“That is the flimsiest most self-serving excuse for a pedicure I’ve ever heard from you. But that’s why I love you. Your logic is so...unique,” Britt said with an eye roll. “I don’t think it would fill Fitzsimmons and his surviving relatives with joy to think I was using the chance to have my nails done. I think I’ll pass on the beauty treatments.”
“Are you going to gorge on caramel corn, romantic Netflix movies, and M&M’s again? We all know what that got you.”
“You mean four pounds heavier and with a misguided belief that all men are truly sincere?”
“Pretty much, yes.”
“No. I promise I won’t watch any romantic movies.”
“No weepers either. Read something improving.”
“Such as?”
“I don’t know. Check your local library,” Marj teased.
“Who needs the library when we have e-books?”
“Maybe we’ll go get drunk after the funeral. Throw back some margaritas, get you out of this mope.”
“Maybe,” Britt said vaguely, not wanting to argue with her friend.
Britt went home and threw away the cookies so she wouldn’t binge on them. She scrolled through Netflix in search of a series she hadn’t watched yet and debated whether to order Chinese or pizza. Her phone lit up and it was a number she didn’t recognize on the screen.
“Oy, girlie, it’s Charlie Fitzsimmons. You rang me yesterday about my dad.”
Chapter 7
“Yes, Charlie. What is it? Your brother isn’t here if that’s what you were hoping for.”
“No, I’m not looking for Jakie boy. He’ll be at the bottom of a bottle just now with his hand down some girl’s top.”
“Thanks for that image. What do you want exactly? I’m not so sure I can be of any help. Because Jack said he needed a few days alone. He’s treating me like a total stranger and he’s off with his friends.”
“Whoa. No reason to passive aggressive all over me, Brittney. I’m calling to say I’m thankful you’re there for him. I’ve got a flight home for the funeral but I missed my connection in Dusseldorf so I’m on standby for the connection. I was just worried about Jack. I didn’t speak to him yesterday except when he was with you at the hospital. I want you front and center because I could tell you didn’t like me yesterday, which means you’re protecting our Jakie boy. That’s what he needs.”
“How do you know what he needs? How long since you’ve seen him exactly?”
“Three or so years, I guess. Why not save the hostility and try to learn from me, girlie?”
“You’re not my idea of a sensei.”
“Why? Because I’m a barfly halfway across the world? You’re his girlfriend. He’ll need you to get him through this.”
“I’m trying, but he’s blocking me out.”
“He’s blocking me out too. Make no mistake, I want what’s best for my brother and I think that’s you. So give him his time to go wild. He’s bound to rebel after being the good boy all these years. He’ll right the ship and come back to you. Just wait and see if he doesn’t.”
“Are you drunk, Charlie?”
“Maybe a mite. It’s been two hours in a German airport. What else is there to do? Did I mention my heart is breaking, shattered into a million pieces?”
“I’m so sorry.”
He started to sob and Britt gave him words of encouragement. Maybe he wasn’t the best brother in the world, but he was just as heartbroken as Jack. Britt realized that much after their conversation.
The next day passed in a haze of Thai noodles and episodes of Orange Is the New Black. She stayed all day in her pajamas and never called Jack to touch base even once. She would give her boyfriend his space to grieve. And everyone grieves differently.
Charlie called her three more times, obviously bored and seeking someone to update about his magnificent lack of progress from Germany. At last she received a text that he was landing in Newark and could report to her on the health and wellbeing of his brother in the next few hours. He also offered helpfully to dunk Jack’s head in a toilet to sober him up if needed.