Page 17 of Seeing You

“Well, you’re definitely not happy, so…what are you?”

Good question.

Picking up his menu, he decided he was through with this conversation. “Jalapeno poppers, huh? I didn’t realize you liked spicy foods.”

Across from him, his brother chuckled softly, picking up his own menu. “Alright. Message received. You don’t want to talk about it.”

Menu down, he huffed in annoyance. “I came here to talk about Dad, not so you can psychoanalyze me.”

“Dangers of my job, I’m afraid.”

“Max, you’re a cybersecurity analyst. How does that have anything to do with analyzing people?”

“That’s my day job. I’m a bartender at night.”

Horrified, he asked, “Good God, why?”

Max shook his head and laughed. “Because I work from home most of the time and miss being around people. It’s what I did after college and I always had a blast, so…” He shrugged. “I do it a couple of nights a week. Some weeks, I make more money than I do at my day job!” Then he leaned slightly across the table. “Plus, it’s fun and a great way to meet women.” And with a wink, he went back to his menu. “But back to your original question, yes, I do like spicy foods!”

With the utter ridiculousness of the conversation—at least on his brother’s part—it was hard not to laugh softly with him.

“I knew you had it in you,” Max quietly praised.

That just made him laugh a little more. “Why are you like this?”

“You mean charming? Witty? Lovable?”

The groan was out before Marcus could stop it. “Is that all you’ve got?”

“I could add good-looking, friendly, athletic, happy, and…hmm…I think I’ll finish with…” Pausing, he grinned. “A good brother. Seriously, Marcus, I’m just worried about you. We talk on the phone and see each other once a year. I realize now it was a mistake to let things go this far. You may not want to admit it, but…family is important.”

“If this is about Dad…”

“It’s only partially about Dad. We’re all each other has, bro. No one’s saying that you have to magically move on from your feelings, but…have you ever just once thought about how hard itwas for Dad when Mom was dying? I don’t think I could sit there and watch the person I loved slip away like that.”

“That’s the thing, Max. He didn’t have to! He could have forced her to go into the hospital! She needed more specialized care and he just…he let her die!” he hissed, aware of people looking at them. “Maybe you can simply forget that fact, but I can’t. Mom would still be here…”

“No, she wouldn’t,” his brother quietly countered. “There was no hope and if you had simply listened to everything the doctors told us, you would realize that. If you would have talked to Mom—or should I say,listenedto Mom—you would realize that your anger is misplaced.”

Any lightness he was feeling moments ago was gone.

“I think you’re angry at yourself for not being here. I hope at some point you take a hard look at your feelings and figure that out.” After a brief pause, he said, “Now that’s all I’m going to say on that subject because this isn’t the place, and I’m starving.”

“Hey, Max!” their server said when she walked over. She gave Marcus a cursory glance before turning back to his brother. “I thought your dad would be with you! I saw you walk in and was all set to just put in an order of wings for him!”

“That’s sweet of you to remember,” he told her. “But it’s just me and Marcus today.”

She gave him another brief glance and smiled at Max. “So, what can I get you today?”

“We are going to start with the jalapeno poppers and then I’m going to have the mushroom and Swiss burger—medium rare—with fries.”

“You got it!” Now she had no choice but to give Marcus her attention. “And for you?” Her tone was less cheerful, for sure.

“I am going to have the…bacon cheeseburger. Pepper jack cheese, extra crispy bacon, and medium rare, please. And I’ll also have fries.”

She nodded. “And to drink?”

He and Max looked at each other before he replied, “A couple of beers, please. Thank you.”

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