Bring Me Home for Christmas

do anything to hurt me. He said he’ll drive me home.”
    “Well, that’s just it, Becca. He’d never do anything on purpose, but you two were like oil and water there for a while. It didn’t work too well for you and Denny. You were real…” He hung his head briefly. “While he was in the sandbox, you were hurting all over the place. I felt like it was kind of my fault—I was the one who hooked you up in the first place.” He squeezed her hand tenderly, something Rich never did. “I don’t want to see you go through something like that again.”
    “Wow,” she said in a whisper. “I didn’t think you even noticed.”
    “I didn’t say anything,” he said, shrugging, “because I didn’t know what to say, for one thing. I didn’t know how to make it better. And I couldn’t say anything to Denny until he got back from Afghanistan—you don’t go telling a fighting Marine his at-home life is all a wreck. But yeah, I noticed. And then you started to get a little better…”
    She smiled at him. “A little, huh?”
    “You went from being crushed to being pissed. It was an improvement.”
    “Aww. Our problems had nothing to do with you. It wasn’t your fault. Then I met Doug and—”
    “Here’s the thing, Becca. You have to tell Mom and Dad where you are and who’s taking responsibility for you. And you have to tell them how you got here—that I didn’t have much of a choice.”
    She stiffened indignantly. “Excuse me, but I’m taking responsibility for myself. Denny’s giving me a place to stay, but I’m twenty-five and I’m—”
    He was shaking his head. “I’m leaving you and going home because Denny said he’d look out for you. I know you’re all grown up, but he’s your ex. And you know how Mom feels about your ex. You have to tell her. And you have to do it tomorrow, because when she asks me about you, I’m not going to lie to her. I kind of feel like she can still ground me or take away my truck or something.”
    That made her grin. Really, Rich’s relationship with that truck was funny.
    “Okay. I was going to, anyway.”
    “Have you told Doug?”
    “Mostly,” she said with a shrug. “I told him I was hunting with you….”
    Rich sucked in his breath. “Okay, I don’t want to know any more about this. You kept it from Mom and Dad, you kept the important parts from Doug, Denny’s the one I’m leaving in charge…” He groaned.
    “I’m going to tell everyone everything, but right now, I’m still here because I have a broken ankle.”
    “At least promise to call Mom. Before I get home and she puts the screws to me.”
    “For goodness’ sake, you’re twenty-five! You build bridges! Why are you so nervous about our mother?”
    “I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. “I hate it when she’s pissed at me.” He ran a big meaty hand over his face. “You sure you’re going to be all right if I leave you?”
    She nodded. “I’m sure. I think this worked out just the way it’s supposed to.”
    “And your ankle doesn’t hurt too much anymore?” he asked.
    She shook her head.
    “Okay, one more thing, Becca. If anything happens and you need me, will you call me?”
    “Huh? Richie, you never act like this!”
    “Yeah,” he said, running a hand around the back of his neck. “I know you think you’re the boss, the big sister, but it really bothers me to see you upset. I do care about you, you know.” He grimaced. “Don’t tell anyone I said that.”
    She put her fingers over her mouth to cover her laugh.
    “If you’re sure, I gotta go. I’m leaving early in the morning—I have work on Monday.”
    “Yeah. Go,” she said. “And hey, Rich? Thanks. That was a real nice brother-thing to do.”
    “Yeah? Well, don’t get used to it.” He stood up. “Call me if you have a problem. Okay?”
    “Okay.”
    “Jack and Preacher said they’d be looking out for you, too.”
    “Thanks.”
    He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “See ya in a week or so.”
    “Drive carefully.”

    Because Rich needed to be on the road by about 4:00 a.m. to make the drive to San Diego in just one long day, he left the bar early. Dirk and Troy didn’t have as far to go the next day—Sacramento was approximately a five-hour drive. Denny made sure Becca was settled in his apartment, then drove out to the Riordan cabins to hang out with his friends.
    Becca had been asleep awhile when he finally came in. It was almost midnight. She kept her eyes