I controlled my eye roll. “And?” I asked, still concerned.

He grinned, and the baseball stilled. “And you’re looking at Cape Carolina High’s new baseball coach.”

As impossible as it had felt only a moment before, I actually felt happy. I hugged my brother and slapped him on the back.

“Good for you, man. Good for you.”

He grinned at me, and the sparkle in his eye told me that, for the first time in a long time, my brother was happy, too.

“Okay,” he said, looking at me intently. “I did it. I moved on. It’s your turn.”

“Mace,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

“I know you are, bro.”

“No, but I need you to hear it. I’m sorry that I fought with you that night and I’m sorry that I broke your arm. I’m sorry that I ruined your life.” Ruined your life. I felt tears pooling in my eyes. I had ruined his life and now, it seemed, I had also ruined my own. “I think I give you such a hard time because if I’m mad at you I don’t feel as guilty for what I did. If I blame you for not moving on with your life, it helps me ignore that I haven’t moved on with mine.”

The way Mason was looking at me, I expected a smart-ass response. But, instead he said, “I know all that, Park. I’m your big brother. Of course I know.”

I nodded as he walked back out the door. My phone beeped. For hours, all I had been able to think about was that text that wasn’t coming. And now, as soon as it did, I wished it hadn’t.

I won’t do this. I’m sorry.

I dropped the phone onto the couch and flopped down beside it. Well, damn, of course she wouldn’t. It had taken me until right now to understand that I was asking this woman whom I loved to basically step into my dead wife’s position. Live in her house, work for her company, have her babies. It was absurd. It was insulting.

And now I was going to have to do something huge to prove that I understood where she was coming from. I was going to have to prove that I could fix it.

I picked up the phone again, wanting to say something to her. But no words came. Instead, I opened up my email and typed, to my father-in-law: I need to sell the house. It’s time. You have been so kind to me; you are my family, always. But I can’t move forward by doing the same things I’ve been doing. It isn’t fair to anyone. Thank you for allowing me to marry your daughter. Thank you for letting me work at your company. Thank you for being my family. I am forever grateful.

Not ninety seconds later, I got an email back.

Sell the damn house. I don’t care. But I can’t run my company without you, so suck it up. You have a big raise coming your way.