Broken Promise (Men of Severn #1)

Chapter Eight

The funeral parlor is exactly the way I remember it from all those years ago. It’s dark, dreary, and depressing. All the chairs are covered in dirty pink velvet material and the wall has an ugly embossed beige wallpaper.

Mr. Anderson is still the director of the funeral home and greets us with a frown at the front door.

“The Blake brothers,” he says as we all step inside. “I’m sorry for your loss. Your mother will be missed.”

Wesley’s grasp on my hand tightens. He hasn’t grieved. I know because I’ve been with him the whole time. He won’t let me out of his sight for longer than five minutes. My hand is clasped in his as they discuss the finer details of their mother’s memorial service.

Every now and then I catch one of his brothers staring at our entwined hands with a frown and I can’t help but smile. Things have happened fast, and I am sure they both have questions but that can wait until later.

They are discussing the music that will play during the ceremony when Adam walks away. Giving Wesley’s hand a squeeze I pull away and follow him out. Sitting on the steps, Adam’s entire body shakes as the grief and pain overwhelm him. Silently, I sit beside him, pulling him into my side and offering what little comfort I can give.

I don’t offer him empty words or useless platitudes. I just sit there holding him. I love the Blake brothers, each in a different way. Adam is the closest to my age and we have always gotten along like a house on fire.

“I can’t believe she is actually gone,” he says, pulling away once the crying subsides. “It feels unreal.”

“I know.”

“How long does this feeling last?”

“It gets easier,” I say, looking at the clear blue sky. “Some days are good but there will be bad days. Days when you want to tell her something and then it hits you all over again.”

“Is that how you feel?”

“So many times,” I reply with a sigh. “I want to call Tommy up and tell him to get his ass down here right now.”

“But you’re here.”

“I can deal with you,” I say with a chuckle. “I can even deal with Wesley. But Shane? I don’t know what to do with him.”

Adam nods. “I know what you mean.”

Silence descends on us as we watch the cars drive by. Neither of us makes a move to go back inside. I know Wesley is fine, and Adam just needs a minute.

“Let’s get some lunch,” Shane says as he walks out of the funeral home with Wesley on his heels. “I have some questions.”

Adam chuckles and I roll my eyes. I knew this was coming and Adam, not asking any questions, surprised me. Now I know why he didn’t say anything—they are going to do it together.

“Fine,” Wesley says, helping me up. “But let’s do this at the bar. I don’t want every curious old lady listening to our conversation.”

He leads me to his black pickup truck before boosting me up into the passenger seat. It only takes him a moment to join me before we drive back through town.

“I really love this truck,” I muse, running my hand along the leather seat. “I still can’t believe you taught me to drive in this thing.”

Wesley laughs. “It was the first thing I bought myself. Tommy almost had a stroke when he saw you driving it.”

Laughter bubbles up in me as the memory flashes through my mind. “He was so pissed. I thought he was going to hit you.”

“He was terrified you were going to wreck my truck.”

I snort. “I had a decent teacher. I haven’t had a wreck in my life, and I was thirteen when you taught me.”

Grabbing my hand, Welsey lifts it to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “I’m glad to hear it.”

****

Wesley Blake

The bar has more patrons inside than it does on a weekday, but most are seated at booths eating something. In a few hours more people will pour in and start drinking. Tonight, we have a band from three towns away so we should draw a decent crowd.

Drew, the bartender, nods as we walk in, and I lead Karmen and my brothers to one of the open booths. A moment later one of the waitresses approaches with a smile and a handful of menus.

“We won’t need those, Kallie,” Karmen says with a smile. “We’ll take three bacon- cheeseburgers, and Shane will have a salad.”

“Woman,” Shane grumbles.

“Don’t start,” she bites back. “You know you’re not going to eat the damn burger even if you order it. You always have the salad.”

“Fine.” He huffs, knowing she is right. My brother lives a clean, healthy life, and everyone knows it. “But bring us a bottle of bourbon and four glasses.”

Kallie’s eyes almost pop out of her head in shock before she scurries off to place our order. She is fast and in minutes she places the bourbon and glasses in front of us before disappearing once more.

Adam takes the liberty of pouring each of us a generous shot before passing the glasses around.

“Spill,” Shane says before anyone else has the chance to speak.

“There is nothing to spill,” Karmen says with a flick of her hair. “Didn’t I tell you to stay out of my business?”

I can tell she is fucking with him. My brother is the most uptight motherfucker I know, and he hates not knowing what is going on.

He leans his elbows on the table with a calculating smile. “If you’re running around with Wesley, and I assume you are, you’re his business. And he is my brother and my business. Which by the transit of property now makes your business, my business.”

Adam whistles lowly and I can’t help but laugh.

“Fine,” she says with a smile of her own. “What do you want to know?”

“I want to know what this is,” Shane says gesturing between the two of us.

“You need to be more specific,” I cut in.

“Yes.” Karmen nods, grinning at me. “Or do you want to know what we were doing before Adam called…”

“La-la-la-la,” Adam says loudly, sticking his fingers in his ears and I can’t help from bursting out laughing.

“Don’t be a brat, Karmen,” Shane cuts in.

“We’re together,” I say, knowing the two of them can go at it for hours. “That’s all you need to know.”

Shane raises a brow. “And how are you going to be ‘together’,”—he uses his fingers to make the little sign before continuing—“if Karmen is living in Boston?”

“Karmen lives in Severn,” I say without missing a beat.

“She sold her house. She doesn’t have anywhere to stay.”

“Actually,” she says, and we turn our attention to focus on her. “I know of a great furnished house I can rent. And the landlord has a thing for me,” she adds with a wink.

“You two are going to be insufferable, aren’t you?” Adam asks, making us laugh as Kallie brings our food to the table.

“Probably,” I say, kissing the side of Karmen’s head.

We all dig into our food and the conversation turns to other topics. We can feel the weight of our mother’s death and the looming funeral pressing down on us, but I think we just need this time to be normal for a bit. The sadness is still there but for now we are just being.