Page 20 of Harvey

The irony was not lost on him. Lifting his head, he shouted in the vicinity of the ceiling. “Well, God or whoever you are – you must be laughing your ass off right now. Am I being punished for not believing?

Is this your way of giving me the finger? Well, it sucks! Do you hear me? It sucks, and this Kendra woman who happens to be one of yours is going to bear the brunt of my complete indifference.” Shaking his head as he realized that no response was forthcoming, he set about cleaning up the mess he had made.

Okay fine. He would do this – this despicable thing for a year and even move into the manor house for that duration. But he was going to make several things clear. He was not going to be chained there for the entire week.

He would need his space at some point and was coming right back here. He was also not going to be attending services after Sunday. He was a sports guy, and when he was not working, he watched a game or participated in one.

He was also not going to give up. Closing his eyes, he dropped into the nearest chair. He was going to have to give up sex for a year. Aside from sports, his next favorite pastime was sex.

“Goddamn you, Silas Blackwood!” he shouted. “I am going to find a way to get back at you, so help me, God.”

*****

“Darling, you are worrying over nothing,” Julia murmured, trying to reassure and comfort her son. It was Saturday night, and he was studying and trying to prepare for his sermon, but he could not settle.

Since that night, Harvey had practically thrown him out; he had been trying to get hold of his brother without success. He had left several apologetic messages, which had not been returned. So, he had yet to determine if he would show up tomorrow. And if he didn’t, it would be all over.

“He is not picking up.”

“We all know how stubborn your brother can get. I am sure he is taking the time to simmer down.”

He shook his head. “I have never seen him so angry, Mom. I had a feeling that if I had not gotten out of there, he would have smashed his fist in my face.” The murderous look on Harvey’s face was still imprinted on his brain. He loved his brother and hated that they were not speaking, which was his fault. “I hate this silence between us.”

Coming up behind him, Julia laid a hand on his arm. “It will be sorted out.” She did not bother to inform him that she and his dad had been trying to call Harvey unsuccessfully. “Remember the time you wrecked his favorite jersey?”

Silas smiled at that memory. “He was eighteen, and I was ten. I wanted to print his name on the back.”

“You ruined it and tried to get it out with bleach.”

“He was so angry; he would not speak to me for a week.”

“Your dad and I tried to intervene, and he would not listen.”

Silas turned to face her. “I persuaded Antoine to let me make him dinner.”

“You burned the chicken.” She smiled whimsically.

“But he forgave me and ate it even though it tasted awful.” The laugh was strangled inside his throat.

“Precisely my point,” she said gently.

“This is hardly a ruined jersey we are talking about, Mother, and Harv made it clear that he was not ready to settle down. And I have ruined things for Kendra as well. She does not exactly like Harvey and is a little afraid of him.”

A faint smile touched her lips. “I have a feeling that’s all going to change.”

Silas gave her a quizzical look. “Why do I get the feeling you are pleased about this?”

“What’s not to be pleased about?” She asked him airily. “My son is coming back home, and he is now married. My prayers have been answered.”

“Mother, please don’t give Harvey an inkling of your thoughts, or it will just drive him away.”

Moving forward to stand in front of him, she smiled gently. “I do know how to keep my emotions in check.”

*****

“He is not coming.” Silas felt as if his bowels had turned into liquid. He was standing outside to greet his congregants when he was looking for Harvey. Kendra was here, looking particularly exquisite in a shell pink cashmere dress and knee-high boots, but his brother was not there.

“There is still time,” Kendra assured him. She had panicked last night and almost called Silas to say she was not coming, but she could not do that to him.

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