Fortunately, Joe didn’t start a fight. Chest rising and falling fast, he sent an accusing glare at his sister, as if she must’ve revealed his situation, and stormed out. A second later, his truck’s engine roared to life and tires squealed as he peeled down the drive.
“Wow,” Gail breathed, and crumpled into a chair at the kitchen table.
Prepared to defend himself further, Simon whirled to confront her. He thought she might be upset that he wasn’t willing to tolerate her brother’s abuse, but her next words surprised him.
“Good job.”
“Good job?” he repeated. “I just pissed off your brother.”
“He was pissed off to begin with. He’s probably been waiting to do that to you ever since I told him we were getting married.”
Simon gave himself a couple of seconds to process the fact that she wasn’t going to turn on him. “But now he hates my guts.”
“That’s okay. At least he understands that he can’t push you around. Respect is more important than anything else. Respect will create a foundation. But, just so you don’t walk into something you aren’t prepared for in the future, you need to be aware that he has his limits.”
“So do I,” he grumbled.
She regarded him quizzically “How did you know?”
He had no idea what she was talking about. “What?”
“That he’s been married before. That Suzie left him.”
“There’s a picture of him with a woman and two little girls hanging in the hallway.”
“Oh…right.” She nodded. “Of course. But he could’ve left her.”
“I figured he wouldn’t be living here if that was the case.”
“I see.” She studied him. “It’s going to be tough settling in.”
“I can handle it,” he said. “Don’t worry about me.” But he was suddenly craving alcohol so badly it was all he could do not to head for the closest bar or liquor store. “Let’s get out of here, go to dinner.”
She hesitated. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Fine.”
“There’s a good Italian place around the corner.”
“Great. Maybe there’s a casino nearby, too.”
“As a matter of fact, there is. Some of the locals work there, but I’m not sure that’s the best place for you to go.” She picked up her purse. “Still on the hunt for an acceptable vice?”
He pulled her car keys from his pocket. “I need some kind of distraction. And I’m guessing you don’t want to provide it.”
* * *
“What happened to his hand?”
Gail sat at the kitchen table, only now it was her father who stood at the sink. She’d had Simon drop her off after dinner. Although she wasn’t happy about the risks involved, he’d insisted on heading to the casino. He said he needed a break, some time alone. She’d finally agreed because she knew she’d ensure the failure she was trying to avoid if she smothered him or pressed him too hard. Besides, she’d wanted some private time with her family, felt that might take the edge off their reaction to her marriage, but Joe hadn’t yet returned. “He had an accident with a power saw.”
The smell of the coffee her father had just put on filled the room as he eyed her skeptically. “Are you sure he didn’t get in another fight? Go after his ex-wife’s brother again?”
She scowled. “I’m sure,” she said, and left it at that. The details wouldn’t help convince Martin she’d made a good match.
With a click of his tongue, he shook his head. “What were you thinking, marrying someone like him, Gail?”
“Someone like him?” she echoed.
“Someone so shallow…and reckless…and stupid…”
Since he seemed to be searching for more adjectives, she stopped him before he could continue. “Simon is anything but stupid.” The other things made Gail defensive, too. Coming into their “deal,” she’d felt the same irritation and repugnance for Simon’s behavior as her father did. She’d sympathized completely with Bella. But Simon’s lack of action when he cut his hand had made her realize that his behavior wasn’t the result of elitism or arrogance, as most people believed. He’d been so emotionally distraught he couldn’t cope.
She wanted her father and everyone else to put his past in the proper context, but Simon wouldn’t allow anyone to get close enough to gain any sort of understanding. If not for his meltdown, and how she’d been drawn into it, she wouldn’t have come close enough to understand him, either. “He’s been through a lot.”
“So you’ve said. But if you’re talking about his divorce, I don’t buy it. I went through a divorce, too. And I had kids to raise and not nearly as much money.”
Her mother had walked out on her father for an old high school sweetheart. They were now married and living in Phoenix. Gail knew how painful losing Linda had been for Martin. She also knew it had changed the way he behaved every bit as much as Simon’s divorce had changed him. He obviously felt his situation had been harder. But Gail wasn’t convinced. At least there’d been no fame to complicate matters, no media coverage to broadcast every sordid detail, which would’ve made everything that much worse, especially for such a proud man. Even so, Martin had become strict and controlling, especially where she and Joe were concerned. There were times Gail suspected her mother would’ve remained a part of her life if not for her father, who could be autocratic and difficult to deal with.
Gail wanted to tell him those things, but she knew he wouldn’t take kindly to the criticism. Besides, he could allude to her mother, but Linda was still a taboo subject for everyone else, even after all the years that had passed.
“He’s worth trying to save,” she said simply.
“That’s what you’re doing? Saving him?” He shook a finger at her. “You can’t save people from themselves, Gail. You’re foolish to think you can.”
“So…I should quit without even trying?” she challenged.
He didn’t seem to have an answer for that.
“We’re already married, Dad. All I’m asking is that you treat him with some respect while we’re here, give him a chance.”
The door opened, and they both glanced up. Gail feared it was Simon. She wasn’t quite ready for him. But it was Joe who walked in.