I have a lot of hard feelings: guilt, regret, and even anger. Not necessarily directed at Lindy, because I understand why she lied to me. I am hurt. But I’m also hopeful. Maybe she didn’t say she forgave me. Maybe she didn’t say yes to giving me a second chance. But she didn’t say no, and I’ll hold on to that.
I still can’t believe she’s been right up the road, all this time. She’s still right up the road—forty-two minutes—and it has taken every bit of willpower I have to not drive back right now. I could set up camp on her front porch with Elvis the rooster. But I need a plan. I can’t just fire myself off like a cannon, not when she seems so fragile. She’s a shell of herself, a strong survivor to be sure, but a little like a cardboard cutout of the woman I knew.
My feelings for Lindy haven’t faded a bit. Honestly, with the way they slammed into me the moment I heard her voice, I’d say they’ve only strengthened with time.
Yeah, I know. It sounds ridiculous. You can’t fall MORE in love with someone from a distance when you aren’t even talking. And yet … that’s exactly how this feels.
I clamp the unlit cigar between my teeth and spread my arms wide, giving Tank a wink. “We’re celebrating life, fellas. Life and love and family and the future. Now, who’s dealing first?”
“You can’t just buy a town.” Collin stares pointedly at Tank.
“Except I did buy a town.” Dad is in full-on defense mode. His chair is pushed back from the table, his arms are crossed over his chest, and his jaw is set.
I’m laying low, a little terrified now that the moment’s here. So far, Tank has said nothing about my involvement, and I have half a mind to tuck tail and run. But I don’t do that anymore. I am a reformed runner. I’ll be the man who stays. Who finishes. Who commits. Starting now.
“Let’s focus on some of the details.” Chase’s tone is neutral and friendly. “I mean, what’s the legality there? How does purchasing a town work?”
Too bad there’s no room for Switzerland at this table. Even Chase’s peaceful demeanor is not going to diffuse the emotions. We’re a bunch of nuclear reactors reaching critical levels.
So far, Collin is pelting Tank with questions, while James is fuming silently. Quiet isn’t necessarily good when it comes to my oldest and broodiest brother. I can see the tension gathering like a storm in James’s eyes.
I discreetly try to get Harper’s attention in the house. Her attention is fixed on the TV, and she completely misses my laser beam eyes and the telepathic messages I’m trying to send her way. Brutus, curled up in her lap like he’s a teacup chihuahua not a boxer, sees me but clearly can’t read my desperation. Or he doesn’t care.
“It’s not so complicated,” Tank says. “I own all the land in the town proper. All the leasing agreements for the businesses on site have been signed over to me. Other than city hall and the library, which are property of the state.”
“Are you planning to move there?” Chase asks. He glances around. “And, uh, sell this place?”
Admittedly, I hadn’t thought this far in advance, and the thought of Dad selling the house where we all grew up, the house where Mom lived—it makes my stomach plummet.
I guess there’s a lot I didn’t think about. Once I saw Lindy, I stopped thinking at all. I’m already all in on this plan, my figurative stack of chips pushed to the center of the table. I chew on the inside of my cheek, watching Tank.
“I’m not selling this house. We”—he swallows thickly at the reference to Mom—“paid cash, and the value is more than double. I’m hanging on to it.”
He doesn’t say anything about sentimental reasons, but he doesn’t need to. We get it.
A large bit of tension eases from the patio. I don’t think any of us are ready for THAT change. Buy a town—not a great idea, but we can deal. Sell the house where we lived with Mom? Nope.
Tank leans forward, elbows on the table. His winning hand is still spread out in front of him, a full house. It seems a little ironic. Or maybe like reverse irony? Depends on what happens next, I guess.
Harper finally looks up, and I give her wild eyes and a look I hope says, Get your hiney out here, honey. She walks out with Brutus and Smoky just as Dad says, “I do plan to relocate there eventually. And hopefully not alone. I did this for us,” Tank says, rapping his knuckles on the table. The fan squeaking overhead is the only sound.
“How is you buying a town for us?” Collin asks.
I clench my hands into fists under the table, because I feel it coming, the way electricity crackles through the air before a storm.
“I think it’s the perfect location for us to open the brewery.”
And there it is, folks. Tank dropped the bomb.
For a good five seconds, no one speaks. No one moves. Only Smoky, Harper and Chase’s almost full-grown puppy, seems unaffected, chewing idly on his own paw, then moving on to chase his tail.
“Dad, this isn’t like you,” Harper says. “No offense, but this sounds like a Pat move—risky and impulsive.”
“Hey!” I protest, but everyone ignores me.
“Maybe it’s time I take more risks,” Tank says.
“Speaking of Pat …” Collin swivels to face me. “You’ve been awful quiet.”
His words draw all the attention on the patio to little ol’ me. I’ve been letting the argument happen around me until just now. I kinda thought they might not have noticed me. But I’m never quiet. Talking would have been less obvious.
“Yeah,” James adds, and I don’t like that his first words in a long while are directed my way. “Why has your big mouth been shut?”
Before I can formulate some kind of answer or locate a Get Out of Jail Free card, Tank drives up in a double-decker bus and throws me under it.
“Pat went with me to see the town today. He’s totally on board.”
James drops his bottle, which shatters on the flagstone patio, and all that building tension explodes with the subtlety of a dirty bomb.
Chase grabs Smoky to keep him from stepping on the glass, while Harper darts inside for the broom. I’m sputtering, trying to think of some defense, like I didn’t say I was TOTALLY on board, while Collin and James start shouting over each other.