If At First

Part 11 - Chapter 10

Before Andy could answer, I jumped between them, hands centered on their chests. "Wait-wait! He's my brother, it's just my brother!"

I realized quickly, that had I moved a split second slower I might have been on the receiving end of Andy's fist. Haven was easily Andy's superior in stature and build and I knew he could have pummeled Andy without too much exertion, but he didn't appear to intend anything of the sort. Andy on the other hand, was not so calm.

"Brother?" Haven backed away instantly. "I'm sorry, somehow I pictured you...younger." Haven looked at me, reddening slightly.

"I wonder why you would picture me at all." Andy nearly shouted. He was doing his best to keep his temper but I could tell he was ready to rip someone apart. Whatever previously brought him to tears had just flipped the switch to anger. "Who's your boyfriend, Tab?" Andy asked, glaring at Haven.

"Not my boyfriend."

"Then she's the ugliest girlfriend you've ever had."

I know I saw Haven smile at that, but he covered it quickly.

"Andy," I answered hastily, "this is Haven. Haven, this is my brother Andy. I'm sorry about him, Haven, he's had a rough day."

"Apologies, Andy," Haven said, offering his hand, "Nice to meet you."

Andy made no reply other than to take the hand offered and glower threateningly. They briefly exchanged watchful nods and I detected the faintest defiant glimmer of appreciation in Andy's eyes.

"I can see this might be a bad time." Haven said before heading for the door, "Tabitha, I'll...see you later."

"Don't count on it!" Andy answered, and Beverly softly closed the door behind Haven.

"Andy!" I cried when he had gone, "What are you doing here? I haven't even spoken with Nana yet about your coming!"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." He looked around, eyeing Beverly "Is there somewhere we can go?"

Beverly, who was still standing near the front door, offered, "I have a suggestion."

I tossed her a pleading look. "Let's go in here," I said, ushering Andy into the nearest room with a door. I could hear Beverly grumble when she walked past.

Andy hurled his oversized body into a deep chair near the fireplace. He observed the room, more distracted by it than what had recently been so pressing, and said casually, "Uh, this chair rocks. I could live in this thing. So who's the dude?"

"Dude?"

"The dude that was just here. You've got a thing for him, I can tell."

"His name is Haven Casey. And I do not have a thing for him."

"Do too. I've never seen you look at a guy like that, Tab. Not even Justin." He sat up with a jerk, looking squarely into my face with wide eyes. "Did you say Haven Casey?"

"Yes."

"Haven Casey, Haven Casey?!" he exclaimed, and laughed at me. "Oh, crap! D'you think he's pissed at me now?

"I think he forgot about you the second he left the house."

"You think you have a chance with that guy?"

"No. I don't think anything about him. How do you know who he is?" If I hadn't known, there was no way Andy did.

"Thumper's always going on about how gorgeous he is. She saw him at Danni's wedding I guess. He's big-time, what's he doing with you? He get the urge to go slumming?"

"We're allowed to call her 'Thumper' now?"

"You're not."

"I'm the one who came up with it-" I stopped, refocusing. "Whatever. I need to tell you -" I stopped again, noticing his face was in his hands. "What's the matter now?" I asked.

"Thumper. My Thumper. She dumped me." He sobbed.

"She what?"

"She said that it was her own fault for getting married, and she had to try to be responsible and see if it could work. So she left for Nevada this morning, and told me over the phone."

"I...but -Oh, Andy, I'm sorry." He sniffed, without raising his head. "I thought she wanted an annulment."

"She did." He looked up, wringing his short hair "She does! But the damned mime gave her a guilt trip and she bought it. So now she's there with him, and I'm here with you."

"I feel awful, I don't know what to say. I'm sure Nana won't mind you staying here." I sat next to him and wrapped my comparatively miniature arms around his shoulders. "Not to change the subject or anything, but I do have to tell you something."

"If you say 'don't drink out of the carton', save it. I'll manage."

"No, it's not that. But don't do that either. She has radar for that kind of thing, and she'll have you smothered in your sleep."

"What, then?"

I smiled shyly. No one was better at calling me on my faults than Andy. "So, -through pure accident, and only a little bit of my own idiocy, the people here – including Haven Casey– have sort of come to believe that I'm a wealthy, socialite-type." I spoke slowly, knowing he was just barely listening. "And at first I didn't think it would be a big deal, but now it's kind of gotten out of hand and would be horribly embarrassing and potentially damaging to Nana if the truth were known." I still smiled, only guiltily now.

"Oh Tabby-kat" Andy snorted, cheered a little. "I can always count on you to do something stupider than me."

"You might, if that was a word."

"Does Nana know?"

"No. Well, sort of. –She knows the rumors, but somehow she actually blames herself for people thinking it, and it seems she may be starting to believe it herself."

"Don't worry," He returned my hug, "I'm great at keeping secrets."

"Yeah, you're really not though."

"So now what?" he asked.

"Now you sleep on the floor in my room because all of the other bedrooms are still under construction, and tomorrow you can sleep in my bed.

"Why?"

"I'm going camping." I shuddered and he threw his head back in laughter.

"Well, if nothing else, you still have a sense of humor. Who'd be dumb enough to think you'd go camping?"

"What does it matter? You'll have a bed. You're also going to need to find somewhere to eat, because you'll starve here. All she has is fruit and bran."

"No wonder you're so skinny."

"-And if you get bored, there's a guy that works at the coffee shop downtown. His name is Doug. Tell him you're my brother, he'll show you around. Just remember that we're from a wealthy family. And be vague. And don't go making up more stories."

"Wealthyand vague. Got it."