a nervous action; it was more like it comforted him to have something substantial in his hands.
“I headed into New Orleans, determined to spend what time I had left with a pretty girl and all the excitement I could dig up in the city. That’s where I met Elizabeth.”
Brody started at the name. He recognized the name, though he’d never been fortunate enough to meet the woman in person. The knot in the pit of his stomach grew, because he had a feeling he knew where his father’s story was heading.
“Dad—”
“Elizabeth was everything I was looking for. Beautiful, compassionate, headstrong. Ready to have fun in the French Quarter. We both knew we wouldn’t have a lot of time together. I was upfront from the start I had to head back to Germany. She had plans to start college classes at the beginning of the semester. The time I spent with Elizabeth became the highlight of my trip, and I found myself falling for her. Head over heels. I thought she felt the same, and I think she did—until she laid eyes on Gator.”
Well, crap.
“I never stood a chance. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Gator didn’t come back to New Orleans thinking he was going to meet the girl of his dreams. Elizabeth didn’t set out to hurt me, either. I won’t say it didn’t sting my heart, but I think it was more a slap to my pride. I found the girl first; I should have won her heart. But sometimes it’s not meant to be. Elizabeth and Gator? They were meant to be. Their attraction was palpable, so strong you could almost see their hearts beating as one. I know it sounds all girly and romantic and stuff, but doesn’t change the fact it happened. I could have let it drive a wedge between me and my brother. Instead, I got to see a man I admire more than anyone find the happiness he deserved, with a woman who loved him until the day she died.”
“So you think Rafe will understand how I feel about Beth?”
Douglas nodded. “He probably already knows how you feel. I hate to break it to you, son, but I doubt there’s anybody in this family who doesn’t know you’ve got feelings for Beth. If it concerns you, talk to your brother. Let him know how you feel. Yeah, I know it’s not manly to talk about feelings. Don’t let stupid stereotypes and fools make you believe for one second your feelings, your emotions, don’t count. That’s a sure path to unhappiness.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Brody stood up and brushed the loose pieces of hay off his jeans. “I have to ask. Things between you and Uncle Gator, did they change after he met Elizabeth?”
Douglas shrugged, and walked beside Brody toward the open barn door. “At first there was some awkwardness. I had to go back to Germany. Gator stuck around New Orleans. A couple of weeks after I left, I got a call from him. He and Elizabeth got married in a quiet little ceremony. I was the first person they called, because they didn’t want them being together to keep me and my brother apart. Gotta admit, I was hurt. Said some things I wished I could take back the moment they left my mouth, but I was a stubborn fool, and shoved my foot so far down my throat, I figured there was no turning back from it. Took me a couple of weeks to figure out it wasn’t my heart getting broke that bothered me. It was my pride. Once I came to terms with being a big, fat jerk, I wrote to Gator and Elizabeth, let them know I regretted how I’d reacted, and I was sorry for the things I’d said.”
“They forgave you?”
Douglas chuckled. “They named their son after me. Jean-Luc Douglas Boudreau. When he went into the service, he got the nickname ‘Ranger’ after me too. We made things right, me and Gator, by not being stubborn and letting our pride blind us to the fact we’re family.”
Brody hugged his father, feeling his father’s arms wrap around him, enveloping him in the warmth of family he’d felt from the day he’d moved in with Douglas. As usual, his father was right, which was why he’d come to him for advice. He’d talk to Rafe, let him know about his feelings for Beth.
“Thanks, Dad. For everything.”
“Any time, Brody. I’m always here for you. Always.”
He headed back toward the house, a lightness inside