64. The secret
It was the night before the wedding day. The buck and hen's parties were settled for this evening, so they started early to at least be clear for the big day. It was crowded at Killarney's cottage. The guys mostly drank, while the groom and his best man tried to keep sober. It wasn't the perfect setting for Alex, but he didn't mind that much. He knew what tomorrow would bring and that was worth any sacrifice. Although he must admit Dave's stories were very much over the top as he finished one with an awful song.
'Too much beer for you Brewer', Alex said patting the bloke on his back. Dave, slightly dazed, looked up at his old mate. 'Awww, Alex, didn't yah miss me?' Alex gave him his well-known look. 'A lot mate, a lot', he mumbled. 'But I have to say big guy, this buck's party is way better than last time, yeah', he took another sip of his beer. 'That's probably cause last time we ran out of beer. You so gonna have a hang over tomorrow. Remember it's the big day.' Dave nodded. 'Yeah, yeah, but it's late in the afternoon, I will manage.'
Bryce was quiet. He mostly observed the room with the younger blokes mumbling about the strangest things. 'Where is that bloody stripper!', Dave shouted through the room. 'We don't have one', Marcus quickly said serious to the older Brewer. 'What? No stripper? What a lame party', he now said, changing his opinion. 'Really Alex', he leaned to the tall guy, 'what's a party without a stripper? Can't yah call Stevie.' A sheepish grin showed upon his face. Alex shook amused his head. 'You would like that, hey Brewer, checking out my woman. I can tell, that won't happen!' Dave stood still, straight, with a dumb disappointed face. 'Hey Pat, can you collect that brother of yours?' Alex now asked the younger Brewer. 'You think I can, Alex?', Pat said smirking.
The party slowly came to an end. Bryce was pacing slightly around before he finally called Alex. 'Alex', he asked his son to come to him with his hand. 'I would like to have a chat with you and Marcus.' 'Me and Marcus?' Alex frowned. 'Yeah, in private', he almost ordered in his lawyer way. 'Marcus!', Alex shouted, seeing the blonde bloke join them a moment later. The two younger guys followed Bryce outside, without having a clue what this was all about.
'I can tell I made the right decision a year ago', Bryce started calmly. Alex and Marcus gave each other a look before turning towards the older man again. 'It's good to see you have found your best man in Marcus, Alex', Bryce now let out, looking from one man to the other. He paused for a moment. 'Come on Bryce, what's this all about?', Alex nod his head, while he slightly annoyed licked his lips. 'Okay, I will tell you. I didn't just send Marcus as an overseer cause of my share in Killarney. I wanted you two to bond.' 'What?' Alex said frowning. 'What are you talking about?', Marcus demanded, having the same look in his eyes as Alex.
'I wanted you ...', Bryce now completely focused on the younger guy, ' ... to have someone around who would understand.' He quickly made a gesture with his hand to make clear no interruption was needed. 'Alex is your brother Marcus. You're my son.' It sounded almost business like as Bryce announced it, but for his sons his announcement exploded like a bomb. Marcus stood frozen to the ground. 'What are you saying?' Alex said with rage in his eyes. 'It's true, Marcus is your half-brother. His mother and I had an affair'. His oldest son let out a sarcastic laugh and wanted to yell at him, but saw Marcus in the corner of his eye, breathing heavy.
'You tell me you knew this all along, that mother knew this all along?' Marcus now asked, more stated. 'I found out after your mother got sick Marcus', Bryce said, still with a calm voice. 'She told me, she wanted me to take care of you when she died.' 'Why didn't she tell me?' For all Marcus knew was that his father had left him and his mother, as he was still a baby and last year his mother had passed away. 'She wanted you to know, but only when the time was right.' 'Right?', Marcus now started to yell, 'Right?! I'm thirty years old.' Alex could see his newfound brother's blood boiling, not understand anything from his parents' lie and Alex recognized every part. He quickly held Marcus back as he wanted to attack Bryce.
'It's no use', Alex exclaimed, 'he's not worth it'. Alex had to keep his calm for Marcus. Marcus shook his head, as tears of rage and disbelieve settled in his eyes. 'Go inside', Alex ordered. Marcus glanced at his brother, while his words slowly got through. 'Just go to Nick, promise'. Alex knew at least Nick could look after Marcus for now. The blonde guy made his way into the house as Alex kept staring at Bryce. 'Who do you think you are?! You all planned this? Why didn't you tell us right away, why now?' His words sounded loud, harsh, as he pressed his teeth together to keep in the rage.
'I wanted you to know before the wedding. I wanted you to know your best man is also your brother. You needed time to bond, not forced', Bryce replied. Alex blew and caught Bryce's jacket and pushed him against the wall. Shaking his head, while breathing heavy he stared down at his old man. 'How can you do this to Marcus? You wanted us to bond, while you keep me away from my sisters! How many siblings do I have?! Did you fuck the whole town!?' He yelled it right into his face, blaming, feeling the urge to hit his father right on his jaw. 'Alex', Bryce tried to keep his calm, but knowing his son would get aggressive. 'Think about tomorrow, it's no use.' Alex kept blowing, staring at Bryce while keeping him tight. 'You're a bloody bastard, Bryce!' He smacked his father against the wall again while he let go. 'Stay away from Marcus, stay away from me and my family. We don't need you!'
He walked back into the house with big steps, finding Nick. 'What's going on?' 'That bastard of a father of mine just tells finely that Marcus is his son.' Alex' body almost shook. 'What did you do to him?' Nick asked immediately, still seeing Alex' eyes full of anger. 'Nothing, I send him away. No way he will ruin my wedding day. Where is Marcus?' 'He went to his room'.