“Maybe a little?” Kaden said, sheepish.

“Mom’s not going to be happy about that,” Nate said.

“I don’t know what you remember, but I really hated Dad.”

Nate shrugged. “He’s always been kind of a dick.”

Kaden hitched his shirt up where a scar ran the length of his side. “Remember this?”

Nate pursed his lips and shook his head. “Dad did that?”

Before Kaden could answer, the door opened behind them. “Mr. Bonner?” It was one of the assistant pastors from the Baptist church on the town square, a white man in his forties. “We’ve begun. Your mother’s already on stage.”

“Be right in,” Nate said. “You three may want to stand in the back.”

“Fuck off,” Clem said.

The pastor’s eyebrows shot into his receding hairline, but he held the door open for them all the same.

Irene leaned in. “Kaden’s sitting with us.”

Nate gave Kaden a wounded look.

Kaden shrugged. “Thanks for the jacket,” he said, even though it came down a little too far over his wrists.

“You’re going to need it,” Nate said.

Kaden arched an eyebrow, but before he could ask, Irene had grabbed his hand and was dragging him into the venue. As they walked in, servers were distributing trays of cocktails.

“No, thanks.” He’d had more bourbon this week than he’d had in the past ten years combined. He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Had enough to drink already, have we?” Clem asked with a wicked grin as she reached for one of the glasses.

Irene smacked her hand. “We don’t drink Bonner’s.”

“You don’t drink Bonner’s,” Clem said. “I don’t turn down free bourbon.” She and Taylor each grabbed a glass.

Kaden’s mother stood front and center on the stage, a drink in hand. All around the room, people stared at their cocktails.

As Kaden started to sit with Irene’s family, his mother’s voice echoed throughout the room. “Today isn’t only a day for recognizing my late husband’s life, it’s also a day of reconciliation for my family.” A spotlight landed on him, the brightness blinding. He shielded his eyes. “My son Kaden has returned home to help lay his father to rest.”

A collective gasp echoed off the vaulted ceiling as his father’s mourners turned around to face him and his brother.

“I was hoping you’d say a few words,” Sylvia said.

Kaden stared at her. Nate gave him a little push, and before he knew it, Kaden was walking down the center aisle, his brother at his side. Acid burned at the back of his throat as the day’s choices threatened to come up in one giant wave. He swallowed hard. What little color was left in his cheeks faded.