Welcome to Westbrook

Chapter 9

Nine

Early the next day, I was busy on my laptop, doing a combination of answering emails and doing online shopping. Other than ordering some last minute gifts for Ben, I was trying to pick out a few gifts for my nephews and niece as well. Not having been around them for a while, I decided to video chat my brother on my phone and show him some choices on my laptop before ordering his kids their gifts.

"What's up?" he greeted almost instantly. I could hear his three young children in the background.

"Hey! I need to ask you about something. Can you get away from the kids for a minute?"

"Gladly. Amy, I'm on the phone with Evelyn! I'll be right back!" he called to his wife. I heard her voice answer him before he went into the other room. "Why are you video chatting me instead of just calling?"

"I need to show you some gift choices. I wanted to get the kids a couple more things. What do you think of this action figure for Charlie?"

"He'd like that. Charlie likes any action figure, really. Bradley likes anything to do with animals right now. And Amanda is still young, so she'll appreciate anything with bright colors," Gregory laughed.

I grinned. "Okay, good. Thanks for the input."

"No problem. So when are you going to make it here? Hasn't it stopped snowing yet?"

"It's supposed to stop by this afternoon, so we'll see. Hopefully the roads will be clear by tomorrow. If not, definitely the day after," I told him. "How's the rest of the family?"

Gregory proceeded to tell me how everyone was, especially our parents. Everyone seemed to be doing well, each person excited about Christmas. In another week, it'd be time to share that experience, getting everyone together for the holiday.

My brother was in the middle of a story about how his three kids made a complete mess in his kitchen recently when someone entered the room behind me. However, I didn't know it until Gregory pointed it out.

"Who's that in the background, EJ?" he asked me, using my old nickname. My eyes widened at the nickname use, hoping the person didn't hear that. After all, I wrote under the name of E.J. White. I didn't need someone connecting those dots.

"Sorry, didn't mean to intrude," Jack spoke. I turned around and saw his apologetic smile.

"No, man, you didn't! You must be Jack!" Gregory shouted through the phone.

Jack looked confused and surprised at the same time. "Yeah," he replied.

"I heard a lot about you—"

"Okay, I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow."

"EJ, wait!" Gregory shouted, but it was too late. I disconnected our call and set the phone down before glancing over at Jack.

"You've talk about me?" Jack smiled, taking a seat at the table I was at.

"Not really. I mean, I've mentioned your name a few times to my family. Word gets around fast in a family, you know?"

Jack nodded, appearing like he didn't believe me. "Right, I get it."

I focused back on my laptop, letting a moment of silence pass between us. Until Jack spoke again. "So, EJ, huh?"

My body froze, my hope that he didn't hear my idiot brother instantly dissolving. "Yeah, it's a stupid old nickname, that's all. I don't really use it anymore," I lied. I continued to look at my laptop screen, praying he couldn't tell I was obviously lying.