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to bug out of my head. He used to be a smart guy, I can’t imagine he’s foolish enough to think I would be here if she knew the truth. Especially the version of the truth Braydon delivered so eloquently a few minutes ago. “And Xavier would like it to stay that way. I’m sure you understand.”
    Braydon nods as he opens the door and sneaks out before Alyssa realizes we were off talking. I gather everything Alyssa needs so she can be comfortable out with the family for a while today. She’ll need a nap at some point, but I promised I would let her help with making dinner as long as she gave me her word she wouldn’t overdo it. Right now, it’s all about balancing what she wants and what she needs.

    “Shit,” I mumble as soon as I turn onto Tamarac Lane. I completely forgot that Braydon said he was going to be coming over for the day. It’s his first Christmas since Shelby took off for Atlanta and Alyssa badgered him about his holiday plans until he caved.
    “What’s wrong, Daddy?” Jacobs calls from the back seat. As I turn into the driveway, he squeals in delight at the very sight that had me cursing. “ Unca Braydon! Daddy, my Unca is here!”
    It’s a good thing the boy hasn’t figured out how to work the release on his car seat or I’m pretty sure he would have been out of my Audi before the car was even turned off. “Yes, Uncle Braydon is here, buddy. Be patient and I’ll let you out.”
    The front door opens and I see my big brother coming down the steps, much to the delight of his only nephew. “Forget to mention something to me?” he asks, acerbically. I look up to the sky, wishing he would let it be. I know damn well he’s talking about Melanie, but he needs to get it through his thick skull that despite what even I thought at first Melanie has been a godsend to our family.
    “Didn’t forget, Bray. Just didn’t tell you,” I respond bluntly. He’s been protective of me since shortly after we met, living up to every unwritten rule of being a big brother. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where he’s jumping the gun. I can tell by the tick in his jaw and the tension in his neck. “And this is why. You would have told me I was fucking stupid for letting her in. Shit, I thought I was for the first week, but then I saw how good she is at her job. Alyssa didn’t want a traditional hospice nurse because those are for sick people, according to her.”
    “Is she in denial?” Braydon asks. His brow is furrowed tightly in concern.
    “Nope, but she is adamant that she’s not going to be treated like she’s dying.” Jacob pounding his little fist on the glass of the back door pulls our attention away from anything other than his silly faces staring back at us. If I have to deal with all the heavy shit in my life right now, I’m grateful to have my buddy for comic relief.
    “So, what does Melanie do?” As we continue talking, Braydon gets Jacob out of the car while I pull our shopping bags from the trunk. We bought so much crap, but I followed Melanie’s advice and let Jacob buy as much as he wanted for Alyssa. It’s a lifetime of Christmases wrapped up in one melancholy night.
    Stop it. You cannot go into this with a shitty attitude. Give them the last Christmas together they deserve.
    I set Jacob on the ground, telling him to go find his mom. I need another minute to talk to my brother. He’s the only person in my life who knows everything. It’s a relief, in a way, that he now knows about Melanie being back in my life because I’m slowly losing my mind.
    “Talk to me, little brother,” Braydon says, leaning against the hood of my car. The way he’s looking at me, I know I’m not fooling him. Melanie leaving tore me to pieces, even though I was the one who told her to go. Once I realized my mistake, I tried going after her, but Stacey, her rabid pit bull of a best friend, was there to turn me away each and every fucking time.
    “There’s a lot you don’t know about what