Third Time’s A Charm Bonus Chapter 5

Kyle raises the axe above his head before driving it into the stump in front of him. He wipes the sweat off his forehead with his forearm. The red and black flannel he’s wearing is rolled up to his elbows making him look like a fucking lumberjack.

“Stop checking me out,” he quips before raising the axe and starting the process all over again.

“You been working out?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah,” he smirks. “Cardio. Every night.”

“Cardio?” I place a hand on my hip. “Like the elliptical?”

He swings the axe through the air, breaking the wood into two logs. “More like my wife.”

I roll my eyes as I grab the fallen pieces of wood and carry them over to the pile to stack them. Winter is still here and, with it, the growing need for firewood.

“Is there anything you two have in common besides sex?” I groan.

“Lots of things,” Kyle answers, unaffected by my dig. “We both like you.”

“Har har,” I fake laugh. But I know he means it. A few years ago, I couldn’t have paid him to admit out loud that he actually enjoys spending time with me.

“When does Dad get here?” Kyle sighs heavily.

“Tomorrow night,” I shrug. “I guess he’s traveling without Claudia.”

“That’s a first,” Kyle mumbles.

“Says he wants to check out the house and see the grandkids,” I lick my lips nervously.

“Oh,” Kyle frowns. “I didn’t realize he was a doting grandfather these days.”

“I don’t even know what to tell Izzy to call him,” I shake my head. “We invited him to our court date, but we both know he didn’t show for that.”

Kyle tosses the axe to the ground and exhales. “Why do you keep inviting him to shit? You know he’s not going to come. And if he does, it’s only because he wants something. You’re really going to let your kids near him? After he left Ava in a burning house while he escaped?”

Well, when he puts it that way.

“I don’t want to go through life hating him,” I argue.

“You think I hate him?” Kyle runs a hand through his dark hair.

“Kind of seems that way,” I respond.

“I don’t hate him,” Kyle says, defeated. “I hate the way he treats us.”

“It was different,” I blow out a tired breath of air. “Before Claudia. We went to brunch every weekend with Ava. We had a good time. He was…he was there for me when I needed him.”

“And I’m happy you had that time with him,” Kyle genuinely smiles. “But he chose himself over my pregnant wife and I got shot. Jenny could have died. Taylor could have…” he trails off, lost deep in thought. “If I had lost either of them, it would have destroyed me. I never would have forgiven him for being so selfish.”

“You’re going to spend the rest of your life ignoring him?”

Kyle scratches his stubbled jawline. “He’s never been much of a father to me. I don’t really feel like I’m missing out on much. I have Jenny and the boys. I have the Kearns, you, Fallon and my nieces. That’s more family than I’ve ever had before. My life feels full.”

My brother spent a lot years missing out, needing a place to belong, longing for things I never thought he’d find.

But he found it.

“I understand,” I nod my head in response.

“I don’t want him hurting anyone else I love,” Kyle admits.

“I know I’m just your little brother,” I chuckle, “and you’re always going to see me that way, but I love my family, too, and I know how to protect them.”

“Of course you do,” Kyle agrees. “I wasn’t implying you couldn’t. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I’m not operating from a place of anger or hatred. I just love my family too much to put them in a position to be hurt again.”

I want to hug him. But I don’t.

We’re both so different. We’ve always been different from each other. Sort of like night and day. What’s right for Kyle might not be what’s best for me. I’m happy we’re at a place where we can appreciate each other’s differences and accept each other for who we are.

“You staying for dinner?” Kyle raises his eyebrows.

We hear shrill laughter and both turn to face the house. “They cracked open the wine. I guess I am.”

“Pizza and beer?” Kyle suggests.

“You know I never turn down Pete’s.”

“I’ll let the Jenny and Fallon know we’re going to go grab dinner,” Kyle says as he wipes his hands on his jeans.

“You want me to drive?”

Kyle laughs. “I’ll drive.”

“Are you embarrassed by my yellow Jeep?” I scoff.

“No, I’m just afraid it’ll break down on side of the road,” he replies. “You really need a new vehicle.”

“I know,” I hold out both hands helplessly. “But I’ve been saving to buy Fallon a new car. Hers barely makes it to Bruce’s and back.”

“That’s really…sweet of you,” Kyle grins.

“Don’t call me sweet, you weirdo,” I huff.

“Under all that sarcasm, you have a gooey center,” Kyle teases me. “Who would have thought?”

“Don’t be a dick,” I cross my arms over my chest.

“I’m just proud of you,” Kyle beams. “Walter always used to say that the right woman turns a boy into a man.”

“I’ve always been a man,” I defend myself.

“Eh,” Kyle hitches a shoulder. “That might be stretching it a bit.”

“Whatever. I’ll be in the car.”

The drive to town is quiet as Kyle’s lame taste in music floats through the air. Patches of white are sparse these days, but another snow storm is in the forecast next week. It’s why we’re cutting firewood today. Better to be prepared. No one likes cutting wood when the snow sticks to your face and hands. And I know both our wives like a roaring fireplace late at night. Fal says it’s the ambiance or something like that.

We pull in front of Pete’s and hop out. Kyle greets a few passerbys. Everyone loves the new gallery he and Jen just opened. I don’t know how they can spend all their time together. I like that Fallon and I have different interests. After the girls to to bed at night, we curl up on the couch with a bottle of Merlot and talk about our days. I love watching her talk, listening to her little anecdotes.

No two relationships are the same, I suppose. Where Fallon and I enjoy our independence, Kyle and Jenny are attached at the hip. But I don’t think I love Fallon any less than Kyle loves Jenny. It’s just…different.

“Pepperoni for the kids?” Kyle asks.

“Yeah and get that gluten-free shit for Fal and Jen.”

“Meat Lover’s for us?”

“Do you even have to ask?”

Kyle shakes his head.

We sit at the bar and grab a beer while we wait for the pizza.

“Did you ever think we’d be doing this in our future?” I say as I take a swig from the bottle.

“I didn’t really think much about the future when I was younger,” he reveals.

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Kyle twists the bottle back and forth on the bar top. “I mean I thought about school and work. I never let myself think beyond that, though.”

“Why?”

Kyle sucks his bottom lip into his mouth, mulling over the words I’m hoping he’ll say out loud. Progress. This is progress for us.

“I guess I was afraid to dream about Jenny. I couldn’t see a life without her in it and I never imagined she’d choose me,” he explains. “And Mom always made me feel…I don’t know. Unworthy, maybe?”

“Unworthy of Jen?” I try to understand.

“Unworthy of the life I have now,” he clarifies.

“I always thought you’d be a good dad,” I tell him.

“Thanks,” he slaps me on the shoulder.

“And Mom was wrong, you know,” I lift the beer bottle to my lips. “You were always worthy of the family you have now. And the life you’ve spent building for yourself. I know we don’t share our feelings or whatever, but I’m glad you’re my brother.”

“See?” Kyle chuckles, “gooey on the inside.”

“Oh, shut the fuck up,” I roll my eyes as I take another swig of beer.

“For the record,” Kyle nods, “I’m glad you’re my brother, too.”

“Even though I tried to sleep with your wife?”

“Tried,” Kyle raises an eyebrow. “But you never could seal the deal.”

“Trust me when I say it’s better for you,” I wink. “Michael Jor–“

“Don’t you mean Punxsutawney Phil?”

“Don’t you dare,” I point a finger at Kyle. “It’ll always be Michael Jordan.”

“Why are you so weird?” Kyle scrunches his face.

“Why are you so…serious all the time?”

“I am not,” Kyle lies. “I know how to let loose.”

“Maybe after a few beers,” I laugh.

“I have a lot of responsibilities,” he argues.

Cindy sets three large pizzas in front of us. “Here you guys go,” she interrupts our conversation.

“Thanks,” Kyle and I say in unison.

“I’ve been watching you two for years,” Cindy places her hand on the bar top. “You’ve always been brothers, but this whole town has always hoped you’d also be friends.”

“We are friends,” I raise my beer. “Right?”

Kyle laughs. “I guess so.”

I clink my beer bottle against his.

I never thought I’d be able to call my brother one of my best friends.

But now I can.