Fall by Winter

Something softened in his gaze. “You’re in love with him.”

I managed a wobbly little grin as a burst of emotion made my throat feel thick. “Very much. I understand it now. What you have with Kelly. I get it.”

He smiled ruefully and grabbed my hand, tugging me closer. “You know I want you to be happy, right?”

“I know.”

He wrapped me up in a tight hug and released a long breath. “It’s bittersweet to admit he’s better for you than I ever was. You have more in common,” he murmured. “He’ll probably enjoy barbecues with Sharon and…whatshisface.”

I snorted softly. “Jim.”

“Jim. Right.”

He was correct. Mason and Jim had already met, to boot. They’d picked up Sharon and me after spin class when the weather was awful, and we’d made loose plans to get together for dinner.

“I apologize for reacting the way I did earlier, Lis. I made the whole thing about me.”

“It’s okay.” I took a step back and peered up at him. “I didn’t react well to Kelly at first either.”

“Understandably,” he interjected.

“Even so. I get it.” I lifted a shoulder and smiled. “Please don’t worry about Brady and Aurora, though. We raised two fiercely loyal children, and regardless of how well they’ll get along with Mason, they know who their dad is.”

William nodded with a dip of his chin. “You’re right. I’ll talk to Aurora when we get home. I don’t want her to feel guilty about spending time with Mason.”

I squeezed his hand. “I appreciate that. He only wants to bring us all closer. I think you’ll like his idea for how we can spend holidays together, but I’ll let him tell you.”

“All right.” He looked like he was feeling better, thankfully. “Would you mind letting Mason know I’d like to talk to him? I don’t want him to think I’m going to cause any problems.”

“I’ll let him know right now.” Relieved and hopeful, I left the garage and kicked off my boots before I poked my head into the kitchen. “Mason, William would like a word.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He was trying to appear at ease, but I knew better. He was anxious to talk to his brother.

I returned to my seat next to Aurora and asked her to grab my phone from the charger in the window.

“I’m gonna give them a minute before I eavesdrop,” I explained.

“That’s honest,” Aurora offered. “Is everything okay?”

Kelly wanted the answer to that too.

“More than.” I touched her cheek. “It’s just an adjustment, and you know how your father gets overwhelmed sometimes.”

She nodded. “I think he’ll prefer this in the end. I mean, it could’ve been some stranger who fucked it all up.”

I spluttered a chuckle. “Do you think I would let anyone fuck up what we have?”

“True,” she conceded. “But still. Uncle Mason is one of us.” She stole my teaspoon from my coffee, as well as the knife in the butter, and hit the ends against the table. “One of us, one of us.”

Kelly and I laughed.

Easiest way to tell when people felt better was to witness the return of someone’s appetite. When Kelly loaded his plate with another cheese roll, blueberry muffin, and plenty of fixings, I figured he was a lot more relaxed now than before.

I took the opportunity to text Brady.

My dear son. How did you know about Mason and me?

“Kelly and Dad have some news to share too,” Aurora mentioned with a pointed look at Kelly.

“Oh yeah,” he said around a mouthful of food. “We’ve picked a date and venue.”

“Well, finally!” I set down my phone, even though I could see Brady was typing, because this was much more interesting. “We’ve been waiting, hon. When and where?”

“It was my genius idea, for the record,” he said. “Don’t let Will tell you otherwise.”

“Noted,” I chuckled.

He smiled and bit into the blueberry muffin. “Next May, up near Point Douglas.” Oh, that could be lovely. It was up the mountainside; there was an old lighthouse with an amazing view of the town, the whole bay, and the Chinook Islands. “When we were kids, Will and I carved our names in a tree and promised each other to be best friends forever there.”

“Aww, that’s precious.” That melted me a bit. “Can I assume it’s going to be a small wedding?”

He lifted his brows, and okay, I shouldn’t have asked. Of course it would be small. These two men loved playing hermits.

“Other than our family, we’re looking at maybe ten guests,” he said. “Just our little group of friends from school and their partners.”

I knew very well who they were. I’d had to force William to spend time with them back when he wasn’t feeling well. He’d had no motivation to go out, but even though he tired easily, he’d come home with slightly higher spirits after seeing them.

I smiled teasingly. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that Adam will take care of the food.” He was one of their childhood friends, and he happened to run my favorite steakhouse in town.