Obviously Edward wasn’t going to offer to take Thomas’s coat. “I want to tell you…I’m sorry. For a lot of things.”
“Can’t change the past,” Edward said gruffly.
Thomas inclined his head, once again struck by his brother’s newfound focus.
A kernel of hope grew inside him that maybe he and his brother could come to an understanding. “I agree. But I’d like to change the future.”
“How? By going after Clara this time?” Edward, shoulders stiff, turned away and walked into the family room, placing distance between them.
“No, that’s not what I want,” Thomas said.
“Then what? You want to drive me insane by pretending you still want her?” Edward thrust his hands in his front pockets.
Thomas couldn’t believe the irony of his brother’s question. “I wanted just the opposite. You live with Clara. She cares for you and it’s obvious to me you care about her. You act jealous, but when it comes to admitting you two have a future, you run for the hills.”
Edward shrugged. “That’s my choice. It’s my life.”
“Well, I just wanted to push you in the right direction, that’s all. The other day, when you thought I was interested in Clara, you got all worked up. So I thought if I could get her to go out with me, I’d push you right into her arms.”
Edward turned to face him, disbelief on his face. “Are you sayin’ you aren’t interested in her?”
Thomas knew this moment was critical. Only the truth would win his brother’s trust.
Or turn him away forever.
Thomas couldn’t lie. So he opted for honesty. “I’m saying I won’t ever make a move on her.”
Edward narrowed his gaze. “You’re admitting you’re interested?”
Thomas drew a deep breath. “Only a dead man wouldn’t be interested. I’m saying she’s off-limits to me.”
A sudden flash of confusion crossed Edward’s face. “I don’t understand. Why are you here now?”
A lump rose to Thomas’s throat. His brother was so close to returning to full sanity, but the distrust he’d built up over the years was painful to watch.
To feel.
“I’m here because we’re getting older, Edward, and I don’t want to waste what time I have left estranged from my family, running from an ancient curse.” He drew a deep breath. “Do you?”
“I’m not running from the damn curse anymore. I’m on medication and getting healthy!” Edward spoke too loudly, too forcefully.
“Then why are you running from the one woman who loves you and could make you happy?” Thomas asked, raising his voice to match his brother’s.
Edward grew red in the face. “I’m not takin’ advice from you. I still don’t know if I can trust you.”
Those words took some of the bluster and certainty out of Thomas. “No, you don’t,” he agreed. “You’d have to take my word for it. And my word’s all I’ve got to give.”
Knowing he’d worn out his welcome, Thomas turned toward the door. “But if you don’t trust me, at least trust Clara. You deserve some happiness,” he said to Edward before letting himself out.
Only after he shut his brother’s door behind him did Thomas allow a lone tear to fall. Brushing it aside, he headed for his car, determined to take his own advice. For his son’s sake if not his own, he would try to make peace with the idea of Lauren Perkins and let go of the damned Corwin Curse.
CHAPTER TWELVE
LAUREN ENJOYED watching Jason work. Not just working with his hands, which of course was a sight to behold. But when he was mentally processing something and deep in thought, she could watch him for hours. His brows furrowed, his full lips pulled together, he alternated between tapping a pencil against the kitchen table and his right temple.
“What’s got you so frustrated?” she asked, almost afraid to break his concentration.
“I’m just going over the fire department’s report. Trying to figure out who was behind this. The local police are investigating, but it bothers me to wait for them. If you’d been in the house, you could have been seriously hurt. I want this bastard found.” Jason spoke through a clenched jaw.