the hospital, their first reunion since he’d left at eighteen. She’d begged him to come home and recuperate among family and friends. Wyatt refused, hurt because his father and brother hadn’t rushed to his bedside.
But over the next several months, months filled with endless sessions of painful physical therapy, he gained a new appreciation of life and a new perspective. He was as much to blame as anyone for his estrangement from his family. He was also determined to rectify past mistakes and heal old wounds. Only he hadn’t known how.
Then, he’d received the invitation.
“Dad, I drove all the way from Jackson Hole to see you and Mom and Jay.”
“Well, you’ve wasted your time and gas.”
“Guess I should have called first.” Wyatt strived for nonchalance to mask his hurt.
“What did you expect?” His father came out from behind the desk. “For us to roll out the red carpet?”
“Twelve years is a long time to hold a grudge.”
“Can you blame me?”
Wyatt expelled a tired breath. “It was an accident.”
“A needless one.”
“I was eighteen.”
“Old enough to know better and too smart to be drinking and driving.”
Except Wyatt hadn’t been drinking or driving. His brother Jay was the one behind the wheel. Wyatt had taken the blame to spare his brother, neither of them guessing the repercussions of their seemingly innocent lie.
He wanted his parents to know the truth, believed they couldn’t mend their differences until he and Jay came clean. Now might not be the right moment, however, given his father’s reaction to Wyatt’s return.
“Everything turned out okay. From what I hear, Jay has a good job at the bank and is head of the town council.”
“Not the same as playing professional football. His career was ruined thanks to you.”
Wyatt didn’t correct his father—he wouldn’t believe Wyatt anyway. Jay, firstborn son, had always been the light of their father’s eyes. He could do no wrong and Wyatt no right.
He hadn’t been able to admit until recently how jealous he’d been of his father and brother’s relationship and how that jealousy had affected them all.
“Can’t we at least talk?” Wyatt asked. “I’ve come a long way.”
“What’s the point?”
“Really, Dad? That’s how you want it?” Confusion gave way to anger. His father was right; the trip here had been a waste of time and gas. Nothing had changed. “Give Mom my love.” This time when Wyatt went to shut the door, his father didn’t stop him.
Pain clouded his vision in the already poorly lit hall. He didn’t see the person standing in the doorway until he nearly trampled her.
“Wyatt? Oh, Wyatt!” There was a sob, and then he was engulfed in a pair of arms familiar and desperately missed.
“Mom.” He choked on her name as he returned her hug.
Finally, someone was glad to see him.
“Are you all right?” Pulling back, she held his face between her hands and studied him at length.
“I’m fine.”
“You look…older.”
“You haven’t changed one bit.”
She wiped at her damp cheeks. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He could tell by her smile that his compliment had pleased her.
“You’re home. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting and praying for this day.”
At her words, the invisible hold on his chest loosened, then released entirely, allowing him to breathe again.
“Me, too.”
“I’m so sorry about our disagreement in the hospital. I shouldn’t have pressured you.”
“You were just trying to help.”
“What brought you home? Are you staying?”
“I got the invitation to your anniversary party.”
She blinked. “You did?”
“You weren’t the one who sent it?”
“No, I…” She averted her face. “I would have. I wanted to. Your father, he refused—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”
“He’s a stubborn man.”
“Tell me about it.”
“You are alike that way.”
“Maybe. But I wouldn’t turn my back on one son
But over the next several months, months filled with endless sessions of painful physical therapy, he gained a new appreciation of life and a new perspective. He was as much to blame as anyone for his estrangement from his family. He was also determined to rectify past mistakes and heal old wounds. Only he hadn’t known how.
Then, he’d received the invitation.
“Dad, I drove all the way from Jackson Hole to see you and Mom and Jay.”
“Well, you’ve wasted your time and gas.”
“Guess I should have called first.” Wyatt strived for nonchalance to mask his hurt.
“What did you expect?” His father came out from behind the desk. “For us to roll out the red carpet?”
“Twelve years is a long time to hold a grudge.”
“Can you blame me?”
Wyatt expelled a tired breath. “It was an accident.”
“A needless one.”
“I was eighteen.”
“Old enough to know better and too smart to be drinking and driving.”
Except Wyatt hadn’t been drinking or driving. His brother Jay was the one behind the wheel. Wyatt had taken the blame to spare his brother, neither of them guessing the repercussions of their seemingly innocent lie.
He wanted his parents to know the truth, believed they couldn’t mend their differences until he and Jay came clean. Now might not be the right moment, however, given his father’s reaction to Wyatt’s return.
“Everything turned out okay. From what I hear, Jay has a good job at the bank and is head of the town council.”
“Not the same as playing professional football. His career was ruined thanks to you.”
Wyatt didn’t correct his father—he wouldn’t believe Wyatt anyway. Jay, firstborn son, had always been the light of their father’s eyes. He could do no wrong and Wyatt no right.
He hadn’t been able to admit until recently how jealous he’d been of his father and brother’s relationship and how that jealousy had affected them all.
“Can’t we at least talk?” Wyatt asked. “I’ve come a long way.”
“What’s the point?”
“Really, Dad? That’s how you want it?” Confusion gave way to anger. His father was right; the trip here had been a waste of time and gas. Nothing had changed. “Give Mom my love.” This time when Wyatt went to shut the door, his father didn’t stop him.
Pain clouded his vision in the already poorly lit hall. He didn’t see the person standing in the doorway until he nearly trampled her.
“Wyatt? Oh, Wyatt!” There was a sob, and then he was engulfed in a pair of arms familiar and desperately missed.
“Mom.” He choked on her name as he returned her hug.
Finally, someone was glad to see him.
“Are you all right?” Pulling back, she held his face between her hands and studied him at length.
“I’m fine.”
“You look…older.”
“You haven’t changed one bit.”
She wiped at her damp cheeks. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He could tell by her smile that his compliment had pleased her.
“You’re home. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting and praying for this day.”
At her words, the invisible hold on his chest loosened, then released entirely, allowing him to breathe again.
“Me, too.”
“I’m so sorry about our disagreement in the hospital. I shouldn’t have pressured you.”
“You were just trying to help.”
“What brought you home? Are you staying?”
“I got the invitation to your anniversary party.”
She blinked. “You did?”
“You weren’t the one who sent it?”
“No, I…” She averted her face. “I would have. I wanted to. Your father, he refused—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”
“He’s a stubborn man.”
“Tell me about it.”
“You are alike that way.”
“Maybe. But I wouldn’t turn my back on one son
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