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“And those I missed?”
Asher shrugged. “You couldn’t be there every minute. I still caught a lot less shit than you did.”
“Maybe. But after he died I fucked up again.”
“How do you figure that?”
“I couldn’t get custody of you. If you’d been with me—”
“I’d have been the same.” Asher got up and walked over to where Levi stood, looking out the window. “I might even have been worse since I wouldn’t have paid any attention to you. My God, Levi, you were seventeen. At most you’d have been eighteen if they’d let you assume guardianship. Do you really think I’d have listened to you? That I wouldn’t have gotten in trouble if you’d had guardianship of me?”
“You would have had a better chance,” Levi insisted. “At least you’d have been with someone who cared.”
“Caring wasn’t the problem. Not completely. All those foster homes? That was on me, Levi. I had a chip on my shoulder as big as Devil’s Rock. Nothing anyone did or said made a difference. The foster homes weren’t all bad. I was the problem.”
Levi had never really considered that Asher had been the problem. He’d always thought the system was at fault. He was also shocked that Asher didn’t, at least in some part, blame him. Could his brother really forgive him for being unable to take care of him? For leaving him in the system? That’s what it sounded like.
“I was on a bad road, Levi,” Asher continued. “I was a screwed-up kid looking for trouble. My fault, not yours. If I hadn’t gone into the army I’d probably be a drug addict. Or in jail. Or dead. But I’m not dead. My military service gave me a purpose. Something worthwhile. And now that I have a plan I think I can make a difference. I want to help the veterans who fall through the cracks. The ones who don’t qualify for a service animal, per se, but who need something to care about and to care for. A cat to love. Or a dog who’ll be loyal and loving and give them a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”
“Yeah,” Levi agreed. “Because if you don’t get out of bed and take them out you’ll regret it.”
Asher laughed. “True. Look, I won’t be moving out right away. I don’t know how long it will take me to find the right place to live and get this thing going. But I thought you should know my eventual plans.”
“You’re right. I needed to know. Even if I don’t like it.” He opened the door and said, “Let’s go get a beer. Dana said she’d bring home something from the Diner.”
“Sounds good. And Levi?”
Levi held the door open and looked at him. “Yeah?”
“Don’t let the bastard ruin what you have with Dana.”
“I’ll think about it.”
*
A couple of weeks after Dana moved in with Levi the grand reopening celebration at the airport was held. The airport itself was closed to incoming and outgoing flights at five p.m. and for the remainder of the evening. The ribbon cutting ceremony was set to take place at five thirty and Zack, Travis and Levi were hosting an open house with hors d’oeuvres and drinks from six to eight that evening.
Not long after the open house started Levi was talking to Zack when a man Levi didn’t recognize came up to them and spoke to Zack.
“Zack Bannister, how the hell are you?”
“Billy Ward,” Zack said, shaking hands. “I’m good. Good to see you.” Zack introduced the two men then said, “What brings you to Whiskey River? Last I heard you were in New York, wheeling and dealing real estate.”
“I’m in Houston now.” He looked around at the terminal. “Quite a change from what I remember. It looks like you’re doing well.”
“We are,” Zack said. “We’re planning more expansion eventually but for now we think it’s large enough.”
“I’ve looked around and your architect has done a great job.”
“We’ve been very happy with her work.”
“To be honest, one of the reasons I’m here is to talk to her. How about introducing me to her?”
“Introduce you to Dana? Why?”
“I’ve got a proposition for her.”
“You have a what?” Levi said. “A proposition?”
