Read an excerpt from Jake and Eric (Home Again Anthology)

Eric found out from his father that Jake lived in Virginia Beach. He’d found Jake’s address on the Internet. The morning after his show he drove to Jake’s condominium. He was scared to death. The last time the two of them were together ...they had that terrible fight, landing Eric with a concussion. As Eric stood outside of Jake’s building he wondered if he should’ve brought a gun with him. He pressed the doorbell and waited for Jake to answer. He remonstrated himself for thinking that he would need a gun against his brother. He knew that Jake wasn’t vicious; he was just hurt over the betrayal that Eric had exacted against him.

“Hello,” a voice said.

“Hello.” Without a doubt, Eric knew the voice on the intercom was Jake, even though they hadn’t spoken to each other in a decade.

Eric stuttered nervously. “Hello, is this Jake Ivory?”

The voice didn’t answer.

“It’s me, Jake; it’s Eric. I know that you probably don’t want to see me, but I wanted to see you.” Eric started talking rapidly, afraid that Jake would disconnect him at any moment. “I was in town and I thought that I would look you up. But I understand if you don’t want to see me, but I certainly would like to see you, Jake.”

On the other side of the door, Jake punched his one hand with the other hand. Anger filled him. And then tears fell down his face. He hated being emotional and he wasn’t sure why he was crying, but there was one thing he was sure about. He didn’t want to see Eric. He disconnected Eric’s voice.

At the sound of the buzz, Eric knew that he and Jake were disconnected. Jake had disconnected him. He sobbed as he left the building. Jake’s rejection hurt more than the beating he took from his twin so long ago. It seemed that he would never see his brother again. The knowledge of that loss brought a pain in his heart Eric didn’t think possible. Not having his brother, his twin, in his life was like not having a part of himself. He felt empty inside. Eric got in his rental car and drove to the beach, not too far from where Jake lived. He sat down in the sand and talked to God.

“I know it’s been awhile since you’ve heard from me. To be honest with you, I’m not even sure that you’re there. I know that Dad and Momma believe that you are here, there and everywhere. To hear Dad talk to you, it’s like he believes You’re in the room. I just don’t buy it. But if you are there, please help me to connect with my brother. I hurt him a long time ago and he won’t forgive me. If you can help me out, God, I would appreciate it. And I ain’t making any vows either like I’m going to become a priest or I’ll never eat pork again. If you know me, God, You know that I love women and chitlins. I know that’s not my original line. I heard Jamie Foxx say that in a movie. But you get my point, don’t you.”