Page 84 of Elora and the Crow

“Dad loved you too. A lot,” Jonah said.

“I know. But you were his favourite, and that ate at me for a long time.” Caleb carefully separated the roots of the African violet before setting it in the new pot. “It still does, if I’m honest. But I know that’s not your fault.”

“He was so proud of you,” Jonah said. “He told me all the time how you would be a famous musician one day, and he would be in the front row of every concert.”

Caleb smiled a little. “He would have been too. Singing so loudly and so offkey that security would have made him leave.”

“Probably.” Jonah leaned against the table. “Caleb, you weren’t just someone I spent time with because I was lonely. Some of my happiest memories are of being in your room, playing video games, and eating crappy junk food. After Dad died, you were the only bright spot in my life. Spending time with you is one of my favourite things to do, and I’m sorry I didn’t make that clearer.”

“I know,” Caleb said. “Again, I was just hurt that you’d been gone for so long without contacting me, and I was…”

“What?” Jonah asked.

“I was feeling abandoned and alone. And then I was doing a gig at Walker’s Bar one night, and Nimera walked in. She was… amazing and beautiful, and we spent the whole night talking, and for the first time since you disappeared, I didn’t feel alone, Jonah.”

“I’m glad she could do that for you,” Jonah said.

Caleb took a deep breath. “I’m not with her because I’m under the fae’s influence. Nimera has never, and would never, do that to me, okay? What we feel for each other is love. True, honest love, and nothing you say will convince me otherwise.”

Jonah studied him before nodding. “I believe you.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. Despite what you think, I know what love is.” Elora’s face floated into his mind, her pretty blue eyes, the curve of her lips… God, he loved her so much, and if Caleb felt even a fraction for Nimera what Jonah felt for Elora, how could he try to tear them apart? He couldn’t. Hewouldn’t.

Caleb winced as he patted fresh dirt around the plant’s roots. “I shouldn’t have said that, and I’m sorry. I know you loved Dad and… me.”

“I do,” Jonah said. “So fucking much, Caleb. And I’m sorry that who I am made yours and Dad’s life more difficult. I never wanted that, and maybe I shouldn’t have tried to have a relationship with you guys when I left the Academy, but you were my family, and I wanted that connection. Mom wasn’t exactly… loving, and even after all those years, I still remembered Dad’s kindness and his love. But it was selfish of me and a mistake to drag you and Dad into my fucked up life.”

Caleb turned to him and took his arm in a tight grip. “Don’t say that. Ignore what I said before, okay? I didn’t mean it. I was just mad and being an asshole. It wasn’t a mistake. Dad loved you. I love you. I’m glad you’re my brother, Jonah.”

His eyes watering and his throat tight, Jonah said, “I love you too, Caleb.”

He hugged his younger brother hard, both of them sniffling and wiping at their faces when they finally separated.

“God, if Dad could see us now, crying in the fucking greenhouse, he’d be so proud,” Caleb said.

Jonah laughed. “Yeah, he would. How many times did he tell us we had to ‘feel our feelings’?”

“Christ, it was practically his mantra,” Caleb said.

He wiped his hands on a rag before adding a bit of water to the plants he’d repotted. “Nimera is with me. She’s at the house. I’d like you to meet her, as long as you’re not gonna be an asshole.”

Jonah smiled faintly. “I’ll be on my best behaviour.”

Caleb studied him. “Your friend… Elora?”

“What about her?” Jonah stiffened.

“I like her.”

He relaxed. “She’s an amazing person.”

“She told me you quit doing,” Caleb paused, “contract jobs, and you’re opening a greenhouse. Is that true?”

Jonah nodded. “Yes. I need to take some business courses first, figure out how the fuck to manage a business, but that’s the end goal.”

“So, no more killing?” Caleb said softly.

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