Page 101 of Back to You

“I think so too, Dad.”

“I’m so glad you two are working things out,” Adelaide told Ethan. “It was just wrong not to have you here.”

Adelaide let Ethan go, and Anthony took that opportunity to give him a back-slapping hug. “Good to see you, stranger.”

Ethan grinned. “You too. Any good games on today?”

Brandon groaned. Ethan was just as much a football nut as Steven and his dad.

“Might be one or two.” Anthony led Ethan into the living room as Brandon followed his mother to the kitchen.

“He looks good,” Adelaide said happily.

“He is good,” Brandon said. “He’s doing really well, a lot better than he was.”

“How is his job?”

“It’s good, Mom. He’s cut way back, and he really seems committed to it.”

They heard the door open and the sounds of kids running into the house. Then came the yells of “Uncle Ethan!”

Adelaide smiled fondly. “Those kids love him.”

Riley came bolting into the kitchen. “Uncle B, Uncle E is here!”

“I know, I brought him!” Brandon said.

Riley darted back out the door, nearly running over her mother.

“Lord, that kid is going to kill me one day,” Michelle said, shaking her head at her child’s antics. “Mom, what can I do to help?”

The three of them set about finishing dinner, ignoring the cheers coming out of the living room. Thankfully there was an equitable distribution of work in the Michener house — those who cooked did not clean.

As they all sat down to dinner, Brandon felt another piece of his life slot into place. He had missed this, too, having his whole family around him.

“Hey Ethan,” Michelle said neutrally.

“Hey Michelle,” Ethan said sheepishly. “How are you?”

“You know, the usual. Are you going to mess up again?”

“Michelle!” said her mother and Brandon at the same time. Steven just snorted.

“It’s okay,” Ethan said, laughing. “No, I’m not going to mess up again.”

“You sure?”

“I am. I’ve worked too hard to get myself back, and to get Brandon back in my life. I would never ruin that.”

She eyed him for a moment. “I believe that.”

Ethan slumped in relief. “You’re terrifying.”

“I know,” she said smugly.

CHAPTER 22

IT WAS THAT time again.

---