Turning the Page Read Online Free Page A

worked, he stuck to his routine, and Jane gave him grief. On Friday, since Malcolm had everything buttoned up, he left the office a few hours early. He didn’t have to pick up his brother at the airport because he was renting a car, so Malcolm went home and made sure the guest room was presentable and then did some last minute cleaning.
    Peter arrived on time and blew inside like a whirlwind. “Malcolm.” Peter was all smiles and energy, hugging him tightly before looking around. “Everything looks the same.”
    Malcolm shrugged and said nothing. Had he expected that Malcolm would have renovated or something?
    “Am I in the guest room?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then I’ll get my things and you can change, and we’ll go to dinner. I’m starved, and I know you have to be hungry. Have you lost weight?”
    There had never been any doubt that they were brothers, with their tall frames and dark hair and eyes. They had the same angular face, but Pete had high cheekbones that gave him a movie-star look. Malcolm had always thought of himself as more ordinary. David had voiced a contrary opinion more than once. Malcolm had always felt as though he was the center of David’s world, just like David had been the center of his.
    “A little,” Malcolm admitted. Not that he’d been trying, but he sometimes skipped meals. “Let me help you bring in your things.” He needed to change the subject.
    “I got it. There’s no use both of us freezing half to death.”
    Peter went back out, and Malcolm notched up the heat a little. Then he met Peter at the door and led him upstairs to get settled.
    “I made dinner reservations for tonight, and tomorrow I thought I’d cook,” Peter said.
    “It’s good to have you here,” Malcolm said.
    Peter turned away from his luggage and hugged Malcolm once again. “I know this has been hell. You and David were, like, joined at the hip for years. You finished each other’s sentences and completed each other and all that. But he’s gone, and you need to move on with your life.” Peter released him and stepped back. “Let go and have some fun. You’re a single guy again.” He did this weird dance that reminded Malcolm of a demented chicken.
    “I don’t want to be single, and please don’t ever… ever do that dance again. There isn’t enough brain bleach to get that image out of my head.”
    “Mal,” Peter said in that tone that grated up Malcolm’s spine. “I know you miss him, but David was the one who died, not you. It’s been over a year. I know you needed time to mourn, but it’s time you started living again. You don’t have to date if you don’t want to, but go out with friends. I know you haven’t talked to many people lately, but I’m sure they’re all waiting for you to approach them again.”
    “I’m….” He was saying the same things over and over again and getting tired of it.
    “You’re a turtle. You’ve had your head pulled into your shell for too long. It’s time to poke it back out and start to engage the world again.”
    “Nice analogy,” Malcolm quipped. “How long have you been saving that?”
    “Since Christmas, when you spent the entire day playing with Anabelle and pretty much ignoring everyone else. I had twenty people for dinner, and half of them didn’t even know you were there.”
    That was a little extreme, but maybe Peter had a point. “Okay… so….”
    “We’re going out, so get changed into something that’s more fun, less stodgy. Our reservation is for seven, but we can have a few drinks beforehand and maybe talk to some people.”
    Malcolm stifled a groan, but he turned and left to change. He found some casual clothes and a nice off-white and blue sweater David had bought for him years ago. It was an old friend, and it made him feel like David was holding him in a way. Yeah, he knew it was a little stupid, but he wasn’t willing to let David go. They had spent too many years together—and they’d been through him working