Tainted

by Tess Thompson

  The weather was as nice as the day before. They sat on his deck with their beers and looked at the blue sea. The faint sound of seagulls’ cries and crashing waves broke the silence of the autumn afternoon.

  They clinked their beer bottles.

  “I wish Dad was here,” Lance said. “Can you imagine him with a little granddaughter?”

  “I can.” Brody lifted his beer up to heaven. “I know he’s up there watching, though.”

  They watched the afternoon sun lower over the horizon. A beer had never tasted as good as it did this afternoon.

  “For years now, I’ve been trying to remember the last thing Dad said to us,” Lance said. “It was like this black hole in my memory. But yesterday morning, after Faith was born, it came to me.”

  “Yeah?” Brody’s gaze didn’t move from the sea, but his fingers fluttered.

  “He said the best days of his life were when we were born. And you joked, not the Super Bowl?”

  “And he said, not even close,” Brody said.

  “That’s right.”

  “I was such an idiot back then I had no idea how anything could be better than winning the Super Bowl. But I was wrong.”

  Lance lifted his beer in a toast. “Here’s to growing up. To fatherhood.”

  “Here’s to Dad. May we do it half as well as he did.”

  “Amen, brother.”

  The grind of cars pulling into the driveway beckoned to them. They went inside to join their families.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Mary

  * * *

  THE GRANDPARENT BRIGADE, as Kara had called them, descended like the grasshoppers on the prairie grasses in the Little House books. Except the grasshoppers didn’t bring presents like grandparents did. Flora and her dad brought a darling knit hat with a pink crocheted flower. They insisted on putting it on her immediately, even though the hat dwarfed Faith’s tiny head. Janet and Doc were equally enamored and seemed pleased they’d brought an entire outfit rather than just a hat.

  While they passed Faith around from one to the other, Mary slipped into the dining room to grab a few bottles of wine to go with the lasagna and salad Kara had brought for dinner. She stared at the wine cabinet, unsure what to choose. At the sound of footsteps, she turned. Brody smiled and gestured toward the wine. “Need some help?”

  “That would be great. I have no idea what goes with lasagna.”

  “I’m not sure what he has in here, but I bet we can find a nice Merlot or Malbec.” He strolled over and ran his fingers down the rows of bottles, like the labels were in braille. She’d noticed this before. Brody Mullen was a tactile man who seemed to read the world through the connection to his flesh and muscles. He and his cerebral brother were different in this way and many others, yet they shared the same qualities of decency and curiosity.

  She watched as he picked one bottle and then the other. “I need to send some decent wine over here,” he said.

  “There’s nothing good? I don’t know anything about wine.”

  “Decent, but not great.” He smirked as he set the bottles on the dining room table. “We like great in this family.”

  She met his gaze with a smile. “Such high standards. I don’t know that I’m worthy.”

  “You are.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a wine opener. “Does he have a decanter anywhere?”

  She pointed to the cabinet below the wine. “In there, I think.”

  He knelt and came up with two. At the table, he yanked the corks from one bottle then the other. “I’m sorry for all the stuff I said that night. I feel like a heel.”

  “I didn’t exactly give you a reason to like me,” she said.

  “Even so, I acted like a jerk when I should’ve been supportive of my brother’s choices. It was like I couldn’t see anything but red. Not a nice red like this wine—more the color of hot coals.”

  Red. That was a great way to describe the rage she’d felt when her dad had decided to upend his life and marry a woman he hadn’t seen for forty years. “I know what that’s like.”

  “Flora and your Dad?”

  “I’m not proud of how I’ve acted. All I can say is it felt disloyal to my mother to accept anyone else in my dad’s life.”

  “Kara assured me it’s no excuse, but I’ve always been protective of Lance, especially after my dad died. And, truthfully, he’s never had the greatest taste in women.” He tipped the bottle of merlot into one of the decanters. The wine gurgled as it filled the glass container. “Until now, that is. Bottom line, you make him happy and that’s all I care about.”

  “We fit together, strange as it seems.”

  “I see it now.” He tipped the second bottle into the waiting decanter. “All I wanted was for Lance to have what I have with Kara. The way this all went down made me worry that wasn’t the case with you two.”

  “Honestly, I can understand exactly how you felt. A marriage of convenience is not what I would want for someone I loved. But it’s not that way between us. It never really was.” She flushed, embarrassed, but continued, knowing how important it was that Brody understand. “I’m a hard person to love. I’ve made it hard anyway.”

  “I get that. Ask Kara how I acted when we first met.”

  He grabbed two wine glasses and poured them each a small amount of the merlot. “Here, we should try these and make sure they haven’t turned. I told him to get a wine fridge, but he said they were pretentious.”

  She laughed. “Yet, he loves to fly first class.”

  “My brother’s nothing if not a walking dichotomy. Maybe I’ll get one for you as a wedding gift.”

  She sniffed the wine in her glass. The scent was pungent. “I might get drunk from the fumes.”

  Brody lifted his glass. “Here’s to a fresh start for you and me.”

  “To family.”

  They clinked glasses. She took a tentative sip and almost choked. “I haven’t had alcohol for a long time, so I have no idea if this is good or not.”

  He chuckled and drank from his glass. “Tastes fine.”

  “When I think about how much has changed for me since I moved here, it’s hard to get my head around it. But I’m grateful to Flora for bringing me to your family, to Lance. Even though it was a lot of change, it’s exactly what I needed.”

  “I hate change.”

  “Just when I get used to things a certain way, they change.” Mary set aside her glass. She might have more at dinner but right now, it didn’t taste good to her. “It’s hard to find my footing.”

  “I feel you.” Brody poured a small amount from the other decanter into his glass. “This year’s been tough that way. I’ve felt like a wanderer in a strange land. Maybe a bit like Gulliver, confused and clumsy.”

  “Have you decided what you want to do next?” she asked.

  “I’m in talks with a few of the networks about becoming a football commentator. There are also a few offensive coordinator coaching jobs I have my eye on. Depending on how the season plays out, there could be turnover. All that said, those jobs would require a lot of travel. Kara doesn’t want me away from home that much. Especially now.”

  Lance poked his head inside the doorway. “Are you two hoarding all the wine?”

  “You need a wine fridge,” Brody said.

  “You need your own jet.”

  “Good idea.” Brody offered his arm to Mary. “May I escort you to dinner?”

  Kara’s lasagna melted in her mouth. Mary ate hungrily, despite worrying that her stomach still looked pregnant. After she finished her piece, she eyed the glass casserole dish that held the remainder. Should she?

  Lance, like he did, knew her thoughts. “Honey, it’s been one day. You can’t expect to immediately be back in your regular clothes. Eat the pasta.”

  She grinned and did as suggested. Still, she thought longingly of her former wardrobe, waiting impatiently for her to come back to them.

  Kara distracted her from this line of thinking when she cleared her th
roat and said they had an announcement.

  “We found out we’re having a boy,” Kara said, beaming.

  “Oh, how wonderful,” Janet said. “I loved having boys.”

  “Great news, kids,” Doc said.

  “They’ll still grow up together, even if Faith’s a little older,” Kara said. “Just like we wanted.”

  “I’m so glad,” Mary said.

  “Zane and Honor’s baby will be along around the same time,” Brody said. “We almost have enough for a football team.”

  “Violet and Kyle have certainly done their part,” Lance said.

  “You two will simply have to catch up,” Flora said. “There’s no reason to let that rascal Kyle Hicks get the better of you.”

  “Last time I checked, it wasn’t a competition,” Brody said.

  Flora shrugged, nonchalantly. “All I’m saying is they’ve gotten quite a head start on the rest of you. Not to mention, Zane has Jubie plus another one on the way. One baby each seems paltry.”

  “If I didn’t know you were kidding, I’d be horrified right now,” Lance said, laughing.

  “I don’t think she is,” Brody said.

  “The Mullen boys shouldn’t be outdone. I’m merely thinking of your mother. She’s waited such a long time for grandbabies,” Flora said. “That’s my only point.”

  Dax shook his fork at Flora. “Didn’t we talk about how some things should be kept inside your head, not spoken out loud?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Flora turned her attention back on Lance. “You haven’t had a bite of salad, young man.”

  Lance picked up his fork and stabbed a cucumber. “If I eat three bites can I have dessert?”

  “Four,” Flora said.

  Everyone burst into laughter. Mary stole quick glances at the faces gathered around their table. This was family, community, a tribe in which to belong. Home. She imagined all the events to come. Football games on the lawn at Thanksgiving, visits to Santa, Easter egg hunts, trick or treating. There would be pirate and princess birthday parties and first dates and graduations. It was no longer only the two of them like it had been since her mother had died. The Mullen family had returned them to life.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Flora said. “That perhaps Lance and Mary might like a wedding.”

  “We had a wedding,” Lance said. “With Elvis. Hard to beat that.”

  “But wouldn’t you like your mother to have a real wedding?” Flora asked.

  Lance turned to his mother. “Do you want a wedding?”

  Janet lifted one shoulder in a noncommittal way. “It’s whatever you kids want.”

  Her dad caught her eye. “What about you, sweetheart? Do you want another wedding?”

  Did she? The last one had been rushed and, well, fake. A real wedding with everyone they loved in attendance might be nice. There was the dress. That beautiful dress.

  “I might like to wear the dress again. If it ever fits again.” She looked over at Lance. “What do you want?”

  “I’d like to see you in that dress again.” Lance winked at her.

  “There was a dress?” Flora scowled at Lance. “You had a wedding with a dress? That doesn’t sound like an elopement to me.”

  “Lance arranged it rather quickly,” Mary said.

  “I’m a detail, guy,” Lance said. “I wanted Mary to have a dress.”

  “He made it happen when no one else could’ve,” Mary said.

  “I’d like to get married in our little church in town,” Lance said.

  “I’d like to see my little girl walk down the aisle toward the right man,” Dax said. “If she were so inclined to indulge her old dad.”

  “If it would mean that much to everyone,” Mary said. “Then let’s do it.”

  “And then a reception at our house,” Kara said.

  “We’d have to wait until spring,” Mary said. “Until after our nephew comes.”

  “Why?” Kara asked.

  “Because if you were to say…accept my request to be my maid of honor…it might be nice to be done with pregnancy for a while.”

  “Really? You want me?” Kara asked.

  “Who better than my sister?”

  Kara flew around the table and pulled her into a hug. “It would be my absolute honor, and yes, it would be much better to be able to fit into a regular sized dress.” She patted her bump as she returned to her seat. “Right now, things are going the opposite direction.”

  “It’s settled then,” Flora said. “We’ll have to start planning right away.”

  “Mary’s going to be busy with the baby,” Lance said. “And the shop.”

  “No worries. I’ll take care of everything,” Flora said. “I need a little project to keep me busy while Dax golfs with Doc all the livelong day.”

  Mary made a face at Kara. Rescue me.

  “As her maid of honor, I’d like to help too,” Kara said. “And Mary probably has ideas of what she wants.”

  “We can all do it together,” Janet said, clearly catching on. “But yes, whatever Mary wants, we will do. We’ll be your minions, sweetheart.”

  “Something small and simple will be fine,” Mary said. “When the flowers bloom.”

  Faith burbled from the cradle. Lance shook his head when she moved to get up. “I’ve got her. You eat.” He gathered the baby and held her against his chest, smiling down at her. “It’s a pity Elvis won’t be there for this wedding.”

  “We could fly him in,” Brody said.

  “I think we can do without him,” Mary said.

  “As long as you’re sticking with the same groom, I don’t care what you do,” Lance said.

  “No one else will do,” she said. “Not even Elvis.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lance

  * * *

  ON A DAY in the middle of October, Lance held Mary’s hand as they made their way across the parking lot of Zane’s new brewery. Near the entrance, they stopped to peer at the signage above the double doors.

  The Dogs Brewery.

  Before they went in, Lance turned to look at the expansive lawn, flattened for warm weather activities such as frisbee, volleyball, and badminton. Further out, a baseball field lay waiting for its young players. Stone paths led to several gas fire pits. Picnic tables were interspersed across the lawn.

  Beside him, Mary shivered. The weather had cooled the past few weeks, especially at night, but Mary had insisted on wearing a sleeveless dress. It was the only one from her pre-pregnancy wardrobe that had a forgiving middle, she’d said after a few tears and a pile of dresses lay in wreckage on the bed. He’d had to talk fast to convince her that she was beautiful, and after all, it had only been a month since she’d given birth, and she’d be back to her normal weight in just a few more weeks.

  In truth, she’d never looked lovelier. If there was a little extra flesh around her middle, he couldn’t see it. He loved her in the red and flowy dress she wore. Those strappy sandals showed off her slender legs.

  This was their first night away from the baby. Mary had only ventured out of the house to visit Kara or do a quick run to town for groceries, and always with the baby attached to her. Their days and nights consisted of feedings and changings and naps. Not that he minded. The days had passed in a happy, dazed, exhausting blur.

  Four weeks in, they weren’t hopeful that a full night’s sleep was happening anytime soon.

  He rubbed his hands over her arms, hoping to warm her. “You’ve never looked prettier than you do tonight.”

  “It feels good to be out and dressed, wearing makeup with clean hair.” She stuck her bottom lip out in a mock pout. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a mess.”

  “You’ve not been a mess. You’re feeding another human being.” He kissed her. “To me, you’re always beautiful.”

  “Do you think she’s okay? Should I call Flora to check?” she asked.

  “Flora will have her potty trained by the time we get home.”

&nb
sp; She laughed and tossed her hair behind her back. “You’re right. Let’s just have fun.”

  “Tequila?”

  “Very funny.”

  He opened the wide door and held it for her as she passed by him.

  “Oh, Lance, look at it.”

  He almost ran into her as she stopped abruptly just feet from the doorway, clutching her handbag to her chest.

  Zane had decided on a casual, almost industrial feel for the interiors, leaving the space open so that patrons had only to look up to see the shiny surfaces of the actual brewery. A long bar ran the length of the room. Both family style and intimate bistro tables were scattered about or set in front of the large stone fireplace. Lance knew from his earlier tour that there were enclosed spaces for private parties to the left, as was the kitchen. Out back a covered patio with the same stone from the entrance provided more spaces to dine or drink.

  The official opening was tomorrow, but Zane had asked the Dogs and their wives to come for a preopening party. They were the last to arrive. Not surprising, given the tears and pile of dresses they’d left behind.

  Their friends were gathered around the fire. The moment the ladies spotted Mary, they all descended, exclaiming how pretty she looked and asking if she was dying for wine.

  He let the girls lead Mary away with strict instructions to Violet to make sure she had some fun.

  “Challenge accepted,” Violet said.

  Honor stayed back as the others walked toward the bar. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “I love you. I hope you know that.”

  “What’s that for?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just the passage of time these days. “Time slips away. I want to make sure I tell people how I feel when I still can.”

  “You think you love me now, just wait. I have a little surprise for you.” He motioned for his brother to join them. Brody bounded over.

  He’d called Brody earlier to tell him the news. They’d reached the goal on Honor’s secret fund. It was time to tell her.

  “What’s the surprise?” Honor asked.

  “Should we get Zane too? He’s her husband now,” Lance said. “Fifty-fifty and all that.”