Page 27 of Slow Burn

The tsunami of feelings had swept him under, drowned him. And so he had run.

Was he any better equipped to deal with her now?

Since there were no clear answers to his current dilemma, he changed the subject. “I assume you’re going to the bachelor party tomorrow night?” One of Joshua’s friends had put together a fun evening in Atlantic City.

“I’ll be there,” Oliver said. “It’s not every day a Lowell man gets married. How about you?”

“Yep. I’m coming. Have you bought him any kind of gift?”

“No. Damn. I’ll get something tomorrow.”

“Well, here’s the thing. When I was in Paris earlier this fall, I stumbled on a small Matisse at auction. It’s a window scene from Morocco. I immediately thought of Joshua. You know how much he always loved Matisse. Of course, I had no idea Josh was going to get married soon, but when he told me, I had my assistant package the painting and send it to me. I should have it at the hotel tomorrow morning. I’d like to put your name and mine on the gift. You know, to acknowledge the fact that Josh is starting a new career, a new life. We left him to clean up the mess fifteen years ago. I know he didn’t have to do it, but he did. What do you think?”

The words had tumbled out in a rush.

Oliver nodded. “That’s perfect.”

“Good. I want this gift to come from both of us. Together. I want to mend fences. To heal our family. We used to be the three Lowell brothers, unbreakable, unshakable. I’m sorry for my part in breaking us up. This is a gesture. A peace offering. Are you in?”

“I’m in.”

Oliver ran a hand through his hair, his profile stark as he stared out across the quarry. Jake felt the coals of guilt burn hotter. Oliver had been a teenager when Jake left. Jake had failed him. Had failed Joshua. And Nikki. And his mother.

Could he ever do penance for his neglect? Sometimes he thought he’d simply been too lazy to look for a reason to return home. The truth was...he’d been scared. Scared that the people he loved would judge him. Or turn their backs on him.

Now it seemed that both of his brothers were willing to forgive and forget. That realization filled him with quiet satisfaction.

But what about Nikki? He had wronged her, most of all.

Would the mother of his child be willing to accept his regrets and his determination to do better?

And, if she did, was Jake willing to deal with the consequences?

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