I stand awkwardly, hands clasped behind my back, and wait for him to respond. Finally he sighs and nods at the table.

“Tea?” he asks in a gruff voice.

There’s a tea service on the long conference table. Buttery scones, chocolate biscuits, jam and clotted cream, a large teapot and mugs. My throat tightens as I think about tea and Jessie. I wonder what my twelve-year-old self would’ve told her about this meeting.

I shove the thought aside.

“No,” I say. “Let’s get down to business. This will be your last takeover attempt. The next time you try, I will ruin you. I’m done playing.” I sit in a leather chair and lean back.

My father takes a seat diagonal to me and pours himself a cup of tea. Steam puffs up and is followed by the scent of bergamot and black tea leaves.

I close my eyes. Does everything have to evoke her?

“How’s your brother?”

Something’s different. I look at my father. Really look. “Gavin’s fine.” Then, “What’s happened?”

He gives me a sheepish smile. “I’m a dad again. You have a brother.”

I’m stunned. He’s…what?

“Delia and I got married. She wants a big family.” He holds out his hands and gives another sheepish smile.

My eyebrows lower. I have another brother? My heart starts to thump and I realize I already love him, within ten seconds of learning he exists, I love my baby brother.

My breath catches. I wonder what leverage my father will use, what upper hand he’ll try to gain if he sees I care. I want to ask a thousand questions. What’s his name, how old is he, what’s he like, what color are his eyes, does he smile?

I school my features into an expressionless mask. But still, I care about this baby boy that I may never meet.

I lean forward, surprised at the vehemence I feel, and address my father. “If I hear even a whisper of a rumor that you treat your son the way you treated Gavin and me, I will destroy you. I will take you apart piece by piece and leave you ruined.”

My father takes a drink of tea, not perturbed in the least. He sets down the cup, then, “Good. I’ll hold you to that.”

“Excuse me?”

He frowns and drags his hand over his chin. “I’ve spent a good majority of the past seven years thinking about my life and regretting most of it. There’s a lot I did that I’ll never forgive myself for. Especially how I treated you boys. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”

I swallow a lump in my throat. His words sound eerily similar to ones I said only a few days ago.