Page 83 of The Summer that Changed Everything

“I’m giving myself the summer to make a decision,” he informed her.

“Okay. Just don’t let Lucy McBride cost you more than you’re willing to lose.”

She disconnected before he could respond, but he was glad the conversation was over. “Damn it!” he said with a groan. “Why can’t anything be easy?”

The shower was still going. At least he had that.

Setting his phone aside, he went into the bathroom andstepped under the hot spray, pulling Lucy into his arms because he knew she would make him feel better. She didn’t even have to be naked. Just being with her did that.

“What did your mother have to say?” she asked, as she slid her arms around his neck.

“Nothing I cared to hear,” he replied.

Reggie showed up while Joel was at work and the kids were at school. Anna had been afraid he would. She knew it wouldn’t take long for word to get back to him. North Hampton Beach was too small a place, and with so many people talking about Lucy and her father and the murders again...

Her car was in the garage, but he knew she was home. Monday was her day off at the barbershop—the day she tried to augment her income by making hair bows, which she sold on Etsy. If he was going to stop by, he always chose that day. He knew he’d most likely find her alone, and if she didn’t tell Joel, Joel would never be the wiser.

As he banged on the door, she stood on the other side, trying to convince herself that it was safe to answer. He wouldn’t hurt her—would he? She was only frightened because Joel had continually pointed out the possibility that her brother, with his terrible temper, could get physical with her one day.

“Anna, open the damn door!” Reggie yelled.

The wooden panel shuddered as he hit it, and she squeezed her eyes closed. Her husband had said to call him if Reggie came over, but she knew there’d be a much greater chance of a fight breaking out if she did. Reggie and Joel couldn’t get along. Joel hated that she and her mother babied Reggie, that they didn’t demand he behave and treat others with respect. And Reggie hated Joel because he was the only one who’d ever drawn a line for him, at least when it came to family. She didn’t want to make things worse by putting them in the same room.

Joel wouldn’t be able to drop everything at work and run home, anyway. Even if he could, whatever was going to happen here today would already be over.

“Anna?” Reggie yelled. “You little chickenshit, open this door!”

She’d spent her life being intimidated by her brother. Doing what he told her to avoid retribution. Appeasing him whenever possible and trying to compensate for circumstances and other people who triggered him. In part, she’d done it because it was what their mother had always expected of her. But would she, as a mother, ever allow the same dynamic to exist in her own household? Allow her son to bully her daughter and encourage her daughter to take it?

She’d never been tested on that, but she certainly hoped she wouldn’t be. It wasn’t fair, wasn’t right. Reggie needed to get hold of himself or risk the consequences. “Tough love” was a difficult concept. But she was the one who deserved her mother’s support, not him. At least she lived a good life and treated Natalie well.

“I don’t want to fight with you!” she yelled.

“If you don’t open this door, I’ll break it down!”

She considered calling the police, but he hadn’t done anything to warrant that yet. And she didn’t want to give him any more reason to be angry, or this would certainly escalate. That was the reason she wasn’t calling Joel.

Afraid he’d bust a window or something to get in, she gathered her courage, unlocked the door and threw it open. “What do you want, Reggie?”

“What do I want?” he echoed. “You told Ford Wagner and Lucy McBride that I lied under oath. And they’ve already gone to the police!”

“I’m sorry, but youdidlie under oath!”

“You ratted me out? My own sister? What, you’re a little snitch now?” He threw up his hands. “I can’t believe this. I’mnever going to trust you again. And neither will Mom, especially if I end up going to prison because of you—”

“You mean because ofyou?” she broke in before he could finish whatever threat he was formulating. “What about the reason you were sent to jail in the first place? Arson, Reggie?Really?And thenlyingabout another human being to get yourself out of trouble? A killer could be running around loose because of you, but as usual, you can only think of yourself.”

“You’ve been hanging around with your bastard husband for too long.”

“Joel’s a good man. And he’s right! I should’ve listened to him long ago. But I’ve been kissing your ass my whole life, and such an established pattern of behavior can be hard to break.”

The anger that blazed in his eyes frightened her as much as the fist he lifted. “You stupid bitch,” he said. “You’re going to be sorry.”

When he swung, she threw her arms up to protect her head, but instead of striking her, he slugged the wall. Fortunately, he hit only Sheetrock, so it gave and he simply made a hole. Had he struck a beam, he would’ve shattered the bones in his hand.

She stared at him, once again stunned by his lack of control. “You need to get help,” she said and pushed him outside so she could slam and lock the door.

Anna was shaking when she melted into a chair and rested her head on her arms at the kitchen table. What had she ever done to deserve such a brother?

---