I will save your heart from breaking

 

"Don't bring this up now," Boone turned to Alfie as if he needed to think about the moment, not about mom and dad.

"You just don't get it," Alfie was being honest, even if he had no business being in the back of the bakery watching Boone get out cupcakes so they could be decorated in patriotic colors.

"I get that, OK," Boone said. He knew Alfie had been through a lot with his broken family.

"I don't want to be them," Alfie shook his head, no. "I remember how he was with me when I was little. He didn't like me, even then." Alfie told Boone the only reason he was being nice to his dad was because of Boone. "I..I thought he needed to know who you are."

Boone did his best to smile, but blew a breath. He was in a sweat. The humidity was getting to him. He remembered the forecast saying what a washout  Friday the Fourth would be, but the sun was shining strong at the moment, and the air conditioning was not getting any better in this old bakery.

"Let's just get through the holiday. We can't take sides. We'll just be at Mom's at noon and then go to Dad's later," Boone suggested as he got on his silicone gloves and grabbed the hot pans of muffin cakes. 

"I don't want to."

Alfie was adamant. He wanted to go to Gage's and have the Fourth there.

"At least see, Mom."

Boone looked at him blankly. He could see that Alfie hated the idea.

"She's expecting you. She wants to see all of you. Not just the baby," Boone said he would be there for support. "We'll do it together. You won't be alone."

"I guess Naoki will be there too," Alfie sounded as if that was another reason he didn't want to do this family Fourth.

"You have to be thankful, Tyra and her family have been helping out," Boone told him. He didn't think Naoki was that bad. He said that Naoki had been taking care of their mother these last few years.

Alfie practically rolled his eyes at that. Boone could see his brother was letting his true feelings show. This was no time to ask why he felt this way, but then again, Boone knew Alfie had spent plenty of holidays all by his lonesome. 

"It'll be OK," Boone said, giving Alfie a half hug. "I'm here for you, I am."

Boone was serious. He had always wanted a brother like Alfie.