabe s car, I know what s going on. Josie sees it
too and she covers my hand with hers. It s time. Come on, let s just go see what they have to say.
Debbie answers the door and as soon as we walk in, Gabe and Sasha look up from where
they re seated on the couch. He looks at me and then looks at Debbie in surprise.
Yes, we tricked you. We have a few things we want to say. She crosses her arms.
Josie squeezes my arm and then speaks up. I need a few things from the drugstore. Why don t
Sasha and I go run a few errands and leave you all to talk.
You don t have to leave, Debbie says.
Josie gives her a hug and then Paula. I think maybe a good talking to from their moms is
exactly what they need right now.
Sasha hugs them both also and then they leave. Gabe still hasn t looked at me.
Paula points to the dining room table. Sit. Both of you. We re going to nip this in the bud.
She sits at one end of the table and Debbie sits at the other. Gabe and I sit across from each
other. This is like some kind of bootleg family court they ve got going on here.
Debbie clears her throat.
First, we want you both to know that we love you very much. That s why we ve asked you to
come here today. Because there is no place for division in this family.
Her voice shakes a little at the end of her speech. She s always been very sensitive to
confrontation and anger. It really upsets her. Mediating like this has to be tearing her up inside.
I hang my head a little, ashamed that this feud between Gabe and I has brought stress on our
moms. It s like I m five years old and in trouble for sneaking cookies again.
Paula takes over. Sasha filled us in a little and the rest we ve figured out on our own. But
we re very disappointed in the way you boys have handled this.
Gabe sighs. Mom, we weren t trying
No. You two have done more than enough talking. It s time for you to listen. Starting with the
fact that no one else knows your friendship with Josie as well as we do. We ve had a backseat view
to the whole thing.
She looks over to Debbie. It s obvious they ve prearranged how to handle this.
It s true, Debbie continues. She was a lonely little girl looking for someone to notice her.
We gave her the family connection she needed and she brought joy into all of our lives.
But she s not a doll you can dress up and show off to your friends, Paula interjects, looking
directly at Gabe. She s a person with thoughts, feelings and yes, womanly desires of her own.
I m pretty sure my face is beet red by now. Gabe and I would probably both agree to a
ceasefire right now if we never have to hear either of our mothers talk about womanly desires ever
again.
This is almost as bad as the birds and the bees speech from the sixth grade, Gabe mutters
with a pained look on his face.
I try but I can t hold back my laugh. My mom glares at me and I smother it with the palm of my
hand. No matter how old I get, my mom s death glare is still effective.
Now, I know you think you re protecting her, Gabe. I know that. And it s sweet that you want
to do that. But we ve always known that Josie had a sweet spot for Zack.
Gabe looks at his mom in surprise, then glances over at me. You did?
Debbie grins. Oh yes. The little thing was always spying on him and following him around
asking him questions. I know it annoyed him at first but I think after a while he liked it.
Yeah, I did. I still do, I admit.
Gabe doesn t look quite as mutinous now but looks back and forth between all of us like he s
considering everything.
I m not trying to treat her like a doll or whatever. Maybe I ve just been trying to protect her
for so long that I don t know when to stop.
I know the admission has to be hard for him. You don t need to protect her from me. I love
her, too. And I always will.
He nods to that. It s slight but I get the message. No more fighting. Our family is more important
than either of our pride.
I m sorry, Gabe grumbles.
Me, too. Not for falling in love with Josie but for keeping it from you. I wouldn t have liked to
be shut out either.
Debbie beams. See, that s so much better, isn t it?
I laugh at her obvious relief. Yeah it is. And while we re having our little come to Jesus
meeting, there s something else I want to say. I m going to get in touch with Max. He s made a lot of
mistakes, huge ones that have hurt a lot of people. But I want to talk to him one last time. I think I ll
regret it if I don t.
Gabe clenches his jaw. I guess that s fair.
Debbie pats my arm. If that s what you need to do honey, I think you should do it.
My mom hasn t said anything which I know means she doesn t like the idea. She s been the
most vocal over the years about her hatred for the man who left them both pregnant and alone. But
then she surprises the hell out of me by nodding her head.
I think you should do it, too.
Even Debbie looks shocked.
Oh don t y all look so surprised. I can evolve! She rolls her eyes when we all burst into
laughter. Seriously, I m starting to think the old bastard actually did us a favor.
You don t mean that, Debbie scolds.
Actually I do, Paula replies. She holds out her hands to Gabe and I and we both take them.
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