This Much is True - Tia Louise Page 0,89

go.” She pats our son on the head and turns for the door. “We’ll have him back in time for dinner.”

“Have fun!” Hope calls, and Jesse makes a U-turn running back to where she’s standing. Hope instantly drops to her knees, and he throws his arms around her neck, giving her the biggest hug.

“Thank you for the pancakes.” He kisses her cheek, and I’m ready to high five him. “Bye, Dad!”

He takes off running out the door, and Hope stands, clasping her fingers in front of her mouth. “He’s so adorable.”

“I remember when I used to get the hug bye.”

I watch my father leave and think about how I started this journey, burning with rage and hell-bent on revenge. Karma has settled the scores far better than I could’ve.

He has nothing, he’s married to that shrew, and he works for me. I actually feel sorry for the guy—when I think about him.

I have my son, and I have Hope. Her eyes meet mine, and it’s sunshine breaking through the clouds, warming my heart and calming my anger.

GA plops down at the table. “That Rebecca St. John is so horny, I swear.”

Hope and I jump back, but Scout slides in beside our grandmother unaffected. “Ornery, Gran. The word’s ornery.”

“That’s what I said!” GA snaps. “She’s so damn horny. I wish she’d try a little kindness sometime.”

Hope’s hands move from in front of her mouth to covering her face, and we both start to laugh. I’m collecting plates, and Scout joins me at the sink to wash them. I’m not sure how we got stuck with dish duty, but it started that day at GA’s house when we first rolled into town.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time in Oceanside.” I glance at my brother, taking the clean dish from him and drying it.

For the first time all day, he grows serious. “You remember Daisy Sales?”

Leaning against the counter, I try to remember. “Was that the little girl you were so into junior year?”

“We dated senior year.”

“I was gone your senior year.”

“I remember.” He drains the sink, seeming pissed at me for graduating. “They tried to make me quarterback that year.”

“Mistake.” I fold the towel, thinking. “Her dad owned a furniture store?”

“Antiques.”

“Teachers would pay her to do interior design for them.”

“How the fuck do you remember all this?” He shakes his head.

“She set me up with Becky.”

“Yeah, well, don’t hold that against her. Becky had us all fooled.” He puts his hands on the sink and looks out the window at the elaborate yard around my equally elaborate house.

This big ole place is a century old, with five bedrooms and five baths. It’s on the historic register, and recently renovated. GA picked it out because she said I had to have a bigger house than my dad’s. She’s still pissed he hid our mother’s trust fund from Scout and me.

I only agreed to buy it because I wanted her to move in with us. Then she insisted on staying in her tiny little house.

“She lives in Oceanside… with her little girl, Melody. She’s three now.” The way he says it piques my interest.

“Is she the one you were telling Hope about? The one you hoped was still waiting for you?”

He steps away from the counter and seems to shake it off. “Yeah, I gotta go.”

“That’s it?” I holler after him, but he’s telling GA and Hope bye, heading for the door quick. “Scout?” I step after him, catching his shoulder. “What’s going on?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll tell you more when I know more.”

He seems frustrated, embarrassed, maybe a little angry—all strange emotions from my little brother. I want him to talk to me, but I’ll let him have his space.

For now, I lean against the doorjamb, watching my pretty wife chatting with my crazy grandmother, thinking what a twisted path led me to here.

Later that night, Hope is snuggled against my chest. We’re sweaty and satisfied, and she’s tracing her finger along the lines of the new tattoo on my chest. Hold onto hope…

It’s right under This Much is True…, inked at a time when I only believed in myself. Now I realize how wrong I was, this beautiful girl in my arms changed my hatred to love.

“They say it’s bad luck to get a tattoo of your significant other’s name.” She props her cute little chin on her hand, blinking up at me.

Tracing my finger along the line of her hair, I push a silky lock behind her ear. “You’re