Page 30 of Keep

“I think Dalton ought to keep his elbows out and face the possibility that these fuckers his brother was involved with might not be going away.”

She winced. “Okay. But Curtis, can you do something for me?”

“Name it.”

“Please don’t say anything to my dad yet.”

I didn’t like that request. “Don’t you think Cord would want to know what’s going on?”

“Naturally. My dad always wants to know everything that’s going on with us. But he’ll make himself sick with worry and these days he’s got his hands full. He’s trying to run the business so Uncle Deck doesn’t have to think about anything while also trying to help Uncle Chase keep his family from falling apart.”

“What do you mean? Did they find out what kind of charges Derek will be facing?”

“No. His attorney is still thinking he’ll be able to plead down. But it’s more complicated than that. Kellan told his parents he thinks Derek’s an alcoholic. Derek was between apartments so he was staying at home for the summer and Aunt Stephanie found some empty bottles in his room. Uncle Chase is especially crushed. I’m sure Cassie’s told you about our family, about the struggles with addiction. My grandparents, my uncles, tons of extended relatives from Emblem. Those battles run deep through our bloodline. I guess there was hope it had passed this generation by.” She slumped against the counter. “But it didn’t.”

Cami looked so miserable I felt like I had to say something.

“Look at it this way,” I told her. “Now Derek can get the help he needs.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“What do you mean?”

“Derek’s not doing very well right now. He hates himself for what he did, for what he’s putting his family through. He says he’s not going back to school. He knows his legal fees are costing his parents a fortune. And then on top of that there’s the possibility he’ll be going to prison.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, thinking again about how I might have prevented these events from unfolding.

“It’s not your fault,” Cami said. “My sister told me what happened at the wedding. Don’t blame yourself.”

There were voices as the sliding glass door to the patio opened. Dalton and Brecken were talking about the current major league baseball standings and discussing which team had the best pitching rotation.

Cami grabbed another plate. “We should get these dishes loaded.”

A moment later Cassie found me industriously loading the dishwasher beside her sister. She and Cami exchanged a look and I saw Cami nod in response to whatever silent question her twin had asked her.

“I think it’s time for dessert,” Cassie said, forcing a smile. “Let’s crack open that box of cookies.”

Cami dried her hands on a dishtowel. “That sounds great,” she replied in a perky voice that betrayed no hint of worry. “I’m ready for a sugar rush.”

Thunder rumbled outside while we sat around the table with coffee and cookies.

“I told Thomas I hit a homer with his favorite bat,” Brecken said with pride. “He thanked me for taking good care of it.”

Dalton hadn’t touched his coffee or taken a bite of dessert.

“How is Thomas?” he asked and I remembered how Brecken had mentioned his best friend, who lived and breathed baseball, hadn’t been attending the intensive summer camp training session he’d signed up for. I noticed Cami leaned forward as she waited to hear the answer.

Brecken swallowed an entire cookie whole.

“He’s okay,” Breck said in a funny voice and when he glanced my way I realized he was holding something back. If Thomas had told Brecken something in confidence he’d be unwilling to spill his guts.

Dalton stared at my brother. “If you talk to him, please let him know we miss him on the field.”

Brecken squirmed. “I will,” he said.

Cami and Dalton didn’t hang around for much longer. I was half hoping Dalton would pull me aside to explain more about what happened yesterday but he’d been quiet tonight. Not rude, just preoccupied. I felt like we were all dancing around a forbidden subject and nobody wanted to be the first one to stop moving to the music.

“What’s up with Thomas?” I asked Breck when Cami and Dalton were gone.

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