conclusion that a lot of what myself and other family members have been doing can’t continue. So that’s why I’m here.”
“Keep coming back,” an older woman named Leslie said. “It helps.”
Colin nodded. “Thanks. I will.”
When they stood in a circle around the table, the people on either side of Colin reached for his hands to recite the Serenity Prayer. While he was helping to put away chairs, he watched Meredith place a comforting hand on Hugh’s shoulder and whisper something to him.
After the meeting, Colin called Declan. “Hey. Are you home?”
“Yep.”
“Alone?”
“No,” Dec said with a chuckle. “But you’re not interrupting anything. Yet.”
“Spare me the details. I was going to come by, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Come on over, Col. We’re just hanging out.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
Colin drove the Harley through the deserted town. White lights twinkled in the windows along the winding row of shops and restaurants that made up Chatham’s quaint Main Street. The winter had been cold, but so far there hadn’t been much snow, and the streets were dry or he wouldn’t be on the bike. He loved the big, powerful motorcycle and the way its rumble vibrated through his chest. Chatham’s seven thousand year-round residents tended to hate noisy motorcycles, but the dark face mask on his helmet allowed him to roar around in anonymity.
Declan lived in a new townhouse in North Chatham, almost to the Harwich town line. He had turned on the porch light for his brother.
“Hey,” Dec said when Colin walked in. Declan and his girlfriend Jessica were sitting together on the sofa and had paused their movie. “Did I hear the bike?”
“Yeah. I went to an Al-Anon meeting tonight, and in the spirit of anonymity, I left the truck at home.”
“Watch out for ice,” Dec warned.
“It’s too warm for ice tonight.”
“Want something to drink?”
“No, thanks,” Colin said.
“How was the meeting?” Jessica asked. Dec had been seeing the cute, friendly physical therapist since Christmas.
“Good. It’s amazing how many people are in the same boat we are.”
“Da said Brandon seemed really good when they saw him,” Dec said.
“Yeah, but the real test begins when he gets out of there,” Colin reminded his brother.
“I hope he can do it.”
“I think he knows by now that he has to, but whether or not he will remains to be seen.” Colin paused before he said, “So, you talked to Da?”
Declan nodded and took a sip from his bottle of Sam Adams. “I hear there’s going to be a changing of the guard, boss man,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Colin groaned. “Don’t start that crap. I’m counting on you and Tommy to help me out. We’re going to do this together.”
“Of course we are.”
“So you’re not mad?” Colin asked, relieved that Declan didn’t seem to begrudge him the promotion.
“Hell, no. My first thought when Da told me you were taking over was better you than me. You’ve earned it, Col. No hard feelings from me.”
“I appreciate that. What do you think Brandon will say?”
Declan snorted. “He’s gonna be pissed, but what does he expect? No way any of the guys would work for him, the way he’s been the last couple of years. But he won’t like coming home to discover his little brother is his new boss.”
“True,” Colin said. “But I’m glad to know I can count on you to back me up.”
“Always.”
With that one word, Declan reminded Colin of the close bond they’d shared since childhood. As close as they were, though, they were as different as two people could be. While nothing seemed to faze the laid-back Declan, Colin took everything to heart, which had caused him nothing but grief where Brandon was concerned. But those days were over now. They had to be.
“Well, I’d better get going. Are you guys going to dinner at
“Keep coming back,” an older woman named Leslie said. “It helps.”
Colin nodded. “Thanks. I will.”
When they stood in a circle around the table, the people on either side of Colin reached for his hands to recite the Serenity Prayer. While he was helping to put away chairs, he watched Meredith place a comforting hand on Hugh’s shoulder and whisper something to him.
After the meeting, Colin called Declan. “Hey. Are you home?”
“Yep.”
“Alone?”
“No,” Dec said with a chuckle. “But you’re not interrupting anything. Yet.”
“Spare me the details. I was going to come by, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Come on over, Col. We’re just hanging out.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
Colin drove the Harley through the deserted town. White lights twinkled in the windows along the winding row of shops and restaurants that made up Chatham’s quaint Main Street. The winter had been cold, but so far there hadn’t been much snow, and the streets were dry or he wouldn’t be on the bike. He loved the big, powerful motorcycle and the way its rumble vibrated through his chest. Chatham’s seven thousand year-round residents tended to hate noisy motorcycles, but the dark face mask on his helmet allowed him to roar around in anonymity.
Declan lived in a new townhouse in North Chatham, almost to the Harwich town line. He had turned on the porch light for his brother.
“Hey,” Dec said when Colin walked in. Declan and his girlfriend Jessica were sitting together on the sofa and had paused their movie. “Did I hear the bike?”
“Yeah. I went to an Al-Anon meeting tonight, and in the spirit of anonymity, I left the truck at home.”
“Watch out for ice,” Dec warned.
“It’s too warm for ice tonight.”
“Want something to drink?”
“No, thanks,” Colin said.
“How was the meeting?” Jessica asked. Dec had been seeing the cute, friendly physical therapist since Christmas.
“Good. It’s amazing how many people are in the same boat we are.”
“Da said Brandon seemed really good when they saw him,” Dec said.
“Yeah, but the real test begins when he gets out of there,” Colin reminded his brother.
“I hope he can do it.”
“I think he knows by now that he has to, but whether or not he will remains to be seen.” Colin paused before he said, “So, you talked to Da?”
Declan nodded and took a sip from his bottle of Sam Adams. “I hear there’s going to be a changing of the guard, boss man,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Colin groaned. “Don’t start that crap. I’m counting on you and Tommy to help me out. We’re going to do this together.”
“Of course we are.”
“So you’re not mad?” Colin asked, relieved that Declan didn’t seem to begrudge him the promotion.
“Hell, no. My first thought when Da told me you were taking over was better you than me. You’ve earned it, Col. No hard feelings from me.”
“I appreciate that. What do you think Brandon will say?”
Declan snorted. “He’s gonna be pissed, but what does he expect? No way any of the guys would work for him, the way he’s been the last couple of years. But he won’t like coming home to discover his little brother is his new boss.”
“True,” Colin said. “But I’m glad to know I can count on you to back me up.”
“Always.”
With that one word, Declan reminded Colin of the close bond they’d shared since childhood. As close as they were, though, they were as different as two people could be. While nothing seemed to faze the laid-back Declan, Colin took everything to heart, which had caused him nothing but grief where Brandon was concerned. But those days were over now. They had to be.
“Well, I’d better get going. Are you guys going to dinner at
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