For Mac (15 page)

They looked at photos for several minutes, then settled back on the couch. Branson didn’t bother to move away first, and Liam certainly wasn’t going to object. He stabbed the “play” button on the remote and willed himself to stop feeling anything but friendship. It didn’t work, but at least it kept him from slinging an arm around Branson while they watched the movie, or giving in and kissing the man senseless. Neither of those gestures would be welcomed, and Liam worked hard to be good.

Liam had never enjoyed himself more during an evening watching movies than he had that night. Branson was a comforting weight beside him, and they laughed at bad lines and horrible special effects and jumped in the scary parts as if they were one person. When it finally came time to say good night, Liam instantly missed the touching.

Liam took a risk and held his arms out for a hug. A big bear hug that engulfed Branson in his arms, but one that ended quickly. Liam stepped back to a respectable distance as quickly as he had moved in for the good-bye hug. They made plans to go to dinner that Friday, and Liam promised to come back to the nursing home the next day to visit with Branson while Branson visited with Mac.

T
HE
FOLLOWING
Monday, Andy caught Liam as he was leaving the nursing home and walked with him to his car.

“Hey, man, I wanted to talk to you,” Andy stated matter-of-factly. “Amy and I want to do something for Bran for his birthday, but we’re not sure if we should do it here, at our house, or at his house. Either way, we want you there, so we thought we’d ask what you thought.”

“I didn’t know his birthday was coming up,” Liam answered. “When is it?”

“Friday.”

“The big two four, huh?”

Andy chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so.” He sank back to sit on the hood of Liam’s car. “So what do you think about the party? With Mac? Without Mac?”

“You know him better than I do.” Liam wasn’t sure why Andy was asking him.

“But you’ve been spending more time with him lately,” Andy explained. “You know his current frame of mind better. So what do you think?”

“I don’t know.” Liam leaned against the hood also. “I know being around his brother is important to Branson. But you’re right, he spends way too much time in that room, even now that he’s back to work full time. And he seems so depressed much of the time. So we should try to get him out, especially on his birthday, get him to loosen up, let go, have some fun for a change.” Liam suddenly thought of a plan. “What about a small get-together in Mac’s room, then take Branson out to celebrate right.” Then he thought of another question. “Were there other people you wanted to invite?”

“A couple,” Andy answered. “Some of his neighbors that he gets along with, a couple of his coworkers. He’s pretty solitary these days, doesn’t hang out with others much. But there are quite a few people who are worried about him and want to help him celebrate a little.”

“Okay,” Liam decided on his suggestion. “You, me, and Amy in Mac’s room, and you arrange for all the others to meet us in a public place.”

“Why not his house?”

“That might feel like a trap,” Liam expressed. “He won’t be able to get away if he feels he needs to.”

“Yeah, I guess you have a point.” Andy thought for a moment. “He likes that steak house downtown. It sells drinks too. What about there?”

“Whatever you think, man.” Liam understood Andy’s reasoning about knowing Branson’s current state of mind to a point, but he wasn’t at all sure he should have this much say about Bran’s birthday party. It was like Andy was trying to pull him into Branson’s inner circle, even if the younger man didn’t know about it. “Let me know once you make the plans, and I’ll be there.”

“I like your idea of the four of us with Mac and everyone else later,” Andy agreed. “Let me tell Amy about it, and she’ll contact everyone. One of us will let you know the details.” He pushed off the hood and stood aside. “I’ll let you get home. I’ve kept you long enough.”

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours anyway.” Liam grinned. “I’m meeting Branson for dinner in a little while and maybe some movies.”

“If you go out to eat first, it’ll be after visiting hours by the time you get back, won’t it?” Andy seemed puzzled. “Surely too close to eight o’clock to start a movie.”

Liam grinned again. “We’re going to his house to watch them.”

“Ooooh!” Andy leered.

“Don’t.” Liam got serious. “Don’t you dare. Not again. We’ve finally got on an even keel once more. He’s letting me get close—as a friend—and I’m enjoying the hell out of that. And I think he is too. So don’t take the piss about this, again.”

That sobered Andy. “I was only teasing you, man. I know better than to tease Bran about that anymore. Don’t worry.” He squeezed Liam’s arm. “I’m glad you two are friends. He needs someone right now. I’m glad it’s you.”

Liam wasn’t exactly sure how to take that, but he accepted it at face value. “Thanks, man.”

They parted ways, and each headed home. Liam was sure Andy would probably tell Amy all about the fact that he and Branson watched movies together at Branson’s house, and he had no doubt that Andy would put his own special spin on it. He only hoped that particular spin never got back to Branson.

F
RIDAY
NIGHT
found Liam, Andy, Amy, and Branson at the local bar and grill. There had been several other friends there at first, but they had had dinner and a couple of drinks and headed home. Liam felt he needed to stay since he hadn’t been drinking at all, but the other three were beyond drunk.

When Branson leaned over and started hugging him, Liam knew it was time to take everyone home.

“Come on, bud. I think it’s about time to go home.”

“Nah….” Branson wiggled a little closer, like a puppy who had found a warm blanket, and actually buried his nose in the crook of Liam’s neck. “I like it here.”

“Bran, stop.” Liam tried to push him away. He didn’t know what was causing this reaction—besides copious amounts of alcohol—but he knew Branson wouldn’t like being seen like this.

“Ah,” Andy slurred. “Don’t stop the boy. It’s taken him all this time to get up the courage.”

“Andy, take a breath, bud. I’m gonna go get coffees for everyone.”

“Don’t want a coffee.” Branson snuggled even closer. “Want you.”

“Ah, Bran.” Liam indulged in one hug, then pushed Branson away. “I would love nothing more than to think you meant that… that you wouldn’t be absolutely cheesed off with me tomorrow for letting you do this. But you would be. You don’t mean this. You don’t want this.”

“Yeah, he does.” Andy really was mouthy when he was drunk. “He’s wanted you since the first time he saw you.”

“Don’t be annoying me, Andy. You’re full of shite.” Meanwhile, Branson was trying to get cozier and cozier. “Branson, lad. Come on. We’re goin’ home.”

“Yeah,” Branson purred. “Take me home.”

“Not like that, bud.” Liam removed Branson’s hands. “I’m driving all of you home.”

It was all Liam could do to pour three drunk adults into his car and drive them to Branson’s house. He didn’t know where Andy and Amy lived, and they were too drunk to be able or willing to tell him. Besides, he didn’t want to be alone with Branson right then anyway. He didn’t want to give Andy any ammunition to use against Branson tomorrow.

That didn’t work out so well. Andy passed out as soon as Liam got them inside the house. Branson was still all over Liam, and now Andy wasn’t awake to see that Liam was going to stop him.

“Please, Bran,” Liam begged. “Just go to bed.”

“Only if you come with me.” Branson hummed.

“Branny.” Amy piped up for the first time. Apparently she wasn’t as drunk as Andy was. “Leave the poor man alone. He’s not interested.”

Branson’s look of hope shattered.

“Don’t help, Amy,” Liam shot over his shoulder then turned back to Branson, taking his chin gently in his hand and making Bran look at him. “You know I’m interested, bud. If you weren’t bolloxed, I’d be right there with you. But you won’t want this tomorrow, if you even remember any of this, and I’m not willing to lose a friend over a drunken night’s decisions.”

Branson still looked devastated, but he let Liam lead him to his room and crawled under the covers without accosting him further. Liam went back out into the living room and found Amy still awake.

“You make sure that husband of yours doesn’t bring this up to Branson. I won’t lose a friend over this.”

“Oh, please.” Amy rolled her eyes and waved a hand toward Andy. “He won’t even remember any of this.”

“You think you will?”

Amy nodded. “I usually do.”

“You make sure Branson and Andy know that nothing happened.”

“You know that being drunk doesn’t make you feel things you don’t normally feel,” Amy pointed out. “It only lowers your inhibitions.”

“That’s just it, Amy. It lowers inhibitions, and you know he’s gonna be every bit as inhibited as usual tomorrow. And I’d like to still have a friend.”

“You handled it fine, Liam. I’ll make sure he knows that,” Amy approved, and lay back on the couch, pulling the afghan from the back and covering herself with it. “Now, go home.”

Liam chuckled and let himself out, hoping that if Branson remembered any of this, he remembered
all
of it and knew that Liam had been an absolute gentleman.
Because
, he thought,
damned if I didn’t wish I could take the lad up on his offer
!

L
IAM
DIDN
’
T
have to work the next day, so he waited until he thought the three drunks might be up, then headed over to Branson’s house. He knocked on the door and waited to see if anyone would answer. When they didn’t, he knocked again. He finally gave up and called Branson’s cell.

“Ugh,” answered the voice on the phone.

“Open the door.” Liam laughed. When the voice only groaned again, he added, “You awake enough to do that, Bran? Open the front door.”

The call disconnected, but Liam wasn’t exactly sure Branson hadn’t fallen back to sleep. He was about to call again when the door swung open. Somewhere in the middle of the night, Branson must have taken off his clothes because he was standing there at the door in his boxers… with about half a morning woody.

Liam nearly dropped the cups he was holding.

“Um.” He gathered his wits. “I brought coffee.”

Branson wiped the sleep from his eyes. “Uh… come in.” Branson looked around and noticed Andy in the recliner and Amy on the couch. “Why do I have all this company at… um…”—he looked at the clock on the wall—“ten o’clock on a Saturday morning?”

Liam chuckled. “Ah, boyo, you look like you have a brutal hangover.” He walked past Branson and put the coffee on the table. “How much do you remember?”

“Um….” Branson was racking his brain. “Getting drunk, coming here… I think. Andy passed out? He was picking on me about….” It was obvious, the moment that it sunk in. “Oh shit, Liam. I made a pass at you?”

Liam laughed. “More than one.” When he saw devastation on Branson’s face, he continued. “Don’t worry. Nothing happened.”

“Only because you were still sane.” Branson turned red and looked away. “I’m so sorry, Liam.”

Liam took a chance and hooked a finger under Branson’s chin. “Look at me.” He pulled his chin around until they locked eyes. “I’m not at all offended. Under other circumstances, I would have been flattered. Well, still was flattered, actually, but I knew better than to act on it.”

“Yeah, I’m not—”

“I know that.” Liam dropped his hand, but he and Branson still held eye contact. “I would never ask you to. If you ever feel you want to do something about any of that—when you’re sober—things will turn out very differently, but until I know you are actually comfortable with all that, nothing will ever happen. I promise.”

“Thanks, Liam.” Branson gazed at Liam’s eyes a bit longer then turned to pick up the coffee. “And thanks for this too.”

Liam smiled and grabbed his cup as they heard noises from the living room. “I think the other two zombies are stirring.” He picked up another coffee and gestured for Branson to do the same. “Shall we take them some wake-up juice?”

L
IAM
SPENT
the rest of the day at Branson’s. Amy and Andy stayed too. They all watched movies and tried to overcome the effects of a hangover… everyone but Liam, but then he was still affected by the others’ hangovers. They were quieter than Liam had ever seen any of them. Andy didn’t seem to remember much from the night before. Liam was pretty sure Amy did, but she kept her own counsel about all of it.

Around 6:00 p.m., Liam took Amy and Andy back to the bar to get their car and took Branson back to Silver Linings where they had left his. While they were there, they went in to visit Mac. It was the first Saturday since Mac had come here that Branson hadn’t spent the entire day at his side.

“Hey, Mac.” Branson sat down in the chair beside his brother’s bed. “Sorry I’m so late.”

Mac didn’t answer. He hadn’t moved at all in such a long time. He hadn’t even opened his eyes now for so very long. He hadn’t breathed on his own or shown much sign of life at all in almost a year.

“It’s been over eleven months.” Branson sat there, holding Mac’s hand, but he was really talking to Liam.

Liam pulled up a chair and sat beside him. “Yeah, it’s been a while.” He didn’t know what else to say, so he said nothing.

T
HE
REST
of November went on the same way. Liam would get off work at three o’clock and either wait around or come back to be with Branson for a bit, since Bran worked until 5:00 p.m., then came to sit with Mac for a while. Sometimes they would watch movies with Mac, but more often than not, these days, they ended up at Branson’s house.