Page 46 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

“I am so sorry Mr and Mrs Carmichael,” I say climbing out of the van. “I had no idea the situation would get this out of control.”

“Brodie. It’s fine. We’re just concerned for you,” says Jeanie. “A reporter turned up this morning. He recognized your car. Then he asked if you were staying here and wanted to know where you were.”

“Then another reporter showed up with a TV crew,” says Ted, his arm around Jeanie’s shoulders. “I told him to have more respect for people’s privacy and asked him, politely, to get off my property. He left, eventually.” Ted nods and smiles. “It’s been like a siege here. I called the sheriff and he said that, as long as no one is trespassing, they are within their rights to be there on the road. But Sheriff Jones is a good guy. He came right down here to make sure things don’t get out of hand.”

“That’s good of him,” I’m grateful that some sort of law enforcement is keeping an eye on the growing crowd.

“Ah, yes. Someone from your team called the landline this morning,” says Jeanie ushering us into the house. “Said that they couldn’t get you on your phone. They tracked you here too.” Jeanie chuckles. “Then by lunchtime, we had to disconnect the phone because it was ringing off the hook.” She shakes her head, then she says, “Come in and relax. I’m sure you must be starving. I know what camping food is like.” She laughs.

Jeanie disappears into the kitchen with Rita. I hear them chatting together. Dylan and I follow Ted into the living room. Dylan flops down on one of the couches. Ted eases into a high-backed chair.

“That was probably my team manager who called the house this morning,” I say plugging my dead phone into a wall socket to charge up. “I’ll call him back.”

Jeanie and Rita come into the room carrying trays loaded with sandwiches, cakes, a jug of lemonade, and glasses. I take the tray from Jeanie and set it down on one of the low coffee tables. Rita sets down her tray.

“Whatever you need to do, Brodie, can wait until you’ve eaten first,” says Jeanie wiping her hands on her apron.

“Yes, ma’am.” I smile at the kindness surrounding me. Ted and Jeanie could have been angry at the mayhem on their doorstep, but their only concern is for my welfare. I’m so humbled by their generosity, I choke back tears and mumble words of gratitude.

“Oh, stop it,” says Jeanie with a laugh. “You’re family to us, Brodie Kent. We’re here for you. Now go wash up, then let’s eat.”

On the way back from the bathroom, I grab Rita in the hallway. We steal a sneaky kiss, and then another, before returning to join the family. Rita sits next to her mom on the couch. I take the chair next to Dylan.

Jeanie offers me a plate of sandwiches. I didn’t know I was hungry until this moment. I suppose my mind has been on other things.

Dylan pours out some glasses of lemonade and says, “Rita has some news she would like to share, don’t you, Sis?”

“Actually, yes. I do,” says Rita, smiling at me across the table. “Mom, Dad. I’d like you to meet my boyfriend. This is Brodie. I believe you’ve met already.”

Jeanie squeals and turns to hug her daughter, then she jumps up and hugs me. Ted comes over to shake my hand, then he hugs Rita. Dylan just laughs and looks on.

“About time too,” says Jeanie eventually. “Dylan said he was going to drive to Boston to knock some sense into you.” She smiles at her son. “We thought, you know, before we knew about the news story, that you had come back for Rita, and that was the reason you’re here… But, this is wonderful!” Her eyes sparkle. “I am so happy.”

“So, yes,” says Ted. “How come you didn’t come back for Rita?”

There’s a pause as I think about how to answer this tricky question, but Rita saves me.

“Honestly. It was my fault.” She laughs. “And long story short. I made Brodie believe I didn’t love him.”

“No, Rita!” I put down the sandwich I am about to bite into. “You made me believe that you hated me.”

“Yes. That’s right.” Rita grins at me, then looks from Ted to Jeanie. “So, he stayed away.”

I can see the perplexed look on Rita’s parents’ faces. Ted opens his mouth to ask something but then closes it again.

“We don’t need to know details,” Jeanie eventually says filling the silence. “The important thing is that you two are together now.” She reaches for Rita’s hand. “And everything is perfect.”

“Almost perfect,” says Dylan. “Apart from the news frenzy out front.”

“Ah, yeah,” says Ted. “We probably should find out what’s going on there and sort it out.”

“Yes sir,” I say overwhelmed by the joy in the room. For a moment I forgot about the media storm that is still raging. But I know that I’m not facing it alone. I’m surrounded by people who love me. “I going to get on to that, right now.”

I walk over to where my phone is charging, take a deep breath, and turn it on. The beeps come thick and fast. I scroll down the numbers. Some I recognize. Some I don’t.

“I’ll make the call upstairs if that’s alright?”

“Sure. Whatever you want.”

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