Page 59 of Between Brothers

My dad stepped into the kitchen and threw his empty bottle away. He got into the fridge and pulled one out twisting off the top and held it out first to Cell then to Blue. Both of them politely declining.

“Look, I’m really sorry,” he said chagrined, now that he’d had time to think about it.

“Don’t be,” Blue said back. “We understand.”

My dad nodded and rubbed the back of his neck and I set one of the final dishes into the rack.

“I’d really like to show the guys the bookstore window. I’m nearly finished now.”

“Yeah, sure,” my dad said.

Cell went up and shook his hand and Blue followed suit.

“You guys have a good night,” my dad said and they nodded and the knot of tension between my shoulders and dread in the pit of my stomach loosened.

I led them out the back door and across to my studio, ushering them in before closing the door tightly behind us. Cell was the first to grasp me and pull me into his arms, crushing me to him, his mouth over mine. He kissed me fiercely, pressing so hard I resisted slightly out of unease and maybe a little fear at how intense he was.

He pulled his mouth from mine and said honestly, “Your daddy pissed me off, can’t say I’m sorry about wanting to defile his little girl in all the best ways possible.”

I blushed deeply and laughed nervously, “Can’t say that doesn’t sound appealing,” I said truthfully. “But not tonight.”

“Damn, can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said with a smile and I smiled a bit ruefully in return.

He passed me to Blue who showed all the gentleness that Cell could not with his temper up like it was. Blue, though, held me close and kissed me sweet, massaging the nape of my neck with sure fingers.

“So let’s see this thing,” Cell said and I sighed a bit.

“It’s not a ‘thing’ it’s a window.”

I led them over to my work table and showed them the mostly complete window. Cell let out a low whistle. It was the first time he’d ever been in my workspace and I had to admit my nervousness. He let out a low whistle and said, “You did all this?”

“Mm-hm.”

“It’s nice work, how do you do it, though?” I smiled genuinely pleased he would ask.

“Well, first you draw the design…”

I spent the better part of an hour explaining the intricacies of making one of my designs, of tracing the space meant for any glass piece onto plain white computer paper and using the same old glue sticks we used as kids to glue it to a piece of the colored glass you desired. I showed him how to use the scoring tool, and how to snap the piece off. I showed the proper way to tape the edges with fine copper tape, and how to smooth the edges down perfectly, and then I showed him how to paint the flux and tack weld the piece in place with solder.

“Then you solder along the entire length of the join and ta-da. Rinse and repeat; slide the next sheet of paper under the glass and trace along the edge and the rest of the design and go to the next until it’s done.”

“You got more patience than me for this kind of thing. This is totally more Blue’s speed.”

Blue smiled at me and I smiled at him, saying lightly, “That’s okay, I’m just glad you let me show you.”

“Sure thing, sweet thing.” He winked at me and I laughed, and the mood was much lighter than it had been before. It wasn’t too long after that they had to go and that was disappointing. I always hated watching them leave.

When I went back inside, the living room was dark, the kitchen light the only light left on… my dad had gone to bed. Likely to avoid the uncomfortable conversation about the uncomfortable conversation and I couldn’t say I was sorry about it. I was honestly tired and more than a bit emotionally drained. Totally ready for bed, myself.

The diner may have been closed today, but it would be open tomorrow and it was sure to be a long, dragging day with few customers thanks to the post-holiday shopping madness.

At least it was Friday, though.

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