Chapter 11
Later, the Eppes men adjourned to the living room to wait for Cecile, who was joining them after work. Don forged the way. Alan veered to the laundry room to toss in another load, and Charlie stopped at the refrigerator for another bottle of water.
Don, sitting on the end of the couch, watched him come through the swinging door from the kitchen. He wasn't using his cane, but walked with a pronounced limp. "How's the knee?", Don asked with concern. "You didn't do anything stupid like climb Mt. McKinley while you were gone, right?"
Charlie grinned, and took the other end of the couch. "No. It's actually pretty good. I think during the summer I'll get back into physical therapy, and see how much I can build up my endurance."
Don nodded. "Good. That's good. It's just that you're limping more than I remember, from before…" He hesitated, then decided not to give Charlie any special treatment until he asked for some. "Before the fire."
Charlie looked toward the kitchen, and spoke lowly. "My hip is killing me. Dad ever play football?"
Don laughed. "That was some tackle, wasn't it? Almost as good as when I told him I was asking Cecile to marry me."
Charlie's smile faded, and again Don felt apprehensive. He waited for him to say something.
Charlie contemplated the water bottle for a moment, then leaned forward and put it on the coffee table in front of the couch. "I don't know what I was thinking," he finally said. "Or maybe I wasn't thinking at all. I just never thought about the fact that things would keep moving here, you know?"
Don was saved from an answer by their father's shout. "Charlie! Would you come back into the kitchen, please?"
As Charlie pushed himself off the couch, Don heard Cecile's car in the driveway. "Stay in the kitchen," he said mischievously. "Let's surprise her."
Charlie shook his head. "Didn't you tell me your last surprise resulted in her lying unconscious in a bucket full of golf balls?"
Don swatted at him as he passed, barely brushing his leg. "Yeah. But this will be your fault. Let's face it, Bro — that's one of the reasons I need you here at home."
Charlie tossed him a glare over his shoulder and continued on to the kitchen, where he managed to convince his father that the rocks in the pockets of his jeans were important: they were agates, for Larry, from a beach in Oregon.
They heard the front door slam and looked at each other silently.
"Don! Is that Charlie's car out there? Is Charlie home? Did Charlie come home?" The voice, shrill and excited, was getting closer. Alan and Charlie grinned at each other. "Where is he? You didn't call. Why didn't you call?" The swinging door opened and Cecile saw Charlie. This time, he had moved to lean against a counter to begin with, and he welcomed her enthusiastic embrace, winking at Don, who had followed her into the kitchen, over her shoulder.
When they parted, Charlie was a little taken aback to see that she was crying. "Hey, hey, sis," he said, lightly brushing a tear from her cheek. "There's no need for that." He smiled broadly at her. "Don told me. I can't believe you guys are getting married."
She blushed prettily, and held her left hand out proudly. "Isn't it gorgeous?"
Don saw Charlie pale and realized he'd left out an important piece of the story. It wasn't as if he'd done it on purpose. He just hadn't thought about Charlie recognizing the ring, when he saw it. As the oldest son, and the first to be married, his getting their mother's ring was an accepted custom. Alan had not hesitated when Don had asked.
But he could see, and understand, that Charlie was blindsided. He'd just barely had time to digest the news of their engagement, and had already admitted some regrets he had about not being there when it happened. Don could imagine what a surprise it was for Cecile to shove Mom's ring in his face like that, and he was infinitely, infinitely sorry he hadn't told him first.
He and Cecile spoke at the same time.
"Buddy, I should have warned you…"
"You should sit down. You must be exhausted, and you look a little pale." Cecile heard Don's words over hers and focused again on the ring. Charlie's mother's ring, not just Don's mother's ring. She dropped her hand quickly. "Is everything all right?"
Charlie's eyes had followed the ring, and with obvious effort he lifted them to the concerned ones of Cecile, Don and Alan. He concentrated on making his voice steady. "Yes, Cecile." His eyes roamed the room, never maintaining contact with anyone. "Don't worry so much, everybody. Jet lag. Or at least the automotive equivalent." He tried to change the subject. "What time is it?"
"Almost 10," answered Alan softly, watching Charlie closely.
Charlie shifted against the counter. "Well there you have it, then. It's really been a long…overwhelming day, for me." He tried to smile at Cecile. "I wanted to stay awake until you got here, to congratulate you, but I'm…suddenly exhausted."
Don had moved up to join Cecile, and she gripped his hand tightly and smiled tentatively back at Charlie. "Of course…I'm sure you are. Thank you for waiting up for me, though." She tried to make a joke. "Saved me a trip up the stairs to run screaming into your room."
The men all smiled. "Cece," Don said, "could you help Dad with the laundry?"
She took the hint, leaned in to kiss Charlie quickly on the cheek and scampered to the laundry room with Alan.
Don stared at Charlie, who really did look exhausted — a lot more tired than he had looked on the couch 10 minutes ago. "I should have told you," he started, but Charlie shook his head.
"No, I understand. I mean, it makes sense. Oldest, first to marry, all that. Besides, it's Dad's decision anyway."
"Still. I could have warned you before it was just there, in your face."
Charlie shuddered and closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again. "I'll admit, I was surprised."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Charlie shook his head, and gave Don a genuine smile. "No. I'll be all right. I just have to take some time and process everything." He saw that his brother wasn't convinced and still felt guilty. "Don," he said gently, "let's not do this, okay?"
"Do what?"
"Look for trouble. Work at finding things to drive a wedge between us. I didn't come back for that. I came back because I missed you. I came back because I realized how much time I was wasting, and I realized how much I love everyone here. Okay?"
Don felt a pressure burn behind his eyes and embraced Charlie again so that he wouldn't see it. "I love you too," he answered. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry."
Charlie again returned the embrace and held on for a long moment, one hand on the back of Don's head. "Mom…Mom would be happy," he said quietly into Don's ear. "You should be happy. Don't let me tarnish that for you. I'll get used to seeing it, again."
Charlie straightened, and yawned widely behind one hand. He looked with droopy eyes at his brother. "Gonna have to ask you one more time. Please let me go."
Don grinned. "How about if I walk you up?"
