Page 38 of One Sweet Day I Found You

“Me too. We have to catch the ferry in about two hours. Worked out perfectly.”

Kenny and his girlfriend, Gloria, were taking a few precious days off for a romantic getaway on picturesque Washington Island, which sat just north of the Door County peninsula in Lake Michigan. Heritage Bay was an easy stop along the way.

It was midafternoon and in between peak times at the shop, and since another employee was working, Nick went on break. He stood with Kenny and Gloria around an otherwise empty Inlet Outfitters while they relayed the latest crazy stories from the hospital.

Kenny had called and said he wanted Nick to meet his new girlfriend. Gloria was a first-year resident like Kenny. They’d been dating for five months and it was starting to get serious. Kenny said he hoped Nick would like her.

Nick approved. He hadn’t seen his brother behave so attentively to a woman in, well—possibly, ever.

And it looked as though Gloria was just as smitten. Nick hoped it would work out for the long term.

After the chitchat, Kenny glanced at Gloria. “Hey babe, we should get going soon, but I need a few minutes withthisguy.” He punched Nick lightly on the arm. “Brother talk. I won’t be long. Would you mind waiting out in the car for a few minutes?”

“Not at all,” she said agreeably. He tossed her the keys and she gave Nick a hug.

“Bye, Nick. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I hope we see you again soon.”

“Great to meet you, too, Gloria. Hey, and have a great time this week.” They watched her leave.

“I like her. I’m happy for you, man.” Nick leaned back against the front of the counter.

“Thanks. She’s something else.”

“So what’d you want to talk about?”

Kenny cleared his throat. “Listen, Nick, it’s been hard with you gone. Dad really wants you back. Wants you to reconsider your decision about school.”

Nick’s eyebrows shot up. This was new. Nick had been away for a year now and his father had barely said two words, apart from a phone call last week, which hadn’t gone well.

“I know he can be a real jerk sometimes, but his heart’s in the right place. I didn’t really understand it when we were younger, but, man, I get it now. It’s not easy, doing what he does.”

Nick listened. “I know. But why can’t he just chill out and let me do what I want? Let me decide my own life?”

“Because he sees things differently than most of us. And he wants what’s best for you.”

Nick shook his head. “How does he know what’s best for me? We don’t agree on a lot of things—obviously. And he can’t seem to look beyond his nose to appreciate a different point of view. He just loses his patience with me.” Nick stood up from the counter and shoved a hand in the pocket of his shorts.

“Nick, he’s a busy man. His stress levels are over the top. Been that way for years.”

Nick understood. Heck, it was half the reason Nick didn’t make it through med school. He kept trying to picture the end product of what all of his hard work would bring him, and the only thing he could imagine was a stressed-out, overwhelming daily struggle.

“And believe me, I get itnow.” Kenny took a deep breath. “I just wish you would cut him a break when he gets like that.”

Nick shrugged. “I’m not holding anything against him. I’m just living my life. Anyway, tell him to chill. Stress levels like that aren’t good for him. He should know better than anybody. Does he ever think about that?”

Kenny leaned back against the store’s counter, crossed his arms, and looked Nick in the eye. “Of course he does. Anyway, he asked me to relay a message to you.”

Nick’s brow shot up again. This was also new.

“He pulled some strings and arranged for you to get back into the program at UC. Finish your last two years. You can start this summer—redo the last two classes you got the low grades in. You did a voluntary dropout, so you’d just be on academic probation the first semester in the fall.”

Nick scoffed. “What? Why would he go and do a thing like that? I’m not going back. And I didn’t ask for any favors.”

Kenny shot him a look. “Come on, man. Most people don’t get this kind of second chance. Why not?”

Nick sighed, irritated, and walked behind the counter. Was he for real? “Okay. So is that all you wanted to talk to me about?”

Kenny stared at him for a beat. “No, that’snotall. Mom wants you back, too. She’s been kind of a mess lately. Wants you to figure out what the heck you’re gonna do with the rest of your life. She’s always calling me, getting on my back about you. I can hardly take it anymore.”

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