Secret Keaper

My Brother’s Keeper | Abigail Roux

I

“IT was a lovely service, dear.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hapscomb.” “If you boys need anything, you know where to come.” “Yes, sir, Mr. Fitzgerald, thank you.” “Such a shame, Brayden dear. It’s just such a shame.” “Yes, ma’am, Miss Mattie, it is.” The line went on and on; each of Coral Gables’ finest and, apparently, oldest, offering their condolences to thetwo brothers as they droned by in a procession of black lace and heavy tweed. During the first lull in the line, as Mr. and Mrs. Henderson VI tried desperately to disentangle Mother Henderson’s oxygen line from one of her wheelchair wheels, Addison Satterwight turned to glare at his half-brother. He pulled at his tie, betraying his twitchiness. “Told you we should have done a private ceremony,” hegrowled disconsolately under his breath. Brayden Bainbridge merely smiled serenely in response and wondered what the social repercussions would be for laughing hysterically at your own dearly departed father’s funeral. He thought it might be frowned upon, especially

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My Brother’s Keeper | Abigail Roux
when the object of hilarity was a little old lady slowly suffocating because she wastoo stubborn to take her hand off the “Forward” button on her high-tech, pedestrianflattening, motorized wheels. “Are you laughing?” Addison asked him incredulously through gritted teeth. “I’m honest to God trying not to,” Brayden answered in a high-pitched, wavering voice as he fought back the laughter. He covered the lower part of his face with one hand and lowered his head as the line began tomove again. “Oh, my dear, the grief will pass,” Mrs. Henderson soothed as she took Brayden’s free hand and patted it with a sorrowful shake of her head. Brayden nodded and closed his eyes, covering his snorting with what he prayed was a believable sniffle.

ADDISON and Brayden sat alone in the back of the Town
Car, lingering long after the funeral had ended and the other mourners had dispersed.They sat staring past the front seats and out the windshield blankly at the darkening coastal sky, both of them mentally and physically exhausted after the past several days of hectic scuffling and very public mourning. “Ready to go home?” Brayden finally asked his brother softly. Addison nodded silently, and Brayden knocked on the window to let Wilkins know they were ready to go.

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MyBrother’s Keeper | Abigail Roux
“You want to join me for a drink?” Addison asked, his tone of voice saying he knew Brayden would turn him down. “Not tonight,” Brayden murmured. “Got a club to run.” He sighed, turning to look at his half-brother. Addison merely turned his head and leaned his forehead against his hand, watching the scenery pass silently.

ADDISON Satterwight lay back on a woodenlounger and
watched the iridescent waves beat relentlessly against the dark sand, his sweating glass held to his temple. His dark hair had become wild and unruly with the long exposure to the salty sea air, and his lithe body was draped ungracefully across the wooden lounger. “Let’s just… take the boat and go disappear off the edge of the world,” he grumbled. “I see two problems with that littleplan,” Micah Parrish remarked happily as he walked up behind Addison and sat down on the lounger next to him. Addison peered through the darkness at the club’s tennis pro and sailing instructor, taking in the blue polo shirt and white shorts the man wore. He raised an eyebrow at him, briefly leering at the tanned, muscular view for a moment before it sank in that Micah was wearing his club uniform. “Didyou work today?” he asked incredulously. “Who were you talking to?” Micah asked without answering as he looked out onto the ocean.

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My Brother’s Keeper | Abigail Roux
“The sea,” Addison answered with a distant, slightly drunken smile. “Why are you in uniform?” “I’ve been working,” Micah responded in an equally incredulous tone. “The whole place didn’t get the day off, you know.” “Day...