Tags:
Literary,
Romance,
Contemporary,
Saga,
series,
Short-Story,
new adult,
Women's Fiction,
love,
Relationships,
doctor,
dating,
marraige,
hospital,
falling in love,
independant female lead,
singlehood
me, didn’t you Jake?”
Jake shrugged. “After Mom died, you got lost. So did I. Even Dad couldn’t drag us out of the pits of disaster where we landed. He was so deep in himself there were times he forgot we existed. I tried to be the big brother you needed.”
Jon smirked. “Big brother by about two minutes.”
”Yeah, but facts are facts.” He slapped Jon on the back. “We should go see her.” He stood up on the dock and stared out at the ocean. Jon stood beside him. The fishing rods abandoned, the two walked towards the house.
They took a path behind the old homestead where the family cemetery held four graves. Jon opened the black wrought iron gate and stepped inside. A large concrete angel stood guard beside the four graves. Two of the giant concrete slabs stood out in front, the names faded. Jon took a step past the old graves to see his mother’s name on the one in the back. He sat on the concrete bench in front of her tombstone. Jake sat down beside him.
Raw emotion ripped from every crevice inside of him. It felt as if someone yanked a hold of his gut and twisted the insides. Jon placed his head between his knees because he knew he needed to get a grip. He slid from the bench on to his knees at his mother’s grave. The sobs began as if he had no control, deep, racking sobs and moans that wouldn’t stop. They rent the air like a wolf howling in to the night.
He felt his brother beside him and looked over. Jake hung his head to his chest as silent tears ran down his cheeks then dripped from his chin. He wrapped an arm around Jake’s shoulder. It was twenty years in the making, this reunion of sorts. It had to be done in order for them to move on. The pain trapped inside flowed free and they knelt in front of the grave for a long time.
Until the silence became too loud. Jon opened his eyes and watched a bird in flight, it’s wings open and soaring above the water’s edge. He turned to his brother beside him. “A weight the size of Miami is lifted from my shoulders.”
Jake nodded. “It’s been a long time coming. Glad we did this.”
“Yeah, me too. I miss Abby. I need to tell her how sorry I’ve been.”
Jake sighed. “What did you do?”
Jon shrugged. “It’s been tough, ya know. Losing Kevin and all. I wasn’t sure I wanted to have kids after he died. It’s too painful to lose someone.”
“Oh hell, Jon. You didn’t tell her you don’t want kids, did you?”
Jon shook his head. “No, I said I needed time to think about it.”
“I promise you what she heard differed from what you said. To her I’m sure she thinks you never want children. You’re right, you need to go fix things.” He stood up and put out his hand. Jon grabbed his brother and pulled as Jake tumbled back down on the ground. The men wrestled, using moves they learned in high school.
“Say the word,” Jake ordered, the weight of his body on top of Jon.
He shook his head. “Never!” Then he flipped his legs and twisted and rolled away. He crawled about a foot away before Jake dove on top of him again.
“Boys, that’s enough!” A loud voice rumbled through the air, stopping both of them at once. Jon’s eyes widened.
“Dad!”
“You’re grown men for pete’s sake. Haven’t you got over wrestling like that yet?”
Jon stood up and brushed the dirt from his pants. His dad stood there, Maggie’s mom beside him. The two of them were dating. Seems years ago before he met their mother, Maggie’s mom and him fell in love. Looked like they were in love again, Jon surmised. Which was a good thing, his dad deserved to be happy again.
Jake laughed out loud. “Guess you didn’t expect to see this.”
Their dad laughed too. “Nope. But I am glad you’re here. It’s about time.” He walked over to their mother’s grave and placed a fresh bunch of flowers in front. He nodded and turned away to face the men. “This