They didn’t work out on Thursdays, so Nathan stopped by The Stand, picked up Joe’s favorite lunch, and drove to his office. He was halfway through his trek across the parking lot when he spotted a tiny figure running toward him.
“Mom! It’s Uncle Nathan!”
Joe’s son had become a gangly six-year-old. Nathan crouched so Angel could launch himself into his arms.
“We saw Dad! And Grandpa! I mean, Abuelo. ?Me compró un Millennium Falcon!” Angel started speaking rapidly, and Nathan struggled to follow the confusing story about the Star Wars LEGO set Beto had bought for him.
“？Habla despacio!” Nathan finally said, and lifted palms of surrender. “I can’t keep up.”
Nathan greeted Zara, who was smiling a few feet away. “Joe hired another new tutor,” she said. “This one’s big on immersive education and wants Angel to only speak Spanish, even to family. Your dad was annoyed.”
“Are you surprised?” Beto wasn’t raised in a bilingual household like Sofia. He was like Nathan, speaking Spanish only to explain that he wasn’t fluent. Joe spoke more than all of them after taking classes as part of his business degree. Once he had Angel, he became determined to raise a son that knew his heritage.
“Maybe you can tutor me, huh?” Nathan said. Angel flushed and pretended to punch Nathan in the stomach. Nathan groaned and doubled over. “You taking boxing too?”
Angel laughed. “No! I’m too little!”
Zara asked Angel to wait in the car with his nanny. Nathan hugged him goodbye, long and tight, reveling in his nephew’s scrawny arms around his neck. He needed to steal hugs more often, even if it meant hopping on a cross-country flight.
Zara didn’t speak until Angel was in the car. “I’m so sorry about Beto. I couldn’t believe it when Joe told me.”
“Yeah, I know.” She looked like she was expecting tears at any moment. But when Nathan thought about the tumor killing his father, it felt like a story someone had told him about a weaker man he’d never met. He couldn’t believe something that small could defeat a giant. “Joe finally asked you to come home?”
She hesitated. “He asked me to send Angel with Nadia. I decided to come too.”
“Oh. Okay.” Nathan knew to tread carefully. Living with his parents had taught him that there were some things about a marriage you’d rather not know.
“We’re separated,” she said, and folded her arms around her waist. “It’s been eight months now, but he won’t talk about filing papers.”
“Divorce papers?” Saying it out loud made his chest hurt. Family meant everything to Joe. A divorce would devastate him. “Is it that bad?”
Zara sighed. “I met someone. It happened during filming. Joe and I spent so much time apart—”
“I don’t think I need to hear this,” he interrupted. Nathan loved her, but if he had to pick a side, Joe would win every time. “It’s between you and my brother.”
“He won’t talk to me.” Her eyes watered and she pressed a hand to her mouth. “I still love him. I just…” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to help him. He seemed fine with Angel earlier, but he always seems fine.”
Joe was usually so open about his therapy and medication that he sounded like a self-care influencer on social media. Now he avoided eye contact whenever Nathan asked how he was feeling. Joe had been looking out for him for years. It was time he returned the favor.
“I’ll take care of him,” Nathan said, “I promise.”
Later, Joe’s assistant did a double take when Nathan walked out of the elevator. He lifted the greasy food bag and pointed to Joe’s door. Once inside, he found Joe sitting behind his desk, staring out the window. The sound of the door made him start, swivel around, and reach for a file without looking up. “I said I’m busy, Carrie.”
“Doing what?” Nathan closed the door behind him. “Admiring the landscaping?”
Joe frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“Brought you lunch.”
“I don’t have time.” He stared at the bag. “Are those—”
“Fries from The Stand?” Nathan pulled out a tiny condiment container. “Yeah. Miguel sent extra sauce.”
Joe’s eyes sparkled like a kid on Christmas morning. He really needed to eat something besides juiced grass and tofu.
“Give it to me,” Joe said.