Rick grabbed a lawn chair and put it next to Josh. As they gazed out at the water, Rick took a flask out of his denim jacket pocket. Josh tried not to stare as his childhood buddy anchored the flask in the crook of his left elbow and screwed off the cap with his right hand.
Not all of Rick had made it back.
Wordlessly they tipped up their respective bottles and drank.
“Hell of a thing,” Rick finally said. There was no need for him to explain. Josh knew that such a statement covered any number of events. Rick’s being wounded and losing his hand, Erin not making it back at all, the two of them sitting here now, forever changed yet somehow still the same. A history of several years all leading up to this moment.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Josh answered.
“You seen Tom yet?”
Josh scowled. “No, thank God.”
“Hating him won’t bring Erin back.”
Josh had told himself that a thousand times. But there were things Rick didn’t know. Things that could only be seen by someone on the inside of a relationship.
He didn’t answer. Instead they sat watching the sun play over the waves of the bay. Josh was aware of Rick drinking steadily from his flask and something twigged inside him. How was his old friend really coping with being back home, with his disability?
There was a change in the air of the party. Josh couldn’t put his finger on it but it felt like things got quieter, like someone was holding their breath. Slowly he turned and saw his cousin for the first time in several years. Since before he’d married Erin. Tom hadn’t changed at all. Still big and brawny with his hair a little too long and his face in need of a shave. As boys they’d gotten into their fair share of trouble. There hadn’t been this sense of competition. They’d always had each other’s backs. But that changed the day Josh had seen Erin laughing up at something Tom said, her face glowing as if Tom had hung the moon and stars. Tom had looked like he hadn’t a care in the world while Josh was burdened with trying to deal with the grief of losing his dad, being the new head of the family, finishing school, and being in the service.
For once he’d wanted something to come as easily for him as it had for good ol’ Tom.
But it had ceased to be about Tom when he’d actually gotten to know Erin. He’d lost the chip on his shoulder and fallen head over heels in love with her. For a long time he’d considered what happened more his fault than Tom’s. He wasn’t proud of himself for stealing Tom’s girl. Not even when Erin had insisted it was Josh she wanted to be with. He’d always borne a little bit of guilt—right up until he had proposed and Erin had accepted. And when Tom had stood up in the Rusty Fern and declared to the town of Jewell Cove that Erin was marrying the wrong man, it was the last straw.
Because he’d known, deep down, that despite what Erin said, there was something between her and Tom that Josh couldn’t compete with. If Tom had really wanted her, he could have had her. Tom always got what he wanted and the thought of losing Erin had made Josh afraid—a weakness he hated.
Tonight Tom wasn’t alone. A girl he didn’t recognize was beside him, her hand on his arm while the two of them shared a laugh with Jess. She was pretty in an understated sort of way; not Tom’s usual type by a long shot. Once again Josh felt like an outsider in his own family.
He got up from his chair, needing to burn some of his pent-up energy, and he found himself at the beer cooler again. He popped the top and took a long drink, trying to cool the resentment running through his veins. But it didn’t work. After all that had happened, Josh was here alone, and Tom had a pretty girl on his arm. All the talk of Tom grieving was a pile of horse shit. Erin had only been gone six months.
For a half hour they managed to avoid each other, though Josh was always aware of Tom and his mystery woman. They got something to eat and found chairs closer to the deck. Tom went to help Mark set up the fireworks while the woman sat and chatted to Bryce and Mary.
Tom had taken Josh’s place in the family. And why not? Josh had barely been home since marrying Erin and moving to Hartford. His resentment deepened. The fear of confronting Tom had played a large part in keeping him away. Josh had his pride, after all. Now he wondered if he’d ever belong here again.
* * *
Abby had taken ten minutes to change for the party while Tom waited. They’d picked out a granite countertop and gorgeous dark walnut cupboards for the kitchen, and she’d completely fallen in love with some slate-colored ceramic tile. The whole kitchen was going to have a makeover and shopping for samples had been exciting. Right up until the moment she realized it wasn’t going to be her kitchen at all. It would belong to whoever bought the house. That time was still a long way away, though. The more she discovered about her family, the more questions popped up. She was still trying to make sense of what she’d already unearthed in the attic. Trying to fit the puzzle pieces together. Something didn’t quite add up and she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Right now, though, she was in Tom’s cousin’s backyard, wearing a simple sundress and sandals, a light cardigan over her shoulders as the wind off the water cooled the air.
Tom never left her side for the first half hour. It was definitely feeling like a date as she first met his bubbly cousin Sarah, then his aunt Meggie, his parents Pete and Barb, and then a grinning Bryce and Mary and their gorgeous baby. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, but Abby was on edge just the same. It felt like Tom was going through the motions. He never touched her, his smile seemed fabricated rather than genuine. She met neighbors and family friends, but one introduction wasn’t made—not through mingling or as they grabbed something to eat.
Tom had not once spoken to his cousin Josh—the guest of honor. In fact, Abby was fairly certain Tom had avoided crossing paths with his cousin altogether.
She was about to ask him why when he said he was going to help Mark set up the fireworks.
Jess came over and brought her a serving of dessert—little jars filled with sponge cake, strawberries, and whipped cream. “You look like you could use this,” she said, handing Abby a spoon.
“I do?”
“You’re a little tense. Relax. You’re doing fine.”
“Jess, this isn’t a date…”
“Sure it’s not.” Jess grinned and scooped up some of her shortcake. “Tom’s been happier lately,” she observed. Abby watched as he and Mark laughed over something as they anchored the fireworks into the dirt. Happier? And Jess thought it had something to do with her? Something warm seemed to run through her veins at the thought, but she tried to tamp it down.
“He’s just enjoying working on the house,” Abby replied. “We both know I’m just h