Page 77 of Provoke You

22

You Look Like You Could Use a Drink

Matt

Chase and Kitt exchanged knowing looks. No doubt they thought I was an asshole for skipping town when Ela was in the hospital. This was too much for me to handle. I didn’t even know where to start with them. Could I tell them about my bio mom? About how Ela was caught up in the same vicious cycle I came to know so well when I was a kid? Would they believe me if I told them Dad had died of a broken heart?

I came to New Orleans to make amends with the past. That was a mistake. I never should have come back. “Mom will kill me if I miss my brother’s engagement party. I have to go. I’ll be gone two weeks. Then we can figure out where we go next.”

“Okay, Boss.” Kitt rubbed the back of his head, not saying what he wanted to say, like call me on my bullshit and cowardliness.

“Are you two assholes complaining about a couple of weeks off in the Big Easy?”

Chase chuckled. “I could use a break. Although we still have the Ben situation to deal with. We can’t hold those two much longer.”

I’d completely forgotten about Ben and his housekeeper. Did they still need protection? The sale of the hotel had gone through, and Ela was in no position to take over her LB Industries. “Let them go. If Ben wants to talk to me, he has my number.”

“Consider it done.” He slapped my arm. “Who’s flying?” Kitt asked, eating the last of Ela’s scones. “I can fly you to Atlanta, then come back in case anything is needed here.”

“Yeah, okay. Let’s do that.” The sooner I left New Orleans, the better.

Four hours later, I was in the back of my brother’s black car pulling into the Cole Estate, the house where I spent a great deal of my childhood, up until I left for college and then the Marine Corps. The car turned into a driveway hidden by tall trees and other blooming bushes. I braced myself for whatever waited at the end of the half-mile drive up to the main entrance.

I’d talked to Mom and visited several times since I left, but I’d never stayed away this long. She was going to be pissed. Well, in her own southern way, she’d be pissed at me. We stopped in front of the massive wooden door. The first time I came here when I moved in with the Coles, the old door loomed over me as if it knew all my secrets. The second I climbed out of the car, the door swung open, and Mom came rushing down the stone steps.

“When you called and said you were coming, I didn’t believe it. By gosh, you’re really here.” She threw her arms around me and locked me in a tight bear hug. “It’s so good to see you. Look at you. You’re so skinny. Come inside, and let’s get you something to eat.”

“It’s good to see you too. I’m not hungry, Mom.”

“What? Nonsense. Come in. Everyone is out back.” She slipped her arm around my waist and practically dragged me inside.

As it always happened with large families, getting together was a big affair with lavish meals and lots of drinking. It was good to be home.

“Ah, the prodigal son returns.” Tyler, the one Mom summoned to come find me in New Orleans, picked me up off the ground. I was bigger than him, but that was his signature move.

“Mattie, Tyler tells me he got to meet your girlfriend when he went to visit.” She handed me a glass of ice tea. Her eyes darted from Tyler to me, beaming.

I punched Tyler in the shoulder. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about Ela. He leaned over and whispered, “Sorry, bro. She cornered me. I had to say something. It was either you or me.” He turned to Mom, smiling. “Beautiful girl, Mom. You’re going to love her.” He returned my punch and walked off.

“You made it.” Derek, my older brother, came up to me next. He gave me a hug and turned to make room for his fiancé. “This is Valentina.”

Valentina blushed and shook my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same here. Especially since it looks like you’ve tamed the beast. I’ve never seen Derek smile like that. Is he all right?” I asked Mom, who could not stop grinning.

“Don’t they make a beautiful couple? I can’t wait until this house is full of kids running amuck.”

“Well, Mom, we’re certainly gonna give it the good ole college try.” Derek wrapped his arm around Valentina.

She slapped his shoulder, her cheeks red in a way that made me think of Ela. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“Where are the twins?” I asked.

Mom shrugged. “I’m going to see if your father is finally done torturing that pork shoulder. He didn’t believe me when I told him you were coming.” She walked back inside the house.

Tyler stopped messing with the grill and joined the group. “I did you a favor. That could’ve been way worse.”

“Yeah, thanks.” I let out a breath, rubbing the stubble on my cheek. It was good to be home and be reminded of the family I did have.

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