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  “What do you want…” Jerry glanced at Todd and held up the bag of peas wrapped up in a towel.

  Todd pointed to Brad.

  Jerry nodded and handed them over to Brad.

  “Peas?” Todd said, and Jerry shrugged.

  “Thanks.” Brad put the makeshift ice pack on his lip.

  Jerry took a seat next to Todd on the couch and reached for Todd’s hand. Brad’s touch always made stressful situations better.

  “Well, we’re both here, and you have our attention.” Todd glared and hissed. “So what the fuck is going on?”

  Brad rolled the frozen peas from lip to jaw and then back again. “I hope you don’t kiss Mom with that mouth,” he teased, with a crooked smile. Apparently, he was trying to add humor but failed. Brad let out an awkward sigh and turned to the two of them. “Right…well…okay, here’s the deal. First, I want to say that you’re my baby brother, and I love you. I’m sorry for everything. I never should of let things get as bad as they did. I know I’ve been a royal pain in the ass, and you don’t deserve it. Neither of you did, and I’m sorry.” Brad turned his gaze to the floor. “Jerry, I never even gave you a chance, and that was wrong of me—”

  “Oh, what-the-fuck-ever!” Todd snapped. “If this is why you’re here, forget it. You can fuck off and leave. Go back to your perfect little family, and your perfect little world that doesn’t include any gay people.”

  Todd stood and started for the door, but Jerry grabbed his arm, preventing him from moving. “Honey, sit down and listen to your brother. He’s trying to apologize!”

  Fine, but only for you.

  Todd scanned from Jerry to Brad. He quietly returned to his seat. Bianca jumped up and began to paw at his lap. She was making a comfy nest to curl up on.

  “Thank you, Jerry—”

  “Just stop.” Jerry glared at Brad. “Look, you jerk. You come to our house after all these years. After all the garbage you said about us and getting into a fight with Todd. A fight you started. Not to mention the family drama you caused after that.” He rubbed the armrest of the couch. “You’ve had a stick up your butt for years. Don’t assume for one minute I’m on your side. I’m not.” He glanced between the brothers. His voice softened as his shoulders relaxed. “I mean…” He sighed. “You deserve to say your peace without interruption. Now get on with it.”

  Brad nodded at Todd and indicated Jerry. “Is he always like this?”

  Todd gave an annoyed frown as he fumed.

  “Well, he’s a tough S-O-B, that’s for sure. No wonder you love him.” Brad adjusted the bag of peas on his lip.

  Todd shook his head, choosing not to respond. “You were apologizing for being a complete ass…” His vision went hazy and his heart beat faster.

  It makes sense now. Brad sending the email and then showing up here, him apologizing, and the way he looks. How serious and calm he is. Why didn’t Mom say anything? She mustn’t have known.

  Todd shifted and turned to Jerry, then back to Brad; his mind working a mile per minute. He thought they must be the first ones to be told.

  Poor Lori and the kids. What are they gonna do? Sure, Lori works, but it isn’t enough to support the three of them here in San Jose.

  Before Todd could stop himself, he yelped out, “Oh my God, you’re dying! That’s why you’re here. You’re sick, and you’ve come to make peace. How can this be happening? Brad, I’m so sorry. What happened? How long do you have?” His eyes started to fill with tears.

  “Todd, take a breath. You’re all over the place.” Jerry squeezed his hand.

  He tried to breathe. “I can’t believe this. You’re an ass, but you don’t deserve this—”

  “Toddy, I’m not sick,” Brad interrupted. “Do you hear me? I’m not sick and I’m not dying. God, what a freaking drama queen.” He glanced over his shoulder out the front window, then focused back to them.

  “Hey watch it! Don’t talk to him like that. You did just show up out of nowhere.”

  “Sorry.” Jerry held up his free hand.

  “Plus, I’m the only one who can say that.” Jerry let out a tight chuckle.

  “Screw you both,” Todd snapped. “This isn’t funny. It’s all part of the package. Anyway, what was I supposed to think? You come here all nice and apologetic. So who is dying?” Tears began to form in his eyes.

  “Oh, for the love of… I’m sorry, okay? Listen, I’m not sick or dying. Lori isn’t sick, and Kevin and Michelle are fine. Now, can I please finish without interruptions?”

  He’s acting like he did when we talked about bad news as teenagers. What’s going on?

  He felt Jerry put his hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze. “Fine, go on,” Todd said.

  Jerry, out of habit, reached for the Kleenex on the coffee table and handed it to Todd. He took it and wiped at his eyes.

  Brad changed the position of the now dripping bag of peas and damp towel on his lip. “Listen, I still have to go talk to Mom and Dad. There’s a lot that has to be done before Monday.”

  Brad’s eyes bounced back and forth between them and the clock on the wall. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve said and done, above all else your marriage and the fight. I should never have acted that way.” He checked the window again. He spoke faster. “Look, I couldn’t keep this from you guys. It made me realize what a dumbass I’ve been. It put things in perspective. Anyway, please, you need to be prepared even if there’s barely any time.”

  Todd and Jerry shared an awkward glance.

  “What the hell are you talking about? Time? What time? What’s going on, Bradley? Prepare for what?”

  It’s like being at work when someone needs to file a grievance. They never make sense at first and bounce around. It’s annoying as hell.

  Todd frowned.

  Jerry sat forward on the couch with both hands resting on his legs. “Come on, Brad, what’s going on? Are you trying to sound insane? Or are you the real drama queen?”

  Jerry grinned. “Nice one.”

  Brad ignored them. “Listen. Toddy, you and Jerry need to get things together. Something big is gonna happen. Hell, the whole fucking world is gonna change. I’m not convinced that they’ll be able to keep a lid on things much longer.

  “They?” Todd asked. “They who?”

  Brad ignored the question. “I’m living proof of that. They’ve been so busy I took off and came here.” He spoke with a greater sense of urgency. “Let me ask you this. Isn’t it odd that three weeks ago the president said our troops would be in the Middle East for an unspecified amount of time?” He paused but didn’t wait for a response.

  “Now, look at the military.” Brad leaned in. “They’re pulling back troops to the States. Calling it ‘troop rotations’ and rewards for the hard work and sacrifices they’ve made. What about us pulling our troops from Europe and Asia?” He pointed in the general direction of the study. “Not all of them; that would be too much, I guess, and there would be too many questions. I’m sure they’re trying keep it quiet.” He stopped. “You’ve noticed, right?” he pleaded. “It started happening last week. Everyone’s seen it, but nobody cares. Well, nobody who matters, anyway. Why?”

  Todd shrugged, unimpressed by Brad’s ramblings. Todd petted Bianca, who was resting contently unfazed by the whole affair. Much like Jerry, Bianca was a comfort to him. Her presence made him feel safe.

  Todd’s voice sounded more like he was reading from a teleprompter than actually speaking casually. “Of course, we have. I, well, we watch FOX News, CNN, and all of that. All the politicians and military advisors are saying the troops are doing better than planned.” He shifted. “That the training, or whatever, was going well, and they wanted to give more of our troops leave. Even get them back home to their families. Not to mention the costs; they are doing this to help save the country money.”

  Brad shook his head, while Jerry nodded in agreement.

  “In fact,” Todd continued, “everyone at work is thrilled, well, except for Vari
ck; he’s worried about our government contracts. He pulled me into the office and wanted me to start examining our staffing numbers in case we have to make cuts. Considering our year, I doubt that will be an issue.”

  Jerry nudged him.

  “Right,” Todd focused. “Anyway, people at work are actually giving the president a bit of a break. Hell, even our dumbass Senator English has said a few nice things, and the Secretary of State, Martha Webster, has been everywhere towing the government line. Saying how good we’re doing.”

  He didn’t like her, she always seemed too fake.

  Brad adjusted the peas, and his chin dropped.

  “Brad, this is a good thing,” Todd said. “Hell, both parties have been supportive. So what’s the big deal?”

  “Dammit, Todd! That’s just it,” Brad snapped. Bianca twitched her tail at Brad as he started talking louder. “No one is bad-mouthing the president, and the whole tone in Washington has changed, at least from what I’ve witnessed.” He ran his free hand over the stubble on his face. “They’ve tabled their bickering, and they’ve been working together on a variety of domestic issues. And most of it has been behind closed doors, so people aren’t aware of what’s happening. It’s like what Mom would do before people came to the house. Clean up what you can, and put away or hide what you can’t.”

  “Brad, do you honestly think President Zachary would act secretively?” Todd crossed his arms in front of his chest. “He’s supporting the troops while trying to get the cost of the military under control. That’s all.” He uncrossed his arms. “He’s a good man. Doing what it takes to keep the military strong, and the economy from tanking, even if that makes him unpopular.” He glanced over to Jerry and added, “Even if he doesn’t like us gays. Anyway, what do you think is going on? You’re rambling like a nut.”

  Lately, something did seem different now that Brad mentioned it. It was like everyone in the government was taking Prozac and singing Kumbaya. Troops were coming home faster and people were supporting the president. Yes, some of the media had said things, and there had been a few strange mentions on the net; however, they were mostly ignored. Wasn’t it normal? Wasn’t this type of background noise always going on?

  “Todd, listen.” Brad glanced over his shoulder before continuing, “Hell, they’re getting so busy, they didn’t even question me when I left my office. There isn’t anything else I can do anyway, so they were kinda glad to see me go, I guess. The only reason I’m involved is because I was talking to the guys on the International Space Station. They were the first to hear from the ships.”

  Todd and Jerry stared at each other. Jerry sank back into the couch. Todd moved forward as the cat jumped off, giving him a dirty look. “Ships?” They asked in unison.

  Brad crossed his arms and continued speaking fast, the damp towel and bag of peas now resting on his lap. “I don’t have all the details. But there will be an announcement Monday night by President Zachary. It hasn’t been publicized yet, and once he speaks, people are gonna freak out.” Brad leaned closer to Todd. “You and Jerry need to make sure you have food, water, and everything you need for a couple of days. God, when this hits, people are gonna panic.”

  Jerry went to speak, but Todd grabbed his hand out of fear, and to keep him from interrupting. Jerry crossed and uncrossed his legs. Once his feet were on the ground again the heel of his foot started to tap on the floor as his leg shook.

  “The military,” Brad continued, “from what I can put together, are back to help keep the peace. The military came in and locked us down after we reported the news to our boss at NASA. They kept a bunch of men and officers there watching us. We couldn’t even change or get fresh clothes. They locked us up tight. Anyway, they’re staging in and around large metropolitan areas. Including the Bay Area. They can deploy in an hour, possibly two. At least, that’s what the officers were saying. Those bastards weren’t even following their own orders; some of them were making calls to their families, warning them, but not saying why. It’s been nuts.”

  Brad took a slow breath and forced a smile. “Just call in sick on Monday. Stay here, go to Costco. Get what you need for a week, perhaps longer. The estimate is that it’ll take a couple of days for people to settle and for the country’s assets to be secured.” Brad collapsed back on the chair, watching for their reactions.

  “Brad, what the hell are you talking about?” Todd asked. “Did I hit you that hard? You’re starting to freak me out. You sound crazy.” He leaned in. “And since when are you buddy-buddy with military officers who’ve got this kind of access?”

  Reaching out, placing a hand on Brad’s leg, and watching him, Todd’s gaze softened. “Are things okay at work?” He turned to Jerry and then back to Brad. “Is it possible you’re having a nervous breakdown?”

  “Todd, I’m fine. I’m not having a breakdown. Listen, I get that it sounds scary. Hell, I’m freaking out, but I don’t anticipate there’s anything to be afraid of. I promise.” Brad took a couple of breaths to try to relax. “This is real. Listen, focus on how you feel at this moment. Imagine everyone else when they get this news. You know how people are. Hell, you work in human resources; you deal with irrational people on a daily basis. Now amplify it by adding aliens.” Brad took the towel from his lap and moved it to his still red mouth and jaw. “The religious nuts will go to town, I’m sure, not to mention the potential of new hate groups popping up. Todd, the military will have the situation under control, but you need to be prepared.”

  Jerry shook his head, and Todd wasn’t sure where to focus as Brad continued, “Todd, we aren’t alone. They’re out there right now. They’re in different types of ships. At least, that’s what the guys on ISS said. They’re aliens—real live people from another planet.” Brad’s words fell from his mouth, and the more he spoke, the more his body tensed.

  Jerry had pursed lips and a furrowed brow. Todd sighed. Jerry wasn’t buying into any of this, but Todd wasn’t so sure. There were a lot of odd things that had happened over the past week. Most importantly, Brad talked right to him, not dogging him. His body was open and every movement he took matched what he was saying.

  Oh my God. Is this possible? Brad can’t lie. Not like this. I could tell.

  “Brad, I want you—”

  “To what, Todd?” Brad stopped him. “I know how I sound. They closed all communication with the space station and sealed the observatories that can see them. I don’t know if any of the other countries know yet. But they must. I tried to contact a counterpart of mine in the UK—he works for the European Space Agency. He said they had a terrorist scare, and they were evacuated. It’s been a week. Why wouldn’t they let them back in? A terrorist scare that takes a full week to sort out? Tell me that doesn’t mean something. And that’s not all! There are some of the independent observatories that have mysteriously gone silent.”

  Jerry shifted on the couch. “Come on, it’s nothing. I mean, I’m sure it’s not—”

  “Are you?” Todd interrupted, “Are you sure about anything right now? Because, Jerry, I’m not.”

  “When the military came in, I was able to talk to Lori, but I couldn’t say anything. I had to make up a story so she wouldn’t worry. Toddy, I had a fucking MP standing next to me when I talked to her.” Brad raked his hands through his hair. “Anyway, everyone at the office was put under house arrest, like me. But today they let us go. Well, they didn’t stop us when we left.”

  “I finally got to see my family, and I convinced Lori. Thank God. I’m sure it was only because she loves me and because I’ve been gone all week. I haven’t even showered yet.” Brad leaned back in the chair. “I sent her off to the store before I came here. You can call her or text her to prove I’m not nuts. Hell, try texting anyone on my work contact list. Good luck reaching them. Toddy, things are gonna change. I hope it’s gonna be amazing.”

  Jerry’s head shook.

  “Brad, are you on drugs?” Todd tried to find another answer for this. It was too outrageous t
o be real, even with the strange things they heard on the news. And he did read of the sudden shutdown of the Mauna Kea Observatory for maintenance. Still, the little voice in the back of his head told him to believe his brother.

  Could we be that blind?

  Todd’s fingers tingled. He was squeezing Jerry’s hand a little tighter than he intended. Jerry moved his hand, giving it a quick shake. “Come on, Brad, do you honestly think the government could keep this quiet? It’s not possible. The internet. Social media. Trust me, it would get out.”

  “The government’s been able to keep this quiet because it’s happened so quickly, and the ships are still too far off.” Brad stopped a moment before speaking. “Todd, do you believe me?”

  “What about the internet?” Jerry demanded. “People can use their telescopes and take photos. Post them online. What about that?”

  “And would you believe them? How many fake UFO reports are on the net? All the false video. No one pays attention to that stuff,” Brad said. “Anyway, the ships are too far off for photographs snapped on your phone.”

  All Todd’s education and training told him Brad wasn’t lying. He heard the concern and the sincerity in his voice. No matter how crazy it sounded, Brad was telling the truth. As far-fetched as it sounded.

  Todd glanced at Jerry, knowing he, too, had been having trouble digesting the whole story.

  Jerry rubbed his eyes. “Brad, this is a lot to swallow. I mean, granted, there have been crazy things going on, but that’s nothing new. What do you expect us to say? Do you want us to accept this without question? You haven’t spoken to Todd in years, and now you’re here with this story.”

  “I’m convinced,” Todd said softly.

  “Oh, come on!” Jerry turned to him. “You can’t be serious?”

  “Jerry,” Todd started, “Brad is many things, asshole included. But he wouldn’t make up something like this. He was always honest, and a big tattletale, getting me into trouble whenever I did something wrong.”

  “Hey!” Brad barked.

  “I’m sorry,” Jerry said. “Todd. Come on, he’s joking…this…this can’t be real. Your brother is—”