Business as Usual (Off The Subject) by Denise Grover Swank Page B

it? But then, she didn’t plan on telling me—or anyone—in the first place. I just caught her at a weak moment. I glance at the clock and see that it’s six-fifteen. “Reed’s going to be home any minute. Why don’t you go clean yourself up and I’ll take care of this.”
    A guilty look floats across her face.
    “Caroline. I’ve got it covered.”
    She gives me a quick squeeze and disappears down the hall to the bathroom. Soon I hear the water running.
    I’m on the last layers of the lasagna, although they aren’t in the usual order, which has made it a bit messy, when the front door opens. When Reed walks in, I fight the urge to pounce on him. Caroline asked me not to bring up her concerns, but perhaps I can get him to share with me by taking a less direct approach.
    He looks into the kitchen and surprise flickers in his eyes when he sees the mess. “It looks like a bomb went off in here.”
    “Rough day at the office, honey?” I joke. There’s a jagged edge to my voice that even I can hear. I love my brother, but I love Caroline too. I can’t stand that he’s hurting her.
    Rather than answering, he walks by me to the cabinet where we keep our limited stock of alcohol. He pours a generous drink and downs it in several sips while I openly gawk.
    Reed doesn’t drink.
    “What’s going on, Reed?”
    He stares into his glass before taking another sip.
    “ Reed .”
    He looks up at me, he eyes dark with anger. “With all due respect, Lexi, my life isn’t an open book for you to manipulate.”
    I gasp. This is a not-so-subtle jab at me for setting him up with Caroline on the fashion show committee last fall. I put my hand on my hip. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
    “It means you don’t need to know everything about me.”
    His words are like gasoline on a fire. “But you expect to know everything about me.”
    He downs another drink. “That’s different.”
    “Why is that different?”
    He shakes his head in disbelief. “You know .”
    I realize it’s been an unspoken rule, but the attitude with which he delivers that phrase is my undoing. “You’re an ass, Reed.”
    “Am I?”
    My anger fades. He’s scaring me. This man is not my brother. He’s not the man who saved me from a life of ostracism. Something is really, really wrong. “Reed,” my voice softens. “I know you think of me as your little sister, but I’m not a kid anymore. I can help you. Caroline can help you. You just have to tell us what’s wrong.”
    His eyes harden. “What did Caroline say?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Bullshit.”
    I back-peddle. Caroline asked me not to confront him, but now I’ve dragged her into this unintentionally. “She knows something is wrong too and she’s worried about you. We love you, Reed. You of all people know that worry is part of loving someone.”
    His face softens and his mouth parts, but he hesitates. I can tell that he’s not sure what to say. Then his gaze shifts over my shoulder.
    When I look in that direction, I see that Caroline has emerged from the bathroom and is standing at the end of the bar.
    He downs the rest of the drink. “I’m fine.” Then he brushes past us down the hall. Seconds later, the bedroom door slams shut.
    “What did you say?” she asks, tears in her voice.
    “He came in and headed straight for the liquor cabinet.” I look into her face, pleading with her to understand. “We both know that’s not like him, so I confronted him about it and asked him to tell me what’s wrong.” I sag my hip into the edge of the counter. “Obviously, it didn’t go well. I’m sorry.”
    It’s her turn to be the comforter. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. You’re right. Last October, that’s how I knew the secret he’d kept from me was really bad. We walked in and he immediately poured himself a drink.” Tears fill her eyes. “I wish he’d tell us what’s wrong.”
    I sigh. “We both know how stubborn he is.” His drinking worries me,