Page 53 of Whatever Will Be

I think of Gretchen.

No, Liam won’t get what he wants today.

“How did you think this was going to go?” I ask him. “You know, you’re not very smart. You never were. This is my house you broke into. And now I’m telling you to fucking leave.”

Liam is unimpressed. “Pipe down, junior. We’re just two brothers reminiscing. There’s no chance you’re going to make any legal trouble stick simply because I walked in and ate your lunch. As for the brewery, you’re wasting your time and your cash. I would take it apart and burn the pieces before you get your trashy hands on it.”

“Then I guess you’ve got nothing to worry about. Might as well take your fat ass out of my house.”

He cackles and then gestures to the huge front window. “He loved to sit there. You remember? No, I guess you don’t. That was after you left. But yeah, he would sit there and say your name over and over again. He didn’t give a shit that I was here. He just cared that you weren’t.”

In another second I won’t be able to stop myself from tackling him. I return to the door and throw it open. “Get the fuck out.”

He takes two more slices of salami on his way out the door. “Your mother had too much input designing this place. It’s boring as hell.”

I cross my arms and rage in silence.

He whistles as he strolls to his car and I keep watch to make sure he leaves.

It’s unfortunate that Gretchen and the twins are passing the house right at this moment. The girls are pedaling their tricycles while Gretch follows, looking as exquisite as ever in black boots, leggings and a green sweater. She waves at me with a brilliant smile.

“Good timing! We were just coming back from the park.”

“Hi Trentcassini!” shouts Caitlin as she hops off her tricycle and runs in my direction.

Gretchen, however, has now noticed Liam and she’s no longer smiling.

Mara climbs off her tricycle and follows her sister.

Liam pauses beside his car and watches the scene with interest.

“We went to the park.” Caitlin twirls around at my feet. “Aunt Gretch pushed us on the swings and I was high!”

Mara smiles up at me. “Can we go in your house?”

Gretchen comes up the walkway with one suspicious eye on my brother. When she turns my way I can see the worry on her face. She doesn’t notice the way Liam looks her up and down, plainly having gross thoughts. He then laughs to himself, which is even worse.

“Well?” Mara pulls on my arm. “Can we go in your house?”

“Yes. Your Aunt Gretchen will go with you. There are cookies in a bag on the counter.”

The girls cheer and Gretchen raises an eyebrow but that’s the quickest way to get them all out of sight. Liam is still watching and I can guess the thoughts skating through his disgusting brain.

He looks at them and sees a possible way to get to me.

The girls have already dashed inside but Gretchen glares over her shoulder at Liam. He winks at her. She straightens her back and I’m afraid she’ll say something but she switches her gaze back to me. I give her a nod to let her know this is my battle and I’ve got it under control. She purses her lips but ultimately follows the girls into the house. I can already hear them tearing into the bag of cookies.

“Bunnies! I want a pink one!”

“Aunt Gretch, can I have two?”

Liam hasn’t moved. I shut the door and stand in front of it, a clear message that I’m ready to protect what’s mine.

“Hey, Trent,” calls Liam. “Be careful about picking fights when you’ve got something to lose.” He opens the driver’s side door. “That first warning was for free. The next one won’t be.”

He ducks inside, guns the engine and peels out of the driveway, leaving marks and narrowly missing the tricycles that the girls left behind.

Even as I tell myself Gretch and the girls are out of his reach, I don’t like this.

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