Tate hesitated a moment, trying to decide how to phrase his next words. “I think Stuart wants more, too. And I think he’s a little angry with you because it isn’t there.”
That seemed to catch her attention. She turned her head to look at him then. “You think Stuart is angry with me?”
He nodded. “Maybe a little. Maybe not even entirely consciously. But let’s face it, you haven’t been home in three years, and only sporadically before that, you’ve said. Kids take that sort of thing rather personally. Didn’t you?”
“I…never thought of it that way,” she admitted reluctantly. “I had to get away from home for my own sake, but I never considered that my staying away would hurt Stuart. He’s so much younger than I am and he always seemed so self-contained. The kind of kid who entertained himself for the most part and hardly seemed to notice I was around. I figured my being gone just gave him more attention from Mom.”
“You’re still his big sister. Maybe he won’t or can’t express his feelings to you, but I’d bet he would like very much to get to know you better.”
“I’d like to know him better, too,” she murmured wistfully.
Tate kept his voice gentle. “It’s not too late, Kim. Heck, I hardly even spoke to Lynette before I turned eighteen, and now she and I are pretty close. Granted, there’s not as much of an age gap between us, but I think you and Stuart could still find common ground.”
“If he ever speaks to me again after finding out I lied to him about you.”
Tate shook his head. “You didn’t lie, your mother did. There’s your common ground right there. You can sympathize with each other about having a mother who’s, er, bug-nuts.”
“Maybe. I’ll send him an email of explanation and apology once I know Mom’s come clean with everyone. Stuart’s probably easier to reach through his computer than by phone call.”
“Very likely. You can ask him about school, maybe consult him about a computer issue, letting him feel like you need his advice for something. Tell him a few funny stories about his niece. It seemed to catch his attention when you referred to him as Uncle Stuart.”
“Yes, I noticed that.”
“He kind of liked the idea of being an uncle. Stuart’s as hungry for stability as you have been, Kim. I could tell he rather likes Bob, but—”
“But he’s afraid to let himself get too attached,” Kim cut in knowingly. “It hurts too much to say goodbye to another father figure.”
“Something tells me Bob will win him over. He’s almost there now.”
“I’m not sure that’s such a good thing. I’d hate to see Stuart hurt again.”
“It’s impossible to avoid all hurt and disappointment in life. But you know? I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob stays around for a while. Despite all your mother’s, um, eccentricities, he seems crazy about her. I think he just likes having a fixer-upper project underway at all times, and your mom gives him plenty of challenge in that respect.”
“I like him,” Kim admitted with a reluctance Tate fully understood.
“So do I.”
A moment later, she asked, “Since you seem to know so much about my brothers, what about Julian? Is he angry with me, too?”
“Oh, Julian’s pissed off at everyone right now,” he answered lightly. “Starting with his ex-wife and including you and his mother. He’s going to be even madder at both of you when he finds out about me, but I think he’ll get over it. It’s going to take some groveling on your part. Maybe a few tears. But he’ll come around. He’s not quite ready to cut all ties with the family, any more than you are.”
“Groveling and tears, huh?” As he’d hoped, his wry words had roused a faint smile from her.
“Maybe a shipment of homemade brownies. I noticed your brother has a weakness for chocolate.”
“I usually make brownies from a boxed mix. But I make a pretty decent chocolate cake from scratch.”
“That would probably suffice.”
He glanced at her with a sympathetic smile. “But, seriously, Kim, Julian will come around if you explain to him exactly what happened. Don’t leave that entirely up to your mom. Who knows what she’d tell him?”
“I’ll talk to him. Thanks for the advice.”
“Just giving you a guy’s perspective. For what it’s worth.”
“It’s worth quite a bit. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
He shrugged. “I’m hardly a family dynamics expert. But like I said, I know how guys tend to think.”