Lily had to transfer to a school in the next city over. My brother and his wife had been commuting between two cities ever since.
And whenever Herbert's mother was busy, Herman would dump the boy on me. Sometimes he'd even rope my brother into helping out.
My brother and his wife had bent over backward to make things easier for Herman and me.
Now, knowing that the two of us had been unknowingly caring for an illegitimate child all this time, the pain carved deeper with every passing second.
I took a long breath.
"Hey... what if I told you I wasn't going to marry him? Would you think I was being reckless?"
My brother paused. When he spoke again, his voice was rougher than before.
"I know you don't make decisions lightly. If you're calling off the wedding, you have your reasons. Mom and Dad are gone. You and me, we're the closest family either of us has. Whatever you decide, I'm behind you. All the way."
The guilt crested. I couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down crying.
My brother sighed softly.
"It's okay. I'm here. If someone's giving you a hard time, you tell me. I'll handle it."
I smiled through the tears and shook my head.
"No, nothing like that. I just... miss you guys."