Trust Me

breakfast.”
    Fifteen minutes later, freshly showered and with her hair anchored in a twist at the back of her head, Desdemona poured blue-corn pancake batter into neat, round puddles on her griddle.
    “Anything I can do?” Stark ran a hand through his damp hair as he sat down on a stool on the other side of the counter.
    “Nope. I got everything ready before you arrived. I’m a pro, if you will recall.”
    “I have always had great respect for professional expertise,” Stark said very seriously.
    Desdemona glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as she reached for a spatula. She could not tell if he was trying to be funny or not. “How did your brothers like the eggplant spread?”
    “They ate it. I put it on top of the pizza as you suggested, covered it with some extra parmesan, and reheated the whole thing.”
    “That was very creative of you.”
    “They didn’t seem to notice anything different.”
    “Good.” Desdemona piled the pancakes onto a plate. “Why don’t you bring them over here for dinner one of these days?”
    He gave her a look of surprise as she set the pancakes down in front of him. “You mean it?”
    “Sure.” She put the pitcher of maple syrup on the counter. “I won’t promise to cook pizza, but I think I can come up with something that they’ll eat.”
    “That would be nice,” Stark said. “Thanks.” He glanced at the clock as he picked up his fork.
    “You’ve got plenty of time. You’re only five minutes from your office.”
    “I know.” He went to work on the pancakes. “This feels a little strange, that’s all.”
    “Mind if I ask you a question?”
    “Go ahead,” he said around a mouthful of pancakes.
    “Why did you take your brothers in for the summer?”
    Stark stopped chewing for a few seconds. “Damned if I know.” He forked up another bite of pancakes. “These are great.”
    “You must have thought about it.”
    “Blue-corn pancakes? Not really. I’m not sure I’ve ever had them.”
    “I’m talking about your decision to take the responsibility of your brothers for the summer. It was a big commitment. You didn’t even know them.”
    “Yeah, well, you know how it is.”
    “Yes, I do,” she agreed. “I have a lot of family, and I’m well aware of what that means. But it was a new concept for you.”
    “Do me a favor and don’t use the word concept. It reminds me of Ian.”
    “You don’t want to talk about why you took Jason and Kyle in, do you?”
    Stark put down his fork and fixed her with a steady gaze. “What exactly do you want to know?”
    “I want to know why you felt you had to take them for the summer.”
    “What’s the big deal?” He raised one broad shoulder in a dismissing shrug and picked up his fork. “I just did, that’s all. They didn’t have anyplace else to go. Their father is gone for good. I know that, even if they’re still hoping he’ll return. Their mother is trying to get her own act together and doesn’t have time for them right now. So, I let them stay.”
    “Because you’re their brother.”
    “Because I didn’t want them to feel – “ He broke off, words having apparently failed him.
    “To feel what?”
    “That they didn’t have a right to make some demands of their own. That they didn’t have a claim on someone. That there wasn’t a place for them.” Stark scowled in obvious frustration. “Hell, I don’t know.”
    “You didn’t want them to feel what you felt when your parents got their divorce, is that it?”
    “Maybe.” Stark downed the last of his pancakes. “Not that I can do much about it. They’ll have to learn to tough it out on their own. It’s a rough world.”
    “I know. But sometimes some people are in a position to make it a little easier for others. The Wainwrights did for me and my mother what you’re trying to do for Jason and Kyle.”
    “And you’re still repaying the debt,” Stark said grimly.
    “I don’t see it that way.”
    “I know. Forget I said that. Any more pancakes?”
    “Yes.” Desdemona went back to the stove. “You know something?”
    “What?”
    “I think Jason and Kyle are very fortunate to have you for an older brother.”
    “Uh-huh.” Stark obviously wanted to change the subject. “You know I could get used to this.”
    “Having your brothers around?”
    “No, stopping by here on my way to work in the mornings.” Stark glanced speculatively toward the large, freestanding wardrobe in the corner. “Maybe I should keep