Keep It Together - By Lissa Matthews Page 0,11
to answer her because no one had ever asked him the question before. “One foot in front of the other. Our house, when she was there was the unhappiest that you can imagine. She and my father fought all the time. Loud, screaming fights. She was always threatening to leave him, and he always countered her by asking how much money she wanted.”
“That sounds horrible. Mine fought but never anything like that. Didn’t you hate Russ, though? His mom? They broke up your family. I mean, what was it like for you to one day find out your father had another family?”
“Russ never talked about any of this with you?”
“Not really. He didn’t talk about much other than work and his friends at work. I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t ask.”
“You can ask me anything. I’m not surprised Russ didn’t share it with you. He’s not always that forthcoming about personal things.” He wanted to reassure her that he wouldn’t hold things back from her, that nothing was off limits, that he would open up and talk to her about more than his work. “I don’t blame Russ or my father for the affair with Russ’s mom. Daddy wouldn’t divorce our mother on his own because of Amber and me, in part because we were so young. It was noble but unnecessary. She was my mother, and I loved her for that I guess, but I sure didn’t like her.” The hurt at her leaving had long ago dissipated, and he’d never found need or reason to go searching for her. If she’d wanted him or Amber, she’d have come for them. She was the adult, and they were the kids. Seeing as how she didn’t… “When she left, my father seemed to change almost immediately. He looked younger, acted younger. He brought Russ home one day and explained to us that Russ was our half-brother. He encouraged us to ask questions and said he’d understand if we were angry. Amber asked if he was going to come live with us and that she was okay with it if he did. She’s the matter-of-fact sibling. Takes everything and processes it with analytical precision, even when she was a child. I only asked if I would have to share my room. We had a huge house, and Russ could have his own room and I had bunk beds. I was concerned he would have to sleep in my room, and I was planning to lay down my ten-year-old laws.”
Chrissie laughed. “What? He couldn’t have the top bunk?”
Colt gave her his most stern look which only made her laugh more. “Nope. That top bunk was mine, and I ready and willing to fight for it.”
“I guess he got his own room, though?”
“He did. Across the hall. And got his own set of bunk beds. Copycat.” Colt winked. “But, Daddy suddenly wanted to be home with all of us, do stuff with us as a family. He was happy, a different man, and that’s what I choose to remember. I know he had an affair with her. I know most people see her as a home wrecker. I know all that, but she made my father happy, and that’s all that mattered to me and to Amber.”
“You’re a good man, Colt.”
He flushed from her words. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“And I’m glad you and your family are close, but I don’t think Russ’s mother is ever going like me.”
Colt laughed. “So you think you’ll be seeing her again in some capacity where she’d be forced to tolerate you?” At Chrissie’s blush, Colt felt smitten all over again, right down to his toes. She was a redneck girl, a country girl who was as beautiful on the inside as she was gorgeous on the outside, and since Russ’s mother was the only mother he currently had, the woman was just going to have to figure out how to love Chrissie.
“Well, I didn’t, ah… I didn’t mean to imply that… Crap.” Her being at a loss for words endeared her to him more than she already was. She seemed to have no filter between brain and mouth even though he knew she tried to find one. He himself was a lost cause and decided to take pity on her.
“How long did you live here before y’all were supposed to get married?”
Chrissie’s relief at the change of subject was almost tangible. “As soon as we started getting serious. About a year, I guess. He wanted to live downtown