Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Mandy ignored the look. “If your father really wanted him around, then why didn’t he come and apologize? For a father who spent time in the military, why the hell did he play favorites? You’re the good son, right? Can do no wrong?”

Mark’s brows furrowed together. “What the hell are you talking about? There wasn’t any favoritism!”

Mandy glared at him. Of course he wouldn’t see it as favoritism. Her sister would react the same way. They were blind to the mistreatment. “Carl told me everything. I honestly don’t blame him for staying away when your father was so awful to him.” She shook her head, disgusted. “His own father! Testifying against his son at the trial.”

“Because Carl deserved it!” Mark’s voice rose. “He nearly killed a kid!”

“He fought someone his own age to protect an innocent girl! Regardless, your father shouldn’t have sided against him. You think he would’ve done the same if it was you?”

“Yes!” Mark shouted and then lowered his voice. “Because what Carl did was wrong! It wasn’t noble like he wants you to believe!” Mark shook his head, staring at her with angry, dark eyes. “You know what? You should stay out of our family business.”

“Why? Because you and your father have spent so many years believing the tale you’ve told you can’t see it any other way? You can’t admit that maybe you were wrong? Too proud to apologize super-boy?” She stood, annoyed she had thought he was a sweet person. He played the part to use her to get Carl here.

“Shut the fuck up!” He seized her arm and clasped it painfully.

Suddenly, Carl appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed Mark by the collar, his eyes blazing as he threw him against the wall. He was in Mark’s face instantly. “Don’t ever touch her again,” he hissed, his voice deadly quiet. “Or I’ll kill you, I fuckin’ swear it.”

Mandy glanced up to see the nurses at the nurse’s station stand up. One lifted a phone, probably to call security. “Carl, Mark, both of you, calm down.” She reached for their arms and tried to pull them apart. Mark shook her off with a snarl, which angered Carl even more.

“Carl? Mark?”

“What?” both men shouted at an older, pale-faced nurse.

“Your father doesn’t have much time,” she said quietly. “He asked to see both of you.” She looked at them sternly. “I suggest you behave yourselves for a few minutes.”

Mark took a deep breath and stepped away from his brother to follow the nurse.

Carl grabbed Mandy’s hand and pulled her with him. Mandy let out a shaky breath. Tempers were running high and this didn’t look like it was going to be the happy family reunion she had hoped for.

Carl’s father looked incredibly frail, but his eyes, the same bright blue as Carl and Mark’s, were still alert, just like his sons’. He stared tiredly at both of his sons and then slowly wandered over to Mandy. He managed a smile, but even that simple move seemed to exhaust him. “You must be Mandy,” he wheezed. “I’ve heard so much about you from... both of them.”

“Dad, rest,” Mark said. “Don’t strain yourself.” He moved forward and reached for his father’s hand.

“It’s too late for that, son.” He waved his hand away. “I don’t have much time now. But I needed both of you here.” He breathed shallowly as he gathered his strength. “I made my peace with Carl. But I need both of you to promise me now that any issues with me won’t stop the two of you from having a relationship in the future.”

The brothers glared at each other and for a second Mandy was sure they were going to start arguing.

“Promise.” Their father’s voice was so faint that it was barely audible. “Please.”

“Fine,” Carl said. At the same time Mark said, “I’ll try.”

“Good.” The man closed his eyes, his breathing erratic. “I’m tired now.”

“Dad...” Mark whispered. “Wait.”

The nurse stepped forward. “How about we let your dad rest now?”

Mark nodded and headed out of the room with the nurse.

“Dad?” Carl leaned close to his dad’s ear. “I—I’m sorry. For everything.”

His dad smiled weakly, the effects of the drugs and cancer taking its toll. “You’ve nothing to apologize for. You turned out better than I ever could have imagined.”

Carl sharply sucked in his breath and a tear ran down his face. Mandy touched his arm and he pulled her close to him, his shoulders shaking.

They sat at the hospital in the room with his father, not talking, but holding hands and watching the monitor and his father’s shallow breathing. The doctor had explained that his father would slip into a coma now and probably not wake again. Carl nodded and asked a few questions. He had gone to the nurse’s station to make sure the medical bills and everything were covered as well. Mark came in sporadically and returned later in the evening with his wife. They made brief introductions and sat silently.

Carl pulled Mandy out into the hall to go for a walk while Mark and his wife stayed with his father. “My father gave me a letter,” he said as they walked down the stairs to the main floor to grab a coffee. He stopped on the second to last step. They were alone in the stairwell. “My mother passed away a little over ten years ago,” his voice cracked as he spoke. “That’s the last time I saw them. I swore I’d never come back.” He covered his face with his hands. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him as he cried. She let her own tears fall silently down her own face. She wished she could take his pain.

Finally, Carl inhaled a long breath and stepped back. He wiped his face and smiled sadly at her. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She used the back of her hand to erase her own tears. “It sucks. I get it.”

“Yeah. It sucks.” He frowned and reached for his phone in his pocket. He checked the messages. “It’s over.” He turned and headed back up the stairs to his father’s room.

“ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT to stay here tonight?” Mandy asked. They were back at the hotel suite despite Mark’s half-effort invitation to join him at their childhood home.

“I’m sure.” Carl sat on the couch, his voice scratchy from crying. He was turning the envelope from his father over and over in his hands.

“Do you want something to drink?” The bar in the room was stocked.

Carl shook his head and motioned for her to sit by him. He pulled her close when she sat down and rested his head on her shoulder. “All I need right now is you.”

Mandy stroked his hair. “What did the letter say?” she asked gently.

“Everything.” He let out a shaky sigh. “He tried to apologize and explain everything. He was sorry things had turned out as they had. He pushed me too hard and wished he hadn’t, but he also said he was glad he did. He worried I had turned down a dark path I couldn’t leave. He thought pushing me hard would motivate more. He said his father had done the same to him. That’s why he joined the Navy and then moved up the ranks so fast.” His breath hitched, but he continued. “He agreed to testify against me so they wouldn’t try me as an adult. If they tried me as a minor, then my records would be sealed when I turned eighteen, and I could have a fresh start. Everything he did, he did for me, and I had no idea. And I ignored him.” Fresh tears burned Mandy’s shoulder.

“You had no way of knowing,” Mandy said. “You made your peace with him. It’s okay.”

Carl shook his head. “It’s not okay,” he moaned. “I could’ve had more time with him if I really tried, but I...” He groaned and sat up, burying his face in his hands. “Again, this is all my fault.”

She lifted his chin and forced him to look at her. “You can’t change the past, Carl. All you can do is help the present and the future. And the best way to do that is to get back in touch with your family. Re-establish your relationship with your brother.”

“I’m going to try. For my father.” Carl pressed his lips tightly. “You can be damn well sure of that.”

It was after three o’clock. Neither of them went to bed. They stayed sitting on the couch, waiting for the sun to rise. Carl put his arm over the back of the couch and Mandy settled in against his shoulder. Slowly she drifted off, listening to the strong, steady beat of Carl’s heart.