"I think he's got it," was Jarrod's response.
"I can't wait til she gets here." Nick was exuberant. "I love having someone here who's older than Jarrod and not Mother."
Jarrod slapped Nick on the back. "Only by a mere four years, brother Nick."
"It's not so mere when it's us though, is it?" Nick chided.
Heath smiled at his brothers' teasing each other. "Well, she sounds like a real special lady."
"That she is," Jarrod told him. "And something else she is is going to be here very early and I have to meet her train. So I'm going to say goodnight."
Heath watched Jarrod and Nick exchange a kiss goodnight, something he had observed often during the month he'd been there. He thought back to his second week as their brother, readying himself in anticipation of a kiss he was sure he was not going to like landing on his cheek. But he need not have worried. He'd braced himself for the kiss that never came.
"Goodnight, Heath," he heard Jarrod say.
"Goodnight, Jarrod."
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Michelle was by the front steps on her knees surrounded by flowers. She had only arrived a few hours before but was already transplanting the peonies she had brought from back east.
"Those sure are pretty." Heath came from behind and sat on the bottom step. "They almost remind me of the flower festival in Lompoc." He removed his hat and placed it in his lap. "Michelle, I'd like to ask you something. You being someone who is in the family but still outside of it."
Michelle turned from the peony she was bedding. "It sounds serious."
"Well, I don't know about serious. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings so you seem the person to ask." He fingered the brim of his hat. "I've been here about a month now and there's something I've noticed. And I've been wondering how it got started."
"How what did?"
Heath was reluctant to say it. "The kissing."
"You mean your brothers?" she asked thinking they'd kissed him and he wasn't sure how to take it.
"Yes, ma'am."
She removed her work gloves and sat back on her heels. "You know. I was here when Nick was born. I was eight. My mother had come to help Aunt Victoria. Let's just say that even before he arrived Nick gave your mother some trouble." Heath snickered at this. "Anyway, I don't think anyone was more excited than Jarrod. He was running around the house saying 'I'm going to have a brother.' I remember asking him what if it's a girl? He said no he KNEW it was going to be a brother. And he was right. After Nick was born he begged and begged to hold him. Finally, my mother placed him in Jarrod's arms and told him to be very careful. But she didn't have to. He held Nick very tight and kissed him and said 'I love you.' And he never stopped. He did the same with Audra and with Gene. Jarrod instilled in them the philosophy 'Never be afraid to show your heart'.
"That's real nice," Heath said quietly.
"You didn't grow up with any brothers did you?" Heath shook his head.
"I guess it must have seemed strange having them kiss you then."
Heath looked down. "Yeah, I suppose it would have."
"Would have?"
"It hasn't exactly come up." Heath looked at her. His eyes held a myriad of emotions. "In the past month I've been trying to find my place in the family. Sometimes I don't know if I fit in, or where."
"Heath, from what I've seen of you you have rather a reserved personality. Maybe they didn't want to embarrass you. You not having been around it."
"When I was younger my aunt Rachel kissed me all the time. It embarrassed the heck out of me. I probably even hated it. But I am glad she did it." He blushed slightly at the memory. "Do you know what I mean?"
Michelle nodded. "Yes, Heath, I do." She rose and brushed herself off. "I think my cousin needs a refresher course in his philosophy."
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"Jarrod Thomas Barkley! I'm very disappointed in you!" Michelle stated as she marched into the study. Jarrod looked dumbfounded as she approached the desk where he was working. "You have a new brother and have yet to initiate him as such."
"It would help if I knew what you were talking about." Jarrod was slightly amused by his cousin's tone.
Michelle wasted no time. "How did you welcome Nick as your brother?"
"That was twenty-eight years ago. I was four. How am I suppose to rem..."
"What about Audra and Gene?" She leaned forward and looked him in the eye as she cut him off.
Jarrod was growing frustrated. "I don't know wha..." Then it hit him. "Oh, come on now. This is different and you know it."
Michelle straightened. "No, I don't know any such thing."
"Heath was a stranger. We didn't know him."
"You didn't know Nick when he was born either," she said before he could go any further.
Jarrod rolled his eyes. His cousin's logic had caused many a headache. "Look, we just didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable."
Michelle was not buying it. "Jarrod, you're a lawyer. It's your job to make people uncomfortable. And since when does Nick care. Besides Heath's more uncomfortable feeling like he doesn't belong."
"Why don't you talk to Nick and Gene?" Jarrod tried to spread the blame.
"They're not here. Besides you're the oldest. Set an example. You've got a man out there who is waiting to be accepted fully as your brother. Nick is spending the night at the logging camp so you'll have an opportunity."
Jarrod gave her his best annoyed look which she ignored. "I expect you to resolve this situation tonight!"
Jarrod sighed. "You...are a very difficult woman."
"Thank-you."
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They had played four games of billiards and Jarrod was falling asleep on the table.
"Boy howdy, Jarrod, why don't you go on to bed."
"Huh?" Jarrod's eyes were heavy but he couldn't seem to bring himself to say goodnight. "I'm awake. Let's play another game," he said trying to hold his head up.
Heath returned his cue stick to the rack. "No. I think I've had enough. Goodnight, Jarrod." Heath started to leave.
"Heath, wait," Jarrod said sleepily. He had to do it. So what if Heath slugged him. It was preferable to the confrontation he'd have with Michelle if he didn't "resolve the situation" as she'd put it. Jarrod took Heath by the arms and kissed him squarely on the cheek. "Goodnight, Heath."
To his surprise he felt Heath's lips brush lightly against his face. "Goodnight, Jarrod."
Heath had been initiated.