Page 7 of Mine to Keep

“He’s in Mom’s life whether we like it or not.”

Jamison laughed. “Are you trying to say that you don’t like Steve or some shit?” When it had come out that Steve was Jamison’s biological father, all the brothers had been blindsided. They’d all felt betrayed. For the first month or two, they’d been on Jamison’s side. But, slowly, his brothers had started accepting Steve, especially when it became apparent that he and their mom were back together in a romantic way, and that wouldn’t change.

His brothers were okay with it because it’d appeared to happen after their parents had divorced—as if that made the entire fucked-up situation okay. It also hadn’t happened to them. No one understood what Jamison had to live with or how it affected him psychologically—something he still saw a therapist about.

“I don’t dislike him.” Nathan planted his hands on his hips and glanced around, letting out a long sigh. “He cares about Mom. He’s not a bad person, and I’m not willing to cut her out of my life. Partly because of my kids and—”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” Jamison had heard it all before, and he honestly understood where Nathan and his brothers were coming from, especially where the grandkids were considered. If he were in their shoes, he might feel the same way. However, their biology hadn’t changed in a flash. Their entire identity—who they thought they were—hadn’t become something different overnight.

And the bigger issue for Jamison had always been the fact that no one seemed to care how it affected him on any level. They believed it didn’t change anything when it changedeverything.

“Can you just be kind to Mom and maybe come to Nancy’s birthday party this Saturday? I know my family would love to see you, and if you could be kind to Mom, it might calm her down a bit before she goes in for the biopsy on Tuesday. She’s pretty nervous about it.”

Jamison imagined she would be. “I’ll be at Nancy’s party. And I’ll be on my best behavior. But I’m not ever going to accept Steve into my life. That is something this family needs to accept if they want me to keep coming around.”

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