Cole by Brynn Hale

Author:Brynn Hale [Hale, Brynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

COLE

I grab the decanter. My nerves are standing on end inside of me. The golden-brown liquid flows over the ice cubes in long ribbons. My father had the best taste in whiskeys. My brothers and I chose one to have in December to remember him. This one is a Glenlivet XXV. I drink the glass far too fast and fill it again.

My brother Luke steps into the room. “Whoa…hitting the hard stuff already?”

“I need it.”

“You get hit on by that cheetah in fake fur, too?”

We rarely talked about the guests, but this one made quite the impression on all of us.

“She’s something else.”

“I’ve marked her account. She won’t be back.” He grabs the bottle.

“Thanks.”

Luke’s job as Marketing and Sales Director for the B&B and all the other businesses keeps him busy and sometimes, I wonder if he has too much on his plate. He needs an extra set of hands and I promise myself to hire him an assistant in the new year. We’ve had a good one. We can afford a part-timer to help him out.

“You ready for this?” I ask him. It will be his first year going without his high school sweetheart on his arm. She up and left Peacock Ridge and we don’t dare say her name. He doesn’t want to hear it.

“I’m fine.”

I chuckle. “You remember what Grandma used to say. ‘Fine’s for china and dining. Not people’.”

His youthful smile brightens his face and I remember the Luke from…before.

“Okay, I’m missing her.” He takes a long swig. “But today I’m missing Dad more.”

“Luke, Dad wouldn’t want us to linger on his death. That tractor accident wasn’t your fault. Dad just didn’t get the parking brake engaged. Accidents happen.”

“But I should’ve been out there with him. He asked me to help him and I kept telling him in a minute. In a minute. But there aren’t any more minutes, now, Cole. I can’t help but think of what sage advice Dad would have for me.”

“He would’ve told you to stop fucking moping and go to the dance. Dance with every girl there, drink a few cocktails, and enjoy yourself. You’ve done everything you could. Grace made a choice.”

“To destroy me.”

“Maybe she chose to save herself. Have you ever thought of that? We don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s head. You need to forgive.”

“How can you forgive someone when you really don’t know what you’re forgiving them for?”

“Forgiveness isn’t only for her…it’s for you, too, Luke.”

“Maybe someday.” He sighs and throws back the rest of his drink. “But not today.” He grabs a few chili-lime-coated peanuts out of the bowl. “So you’re all fancy tonight.”

I straighten my bowtie. “What? This little number? Just something I had in the closet.” I model it like I’m on the runway in New York City and Luke acts unimpressed.

“It’s Dad’s?” Luke asks while throwing a peanut in the air and catching it in his mouth.

“Yeah. Is that okay?” I still. I hadn’t thought about what my brothers would think. And that was one of my problems.

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