Old Fashioned - Becker Brothers

“Sydney is a good woman,” she said when we finally pulled away. “I’m very glad you two found each other.”

I smiled, glancing inside where I could see her, her sister, and Paige in the living room with my brothers. “Me, too, Mom.”

“Don’t mess it up,” she warned, poking my chest.

I chuckled. “I’ll do my best.” Then, I held her arms in my hands for a moment, locking eyes with her. “Are you okay, Mom?”

She smiled. “I am. John is finally resting, and I think that means I can finally rest, too. I know we still have a long road ahead of us with all these lawyers and court dates and…” She paused, pressing a hand to her forehead as she looked back over the yard. “At least… we finally know the truth.” She looked at me pointedly then. “And, as always, my sons have proven to me how stubborn and determined they can be.”

“We should be detectives.”

She laughed, and then I hooked an arm around her shoulder and led us both inside.

Before I could get all the way in, Mallory swung an arm through mine that wasn’t holding Mom and turned me around.

“My turn, Brother.”

Mom winked at me, letting me go, and I ignored the funny feeling in my stomach at Mallory calling me brother, letting her guide me back out onto the porch. When we were alone, she leaned against the railing, wrapping her long sweater around her tight as she appraised me.

“You going to just pretend forever like we aren’t related?”

I sighed, tucking my hands in my pockets. “No, that wasn’t the plan, but I’ll admit, I’ve been trying to figure out what to say to you.”

“How about we don’t make a plan,” she offered. “How about we just be us — the same us we’ve always been. Except now, maybe a little closer.” She paused, smiling. “I’d like to get to know my oldest brother. Especially since the brother I’ve always known about isn’t exactly my favorite human being.”

I blanched at that, because for the first time, I realized that her brother, Malcolm, was also my brother now, too. He’d always been a huge pain in the ass for me and my brothers, and Noah had even nearly fought him in Buck’s bar not too far back.

I ran a hand over my head, looking out over the yard. “It’s so much to take in.”

Mallory pushed off the railing. “Hey, one thing at a time, alright?” She patted my shoulder. “I just wanted to clear the air and tell you that I’m here when you’re ready to talk more about it. Maybe we can sit down and go through family tree stuff.” She shrugged. “You know, I’m not in the best place right now either, so I’m fine with us both taking a little time.”

“It has to be hard for you,” I said. “Your dad being locked away like that, and everything he admitted to.”

She nodded, her gaze distant. “I knew he was a crooked man,” she said quietly. “I found that out the hard way when I was in high school. But… I don’t know. I guess I just never thought he could do something like that. And then Mom and Eli…” She paused, looking at me again. “And you.”

“I know,” I told her, and I didn’t have to say much else. Because she knew I did.

“I will say, I’m glad to have Mom back in my life.” She laughed to herself. “Maybe we’ll actually have a real relationship now, one where Dad isn’t running her like a puppet.” Mallory’s eyes were sincere when she found mine. “I think you’ll like her, when you’re ready to get to know her more. Something tells me my — er, our — mom has been through more than we give her credit for.”

I frowned on a nod, but didn’t reply. I wasn’t ready to embrace Mary with open arms, but I did open them to Mallory, pulling her in for a long hug before we headed back inside.

Later, on the Main Street drag, I stood on top of a float with my team, all of us donned in our school colors and passing the State Championship trophy around as our town cheered in victory. We tossed out beads and candy, signed autographs as if we were the superstars we felt like, and slipped into that bittersweet mindset of knowing we accomplished our biggest goal, but also that the season was over.

It felt like that in my life, too.

One season had ended, a new one beginning, and I knew without a doubt I would not be the same man I was in the last one.

It was a new beginning, a new era — for me, for my brothers, for my mom, and for this entire town.

Sydney stood beside me at the top of the float, smiling and throwing out candy, until she realized I was staring at her.