In this short segment, Jeremy, the father of the family, had a heart attack because of the stress of the threatening letters two of his boys and their friend are receiving. It is the combination of the heart attack and the strain of the letters that threaten to tear apart an otherwise close-knit family of adopted brothers.

The passage below takes place in the Evans kitchen. Billy, a twin of Randy, works on a landscaping project for his class with a friend, Tony. Randy has an issue with his brothers, but takes it out on Tony. Brett, Bobby, Brian and Billy come to Tony’s aid and it almost comes to blows:

“We can add some Knockout Roses spaced out between the green bushes if you like,” Tony said. “That would make things pop, without distracting from the house.”

“You sound like the guy from Queer Eye,” Randy muttered.

“Why? Because he’s an artist? What the hell is wrong with you?” Bobby asked.

“It was meant as a joke,” Randy said, turning his head away from everyone.

“The hell it was! It wasn’t funny. It was disrespectful and rude. You could have said Flip or Flop, Fixer Upper, Property Brothers, or even Maine Cabin Masters. But you went with Queer Eye. That’s offensive,” Bobby said.

Billy was fuming. “Last night at the restaurant, you were all over Tony’s ass, butting in when it had nothing to do with you.”

Tony’s face was beat red. He put an elbow on the table and his hand over his eyes. “Look, I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I’m sorry.” He turned to Billy and said, “Maybe you can do this presentation without me.” He looked up at Brian and said, “Maybe I should go home.”

“No, Tony! Please don’t,” Vicky said as she came around the table to hug him from behind. “I know Brian would be disappointed if you did, and I think the others would be, too.” To Randy, she said, “You owe him an apology and I don’t want to hear anything else coming out of your mouth! Is that understood?”

Randy shrugged and said, “I’m sorry.”

“That was dripping in sincerity,” Brett said. “I’m sure Tony feels welcome now.”

“Randy, leave the room,” Jeremy said. “You will not treat a guest in our house like that. He’s not only Brian’s friend, he’s everyone’s friend.”

Brian and Billy were seething. Both stood with their hands clenched into fists.

“Randy, I’ve been thinking for a while now. Remember, a couple of years ago when the guys and I were in the hospital in Chicago after we were freed from that shit hole? You would go from room to room and talk to us, listen to us, and encourage us?” Brett asked. “I miss that Randy. I don’t know where he went, but he’s been AWOL for a while.”

“Screw you!”

“Yeah?”

“Oh? What? What are you going to do?” Randy spat.

Brett slammed Randy into the wall with a forearm and grabbed the scruff of his shirt around his neck. A picture fell to the floor. In a small, but menacing voice, he said, “Dad told you to leave the room. If you don’t, I’ll help you leave, but you might not be in one piece. Tony is our friend. All of ours. You will not treat him disrespectfully or rudely. You will treat him as you treat Bobby or Danny.”

“Or what?”

“You really want to go there? Because I’m ready if you are.”

George and Jeremy quickly pulled them apart. Bobby, Danny, and Two stood in front of Brian, who was more than ready to come to Brett’s and Tony’s aid.

Jeremy grabbed Randy by the arm and pulled him outside. George held Brett only as long as Jeremy needed to get Randy out the door.

            Randy has been one character in my books that is a peacemaker, is conciliatory, and compassionate, as evidenced by Brett’s comment about the “old Randy.” There are other reasons within the chapters why Randy has an issue with Tony, and why Brett, Billy, and Brian quickly come to his defense. This is one example of the strain the letters and Jeremy’s heart attack has on the family, especially the seven brothers, and all of it leads to a dramatic confrontation at the finish.

Author Bio –