Her Best Men

***

An hour later, there was a sharp knock on my front door. I ran through the entryway and wrenched open the door to see Andrea standing on my front porch. She smiled and let herself inside, holding up a bottle of wine and waving it in the air.

“You sounded really upset on the phone,” Andrea said. “So, I thought wine was in order.”

“You thought right.” I nodded eagerly and hurried into the kitchen to get us glasses.

Andrea poured us each a good amount of wine, and then we settled in on my couch. She didn’t speak at first. Instead, she watched me closely while I sipped my wine and let the alcohol embolden me slightly.

“Dinner was a fucking disaster,” I finally said.

Andrea nodded. “I figured that much,” she said. “But why? What happened?”

“Well,” I said. “Do you remember me telling you that Michael was adopted?”

“Yes,” Andrea said. “A weird coincidence considering everything that happened with Joshua.”

“Not so much,” I said with a dark chuckle. “Not even remotely a coincidence actually.”

Andrea frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Michael is Joshua’s brother,” I said. “The very same brother I spent months trying to find two years ago. The very same brother that Joshua never wanted me to meet.”

“You’re kidding.” Andrea stared at me blankly. “This is a joke.”

“I wish,” I said. “It feels like the universe is playing an elaborate prank on me or something.”

“You’re serious?” Andrea asked. “You’re not screwing with me right now?”

“I’m serious.” I stared at her to let her know this wasn’t a game. “Michael and Joshua are brothers.”

“Holy shit.” Andrea shook her head and took a long swig of her wine. When she swallowed, she looked at me with narrowed eyes. She still didn’t want to believe me.

“It’s crazy,” I said. “I know.”

“It’s more than crazy,” Andrea said. “It’s like Shakespearean or something.”

“That’s a little dramatic,” I said, though Andrea wasn’t wrong. I’d been thinking the same thing since I first saw Joshua sitting in the restaurant.

“This is dramatic!” Andrea said. “I can’t believe it.”

“That’s how I felt,” I said. “My head has been spinning since last night. I can barely think straight.”

“Have you talked to Michael?” Andrea asked. “I mean, did he know who you were? Did he know you and Joshua had a history?”

I shook my head. “He says he had no idea,” I said.

“And you believe him?” Andrea asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I shrugged. “I didn’t know who he was. We never met. There’s no way he could have known who I was.”

“Unless…” Andrea said slowly.

“What?” I pressed. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing,” Andrea said. She shook her head hard. “I’m just being paranoid.”

“No,” I said. “What is it?”