More than a Mistress

All three brothers laughed. Travis punched the pillows behind him and sat back. He felt better already. There was nothing like shared memories, even the bad ones, and the thought was enough to make him remember the reasons for this phone call.

"Okay, guys," he said. "I wish to hell we could avoid the topic but it's time for a reality check."

"The invitation," Slade said.

Gage sighed. "You got yours, too?"

"This morning, bright and early, same as Trav."

"Bright and early is right. Mine arrived at six," Travis said.

"Yeah." Slade laughed. "And interrupted you and your guest. Isn't that right, Trav?"

Travis shut his eyes and rubbed his forehead with his fist. "Oh, yeah," he said briskly, and choked out a laugh. "There's nothing like being awakened with an invitation to purgatory when you, uh, when you, when you're otherwise involved."

Gage and Slade laughed. "What a tough life he leads," Slade drawled.

"I'd expect some compassion from you, kid," Travis said, and quickly took the conversation elsewhere. "None from Gage, of course. He gave up his freedom years ago." His voice softened. "How's my girl, by the way? You still treating her right, or is she about ready to use that pretty head of hers and ditch you for me?"

"She's fine."

Travis's brows lifted. His brother's tone seemed strained. "You sure?"

"Yeah," Slade said. "You don't sound..."

"Listen, maybe you guys can horse around all day," Gage snapped, "but I've got things to do."

"Right," Slade said, after a minute. "Uh, look, Trav's already laid out the agenda. What are we going to do about this command performance the old man's got planned for the middle of the month?"

"Ignore it," Gage said firmly. "I've got—"

"Things to do," Travis said. "Yeah, I know. And I don't have any greater desire to go back to Espada for a dress rehearsal of King Lear than either of you guys, but—"

"Lear?" Slade said, sounding puzzled. "Hey, this is Texas we're talking about, not Stratford-on-Avon."

"Come on, Slade, you know what this is all about." Travis frowned and wondered how come he hadn't seen it sooner. "Jonas is starting to feel mortal."

"Our father's figuring on making it to one hundred, and you know what? My money's on him."

"Yeah, but I bet the old boy's looking around, taking stock of that little spread of seven zillion acres he calls home, sweet home, and figuring it's time he made plans on how to divvy up the kingdom."

"Well, I don't need to spend a miserable weekend on Espada to know that I don't give a damn how he does it," Gage said gruffly. "You two enjoy the party without me."

"Hold it right there, pal." Slade's voice rang with indignation. "I'm going to be in Baltimore that weekend."

"Or in the Antarctic," Travis said lazily, "anywhere it takes to avoid this shindig, right?"

"Wrong. I put in eight weeks on plans for a new bank, and I am not going to—"

"Dammit, Slade..." Travis took a deep breath, then blew it out. "Sorry, kid. I have no right to twist your arm."

"Forget it. Truth is, I was lying through my teeth. I could get out of the Baltimore thing, if I wanted."

"Amazing," Gage said softly. "Three grown men, all of us falling over our own feet in a rush to keep clear of the place where we grew up."

They talked some more, even laughed a little. Then Travis cleared his throat.

"The thing is, eighty-five is a pretty impressive number."

"The old man was never impressed by other numbers," Gage said bitterly. "Your eighteenth birthday. Slade's two years in grad school."

"Or your big fifth anniversary party," Travis said, "but what the hell, gentlemen, we're bigger than that, right?" Groans greeted the announcement, but Travis was undeterred. "We're young, he's old. That's a simple fact." His voice softened. "And then there's Caitlin."

"Yeah." Slade sighed. "I do hate to disappoint her."

"Me, too. But I just don't see a choice here," Gage muttered.

"Exactly," Travis said, in the tone of reason that had made him such a successful attorney. "There isn't any choice. The way I see it, we have to show up."

"No way," two voices said, in unison.

"Look, we're not kids anymore. Jonas can't get under our skin and make us miserable." Travis paused. He was pushing, he knew, but Catie really would be heartbroken if they didn't show. And, dammit, selfish or not, he needed this weekend with his brothers. "Think of the plus side. We get to swap war stories and put a smile on Catie's face at the same time. Is that really so much to ask?"