by Nikki Bloom
But there was something I could feel that was unmistakable – the warmth of Poppy’s skin. She was holding my hand. I couldn’t be sure, but I think she was talking, too. Was there someone else with her?
I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital room. The ceiling looked like it was a thousand feet above my head. Everything else was a blur. No doubt they had pumped me with pain medication. Apparently, they weren’t strong enough because when I went to turn my head, it threatened to burst with a jackhammer headache. Knowing I didn’t want to experience that skull-splitting pain again, I kept still, letting my eyes close. The bright light wasn’t doing me any favors either.
“He refused to move. It was idiotic but he placed his life before mine.” Poppy’s came through, clear as crystal. She was definitely recounting the events of the nights but to whom? The police? The doctors? “I never thought he would do something so reckless for my sake.” Poppy squeezed my hand.
I wanted to return the gesture, but I was still too weak to move. How much blood had I lost? It felt like there wasn’t a single drop left in my body.
Someone got up. I could feel them approach the bed. Their presence was accompanied by a familiar scent – maple syrup and pine.
Gramps? I wanted to speak, but with my mouth so dry, I couldn’t part my lips to utter a single syllable.
“Connor was always a very ambitious lad. After his mother died and his father left to find another wife, he turned to hard work for distraction. He wanted to pull himself up by the bootstraps and make a place for himself in the world. Deep down, he was heartbroken that his father would abandon him, but I never did see him shed a tear.”
“Neil was a different matter.” It was my grandmother. Her voice was a bit raspy like she in the process of fighting off a cold. Lately, her health had taken a nosedive.
I felt guilty about postponing my trip to Maine. There was always so much work to be done and there was never a good time to go. Well, I didn’t care what was on my schedule, I would make time.
“He was a sensitive boy. When his father left, he sobbed for days, begging us for answers, but of course, we couldn’t tell him the truth. He became bitter – resentful – he stopped listening to us. It was quite a handful trying to raise that boy and yet, I fear, it wasn’t enough. I’ve watched the two brothers grow apart and it kills me. I want nothing more than for them to laugh together like they once did – to put their differences aside and act like family.”
There was a knock from somewhere in the room.
“Neil?” my grandparents said in unison.
“How is he?” Neil asked. “I heard about what happened. He’s going to make it, right?”
“The doctors say he’ll be fine. He might need a bit of physical therapy to get his arm back to full mobility, but the bullet failed to go through anything important, so he was lucky in that regard.” As Poppy spoke, she brought a wet sponge to my forehead. It felt good against my burning skin.
I opened my eyes.
Poppy gasped. “You’re awake.” She blinked like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. “He’s awake!”
I tried to smile but wasn’t sure if I had managed it. Save for the throbbing in my temples, the rest of my face was numb.
Suddenly, Poppy had her arms around me.
I winced. The pain was enough to knock the wind right out of me, but I didn’t want her to let go. It felt so good to know that she was safe – that I still had plenty of time to hold her and tell her how much I loved her.
“You had us worried for a minute there, sonny,” said Gramps.
“Oh, Connor…” My grandmother started to cry, dabbing the corners of her eyes with my grandfather’s handkerchief. “I don’t know what I would have done…”
“Come on, Henrietta, let’s give them some space.” Gramps took her by the shoulders and away from the bed. I could still hear my grandmother crying while she was out of sight.
“How do you feel?” asked Poppy. “Do you want me to call the nurse?”
“In a minute,” I said. “I need some time with my brother.”
Poppy looked hesitant to leave me, but after a moment, she nodded her head and left my bedside, joining my grandparents.
“I want to know why you’re here.”
Neil rubbed the back of his neck and stood awkwardly at the foot of my bed. “You’re my brother,” was all he said in response. He had yet to look me in the eye.
I waited. For once, I wanted us to have a civil conversation. We had been at each other’s throats for too long. It was time for us to make amends, for if getting shot had taught me anything it was a lesson of perspective. Time is too precious. Holding a grudge does nothing but waste the time you might spend with someone you love. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” I said, breaking the ice. “I haven’t always been the best brother and I realize that, but I’ve been a hardass all these years because I wanted you to be better – to set out and make something for yourself, but I never stopped to consider that maybe we’re different people and just want different things in life.”
Neil shook his head. “You shouldn’t be the one apologizing. I’ve been a pain in the butt, I know that. I haven’t been the greatest brother in the world, either, but I always felt like I was living in your shadow and it sucks to always feel like you’re second best.”
His words touched home. “I had no idea…”
“I’m not blaming you. I should have said something, but instead, I kept it all inside. I think that’s why we drifted so far apart. But I’d like to put that all that behind us and start over. What do you say? Can we go back to being twins?” Neil held out his hand.
“Not going to happen,” I said.
“What?”
“I’m not going to shake your hand. You’re my brother, now come over here and give me a hug.”
Neil chuckled. “Are you sure about that? I don’t want to be responsible for your medical bills if I fuck you up.”
“Shut up and come here.” It felt good to make amends with my brother. Losing a twin to all the arguments had been like losing a part of myself. “Oh, and one more thing. I’m going to need you to be the best man at my wedding.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Speaking of deals, I have an announcement to make.” My grandfather had a voice that commanded attention. Everyone looked his way, waiting for whatever he was about to say next. “I’ve been made aware that your engagement with this young lady has been a ploy to get the family business from your brother because you thought that you’d be a better fit when it comes to managing the company. No offense to you, Neil, but I believe Connor is right. He has experience whereas you do not.”
I saw Neil’s shoulders sag.
“However, I run a family business and I intend to keep it that way. You two will own the company fifty-fifty and work together. Should there be any disagreement between the two of you, it is your problem to solve.”
Neil and I exchanged a look. “What do you think?” he asked. “Would you mind having me as a business partner?”
“I might be tempted to throw you out a window a few times, but I think we can make this work.” Everyone in the room laughed. “Oh, and we’re going to have to buy you a suit. I can’t have you running around in those skinny jeans. It would be a disgrace to the family name.”
“Not going to happen,” said Neil. “I’m not going to have you cramping my style. Besides, who says skinny jeans can’t be a part of corporate casual?”
21
Poppy
“Mind if I give you a hand?” Connor’s in-house nurse had just arrived to change his bandaging, and not wanting to get in the way I had snuck into the kitchen to find his grandmother peeling potatoes.
“Not at all,” she said with a smile. “I’m making a pot roast. It used to be their favorite growing up. Hopefully, their tastes haven’t changed over the years. It’s really been quite a while since I cooked for the entire family. I miss when they were still
just little tykes running around my skirt. Oh, we used to bake all sorts of things back then – cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls.”
I was happy to listen to Henrietta as she went down memory lane. It made me feel like I was getting to know Connor on a whole new level. Sure, I had seen him as a businessman and as a lover but never as a carefree child. “Were they troublemakers?” I asked.
“Most definitely,” she answered. “When they put their heads together, they caused all sorts of havoc. They were inseparable during all their scheming.” She seasoned the meat with a blend of different herbs and spices before putting it in the oven. “I truly hope that this is the start of their renewed friendship. It was always so heartbreaking to know that they were at odds with one another; I think family should always stick together.” She cleaned her hands with a dishcloth before pouring a glass of wine for herself, reaching to grab another glass. “Would you care for some?”
“No, thank you.” I finished peeling the potatoes. “How do you want these?”
“Just as they are is fine. I’m going to roast them with a butter garlic sauce.”
“Sounds delicious.” Passing on the wine, I grabbed a diet soda from the fridge.
“What about you, dear? Do you have any siblings?”
“None,” I said. “Like Connor and Neil, my father left. My mother raised me as best she could, but she was a sick woman and never engaged in another relationship. She would always say that I was her number one priority, but I think she was just too exhausted to deal with the headache that comes with dating. By the time I was ten, her illness took a turn for the worse and I was often the one taking care of her. The only time I got to be a kid was when I visited my friend Jenna.”
Henrietta nodded. “Sweet girl. I’ve only met her a half dozen times as her father tends to keep his distance. I think he regrets leaving the boys.”
“It’s strange how things work out, isn’t it? What are the odds that I would fall for my friend’s half-brother? I didn’t even know Connor existed until the wedding.”
“Some things are just meant to be,” said Henrietta.
“So, you aren’t upset that Connor and I faked an engagement to try and take the family business? I will be the first to admit that it was selfish on both counts. Connor thought himself better than his brother and I was hoping to snag myself a mansion. We were really making a disgrace of what marriage stands for.”
“And now?”
I went to speak but couldn’t, not quite sure what she was asking.
“Are you still hoping to snag yourself a mansion?”
“No,” I answered without hesitation. “I couldn’t care less about the mansion. All that matters to me is that I keep living alongside Connor. We could move to a cave with nothing but a fire between us and I’d still be the luckiest girl in the world. I never thought I would fall in love with him when we first made our little arrangement, but now there’s no denying it. He’s taken up residence in my heart and I never want him to leave that home. The only thing that scares me is that it all happened so quickly.”
Connor’s grandmother swirled her wine and took a sip. There was a shimmer to her eyes causing the flecks of gold around her irises to shine brighter. “I can tell you one thing – my grandson loves you. He risked his own life to keep you safe.” She adjusted the temperature on the oven. “I’ve always been worried that his work would get in the way of him finding a partner. He drowns himself behind the desk, but I think he’s finally found something more important than that.”
I blushed. “Do you truly mean that?”
“I do.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Poppy.”
At that moment, I felt like I truly belonged. It was no longer a matter of pretending. Everything had managed to work itself out. The family business was being shared by the two brothers. Connor’s grandparents were supportive of our relationship. And there was no longer any doubt in my heart regarding Connor’s fidelity.
“I have a question.”
“I might have an answer,” said Henrietta.
“How did you know you were in love with your husband? That he was the man you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?”
“I just knew.” She peered into the living room where the boys were playing cards. Connor seemed to be losing because there was a deep scowl on his face. Neil, on the other hand, had a pile of chips stacks on his side of the table. “It was like something had clicked. I can’t really describe it, but I think you know what I mean.”
“I do,” I whispered. “It’s like I’ve spent my entire life with this missing part of my soul and now, finally, it’s whole. I’m exactly who I was always meant to be.”
22
Connor
“Someone here is cheating,” I said.
“Or perhaps your luck has run out. I mean, count your blessings. The bullet missed all the important parts of your shoulder. You really can’t expect your luck to hold out for a poker game. It must be exhausted.” Neil kept checking his cards even as he spoke. Either he had a really good hand, or he was trying to make us think he did. “But complaining isn’t going to help you. Are you in or are you out?”
The odds were against me and I didn’t want to risk playing a bluff, so I folded.
“How are you doing?” Poppy appeared with an ice-cold drink in her hand. “Sorry, it’s just soda. With all the medication you’re taking, I can’t have you drinking alcohol.”
“Do you really think a splash of rum is going to kill me?”
“I’m not about to take that chance,” she said. “Now, are you boys almost done? The food is on the table. I might be wrong, but I don’t think Henrietta is the kind of woman you want to keep waiting. I’ve seen the way she handles a knife.”
I expected my grandfather to say something, but with his face as blank as a piece of marble, he doubled his bet, waiting for Neil to counter. My brother grinned and pushed his whole stack of chips to the center of the table. “I’m all in.”
“That’s a bold move,” said Poppy. “Are you sure you want to do that?” She had peeked over my grandfather’s shoulder, seeing his cards.
“It’s too late now.” I leaned back in my chair waiting for the reveal. “Pocket aces,” I said, slapping my knee as Gramps lay down his hand, a slightly bemused look on his face. “The old man still has the magic touch.”
Neil looked thunderstruck.
“We are going to have to work on your poker skills before we get your working on any negotiations. If you jump into situations so eagerly, you’re going to get burnt.”
“Lecture me later.” Neil was too bummed to listen to me. He dragged his feet into the kitchen. My grandfather was next to follow, leaving me alone with Poppy. It was the first time since the accident. As if we were both waiting for this moment, we leaned into one another, lips coming together in a sweetness that spoke of our future together – a future founded not on some scheme but on actual emotion.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “It was stupid of me to fake an engagement.”
She shook her head. “It was that stupid idea that got us under the same roof. Without it, who’s to say we would be together now?” She kissed me again, our lips dancing to the tunes of our hearts. “I do not regret a thing,” she said as she breathlessly pulled away, fingertips tracing the side of my face. “All I ask is that we change the terms of our agreement.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t want this mansion.” She swept her arm around us, motioning to all the luxuries that could have been hers. “All I want is to be wherever you are.” She paused. “And maybe have you put in a good word with your grandmother so I can work at one of her salons.”
“Do you not like working as my personal assistant?”
“I do, but life is too short for me to be doing anything other than what I love.”
“I’m right here and yours for the taking,” I said with a wink.
“You do realize that your family is in the other room, don
’t you?”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Sure, but there’s one thing I have got to say before we join them.”
“And what might that be?”
“I love you.”
“How nice of you to join us,” said Neil. His plate was heaping with pot roast but he had yet to touch his meal. If I had to guess, my grandmother had threatened to hit him with a wooden spoon if he dared to start without me. “What were you two doing in there, anyway?” He was looking at Poppy who was red in the face. Hearing me say those three little words had nearly brought her to tears and I’ll admit, hearing her say them back excited me in a way I wouldn’t soon forget.
“Never mind that,” my grandmother interjected. “Take a seat, both of you, before the food gets cold.”
We did what we were told and for the first few minutes, no one said a word. Neil was stuffing his face. Poppy still had this dazed expression plastered on hers. As for my grandparents, I had never seen them look happier. No doubt, when they had taken the trip to California, they had thought it would end in tragedy – that they would find their grandson horribly injured, maybe even dead. Surely, they hadn’t expected for my brother and me to make amends or for Poppy to be part of the picture. If I had known things would have worked out this way, I would have gotten shot long ago.
“I would like to propose a toast,” I said, holding up my glass. “To family and whatever the future may bring to our table.”
“Cheers.” Everyone clinked their glasses around the table. I smiled at the sound because I knew it was the signal of a new start. I’d make my grandparents proud by carrying on the family business and I’d do so alongside my brother, learning to work with the differences that defined us instead of fighting against it and severing our bond. And Poppy? Well, I had a feeling that we were about to enter that honeymoon phase so many people like to talk about.
