The brew stops and I pour it into my cup watching the steam rise. "Okay, but you can't get mad at me."
"So, you did sleep with him?"
"No. It's something else. Happened after graduation. No one but Aiden and I know."
He sets his mug down and crosses his arms. "You didn't even tell me? I'm offended."
Instead of beating around the bush, I jump right in and tell him about Jake, the adoption, the parents, and how I haven't seen him since the day of his birth.
"Why wouldn't you call me? You shouldn't have gone through all that alone."
"Aiden knew and wanted us to keep the baby. Of course, now, I think we should have, too, but it was too late."
He pulls me in close and hugs me. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. So, did you know anything about him? Any pictures?"
"Nothing. Aiden wrote a letter to the parents, hoping that they will at least send us some pictures, or something. We want to know how he is doing, and that he is okay."
"Don't blame ya. You know, you could've told me, right? I wouldn't have judged you. In the end, it was your decision to make."
We stand in the kitchen, enjoying our coffee, and chatting. Jeremy is seeing a girl named Abbie. His concern is between working and taking care of dad, he won't be able to spend a lot of time on a new relationship and he's worried she won't understand. If she gets upset about it, then Abbie obviously isn't the right woman for him. Plain and simple. If anything, it should make her like him more for taking care of his father in his time of need.
"I know you guys aren't too serious yet, but I'd like to meet her before I leave."
"We'll see."
Things haven't been easy for Jeremy while I've been gone. We have both been keeping things from each other, and that needs to end now. Blood or not, we are siblings, and that means I'm there for him, no matter what. He shouldn't feel the need to keep things from me anymore. The chances of him and Dad moving to Massachusetts are high once he starts getting worse, and he can't keep an eye on him by himself anymore. And I need to be able to leave her knowing he is going to be truthful and keep me in the loop.
He leaves to get ready for work, and I slump down on the couch to enjoy some old westerns with my dad, and finish my coffee. I don't know how many more times I'll get him like this; in a good mood, and coherent. Right now, I need to focus on spending some time with him, and enjoying the last times he'll be like this. Everything I have read, it shows to be a significant jump in demeanor, and the fact he has already had it for months means I have even less time than I thought.
"So, now that you are retired, what do you think about moving up with me eventually?"
His eyes narrow. "What do you mean? This is my home, kiddo. I spent most of my adulthood here with your mom."
When mom passed, he did everything he could to keep us going, and sometimes he dropped the ball, but we never faulted him for it. She is the one that kept us afloat between working, cooking, and laundry. We all had to relearn priorities when she was gone.
"I know, dad. Just thought it would be nice to have you around up there. That's all."
This isn't something I would push for right now, but when he gets worse, there won't be a choice. He isn't going to want to be in a home, and don't think I could fathom someone else taking care of him. I've heard way too many heinous stories about retirement centers.
"You staying for a couple days?" he asks.
"Probably until Monday."