Chapter 2

Eric’s hair was also lighter than his brothers’. Gary and Greg had dark brown hair while Eric’s was dark blond. Although Eric resembled his brothers and no one who saw them together would fail to realize they were related, his facial features seemed softer than those of the twins. His lips were a little fuller, the cleft in his chin was a little more pronounced, and his nose didn’t look like it had been broken (as Gary’s and Greg’s did). He was much more handsome than I thought he would be.

“Patrick, you made it!” Sabrina said, interrupting my thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed her approach because I was too busy watching Eric.

Sabrina was an attractive woman in her late thirties, with shoulder-length chestnut brown hair and eyes, a round face, and a body that looked like it had birthed two children. She had a few extra pounds around her hips and belly, but she didn’t seem to be ashamed of her figure. I found it refreshing that she wasn’t like so many of the suburban wives I saw around the North Shore: rail-thin health nuts who took spinning classes religiously, scrutinized food labels, and grinded their own almond butter at Whole Foods.

“Yes, I made it. Thanks again for the invitation, Sabrina,” I said before handing her the red velvet cake I’d brought. I don’t personally care for red velvet cake, but Sabrina had mentioned it was a favorite of hers, so I picked up a nice one from a local bakery for her.

She thanked me for the cake before immediately changing the subject. “I can’t wait for you to meet Eric,” she said. “I just know you two will hit it off. I told him you were coming.”

“I believe I spotted him talking with Gary and Greg,” I said, turning back to the Keener brothers. Eric had disappeared from the group. Gary and Greg were still there with the unnamed man, but Eric was gone. In the brief time that I’d turned away to speak with Sabrina and give her the cake, Eric had slipped out of sight. “He was just there.”

“He probably went to pee or something,” Sabrina said. “I don’t think I’ve seen him without a beer in his hand since he got here.”

Great, I thought. So he’s an alcoholic, too?

Sabrina seemed to read my mind because she immediately said, “Not that Eric’s an alcoholic or anything, but those Keener men do enjoy a cold one, you know?”

Since I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, I didn’t, not verbally anyway. I just smiled and nodded. At that moment, Sabrina and Gary’s oldest daughter Leah approached her mother and asked if her friend Kirsten could spend the night.

“Where are your manners, Leah?” Sabrina asked. “Can’t you see I’m talking with Dr. Holt? I think you owe him an apology.”

The eleven-year-old frowned and turned to me. “I’m sorry, Dr. Holt.”

I was about to assure the girl her interruption was not a problem when Sabrina shoved the cake box into her daughter’s hands and told her to take it to the kitchen and slice it for the guests

“But what about Kirsten?” Leah asked.

“Ask me later. I can’t deal with that right now. Where’s Eric?”

Leah rolled her eyes. “He’s in the kitchen. He took a cupcake out of my hand and stuffed it in his mouth. He’s soimmature.”

So in addition to drinking too much, he also steals cupcakes from children. Wonderful, I thought.

“Go in the house and tell your uncle I’d like to see him please.”

Leah smiled then. “Is he in trouble?”

“No, he’s not in trouble, but you will be if you don’t do what I asked you to.”

The girl let out an exasperated sigh before heading into the house through the sliding back patio doors.

Sabrina asked if I wanted anything, and I told her a beer would be nice. She pulled a can from one of the three huge coolers filled with ice and drinks and handed it to me.

“Thanks,” I said, opening it. I’d just taken a swallow when I heard someone behind me speak.

“I heard I was summoned.”

Turning, I found myself face-to-face with the infamous Eric Keener. He was even better looking up close. His eyes were brown, like his brothers’, and he had very good skin.

“Yes, you were summoned,” Sabrina told him. “Eric, this is our neighbor, Patrick Holt—DoctorPatrick Holt. Patrick, this is my brother-in-law Eric.”

Eric and I shook hands, and he smiled at me. God, even his teeth were great.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Patrick,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”

“Uh oh,” he said with a low laugh.