I caught my wife kissing my older brother at our vacation home, then slipped away unseen. The next day, I left my wife there with Kai and drove home like I knew nothing. He had promised our parents an announcement at dinner. By evening, they were pounding on my door, demanding to know what I’d done!
My brother, Kai, had been the center of our family for as long as I could remember.
He was three years older, better at sports, and the kind of student whose report cards our mother showed to strangers.
Kai had been the center of our family.
When Kai got a promotion, Dad opened champagne.
When I got one, Dad asked whether my company was hiring.
I learned not to expect much.
But one birthday still bothered me.
I learned not to expect much.
I’d turned twenty-seven and driven to my parents’ house with a chocolate cake I’d bought myself.
