Page 76 of The Homecoming

“He didn’t mean it.”

“The hell I didn’t,” Dan replied. “I don’t understand why you don’t think I’m a man of my word.”

“Calm down,” Brandon said. “Autumn’s been through a lot of trauma this year with Jason and nearly dying in labor—”

“What?” Dan asked, his eyes locked onto Autumn’s.

“Big mouth,” she said to Brandon.

“Someone better start talking, right now.” Dan placed his hands on the table and leaned forward.

Danny repeatedly hit the high chair tray with the spoon he’d grabbed when Autumn wasn’t looking. Applesauce flew across the table, and Daniel’s gaze softened as he looked down at the baby.

“You know what, I’ll take Danny and watch him while you two sort this out,” Brandon suggested.

“You can call Rebecca to come and get him if you want,” Autumn replied.

Brandon waived her off. “If Weasel can babysit him, I’m certainly capable of it.” Brandon lifted the baby out of the high chair and grabbed the diaper bag from the chair.

“Weasel?” Dan said. “Babysitting?”

Autumn shrugged. “Just a few minutes while I showered. Apparently, Weasel’s cop stories captivated him.”

“Why is Weasel over here with you alone?” Dan asked.

Autumn glared at him. “One, he’s my friend, and you need to stop with that,” she said. “Besides, he’s in love with Rebecca.”

“What?” Both Brandon and Dan asked in unison.

“Wow, I’m a big mouth, too,” Autumn mumbled to herself.

“He’s in love with Rebecca?” Brandon asked.

“What about Kyle?” Dan asked.

Brandon answered, “He’s gone.”

“He cheated on her,” Autumn added.

“She kicked him to the curb,” Brandon said. At Dan’s glare added, “Anyway, we’re going to the office.”

“Keep your mouth shut about Weasel being in love with Rebecca,” Autumn demanded.

Brandon nodded. “Fine, but we’re definitely going to revisit that at a later time.”

***

After they were alone, Autumn refilled her coffee and poured Daniel a cup. He sat across from her at the table, and she told the true story of what happened when Jason came home. His eyes flashed with anger, but he remained silent when she recounted finding Jason with a gun and his subsequent outburst that pinned her to the wall. She told him about his newly diagnosed traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Then she told him Danny’s birth story, about how Brandon had saved both their lives that day. Then she told him her nightmare of not being able to produce enough milk for the baby.

“Why didn’t you tell me this last night?” he asked.

“Because you needed to be angry at me. I did a shitty thing and you needed to yell. You have the right to be angry, even if I had my reasons.”

He nodded and stared at her in silence.

She sighed. “If I had said all that right away, it would be like me asking for sympathy.”

“And you don’t want sympathy?” He took a long sip of his coffee, watching her.

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