Survivor's Remorse: Brothers of Ink and Steel by Kathryn Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

clearly changing the subject.
     
    She decided to drop the subject for now, not wanting to seem nosey or rude. “Good. I could eat a horse.” She watched as Leo forced a smile. Fuck… now I’ve upset him.
     
    They ate in silence for a moment. “Did you have a good trip to El Paso?” Leo asked as a way to break the growing silence.
     
    “Not bad. I got in some shopping while I was there. I bought some new shirts and pants to wear at work.”
     
    “You always wear white shirts and black pants. Why is that?”
     
    Jamie grinned. “No reason. Tradition mostly. Granddad always wore a white shirt, and so did Dad. I’ve just continued the tradition. It’s the unofficial uniform of He’s Not Here. Plus I don’t ever have to wonder what I’m going to wear to work.”
     
    This is the first time he has had a chance to talk to Jamie when she isn’t busy. “You took the bar over from your dad?”
     
    “Yeah, after Mom died. Let’s see, about four years ago, he packed it in. Sold me the bar and, well, retired, I guess you could say. He’s toting the note for me. Will had just re-upped for his second tour in Marines so Dad asked me if I wanted it.”
     
    “Will is older than you?”
     
    “Yeah. Four years. He couldn’t wait to get out of Vallecito. That was just before Lima 6 arrived. It was bad back then. Real bad.”
     
    “So I heard. Your dad, is he still in town?”
     
    “No. Not anymore. He’s in an assisted living place in Fort Davis. He’s suffering from Alzheimer’s.”
     
    “Alzheimer’s?”
     
    “Yeah. I go up and see him on most Sundays. Sometimes he knows me… sometimes he thinks I’m Mom.”
     
    “I’m sorry, Jamie. That has to be tough.”
     
    She gave him a wan smile. “It’s okay. I can be Mom if it makes him feel better.”
     
    “How old is your dad? Seems like he would be a little young to have Alzheimer’s.”
     
    “He’s, let’s see… fifty-five.”
     
    “ Fifty-five? I thought you had to be, like, eighty, to get Alzheimer’s.”
     
    “No. Most people who have Alzheimer’s are older, but there is something called early-onset Alzheimer’s. It’s rare, but it happens.”
     
    “Holy shit, Jamie. I’m so sorry.”
     
    She shrugged. “It’s tough, but you deal and move on. I think it is part of the reason Will is getting out. What about you? Any brothers or sisters?”
     
    “Only child. Mom said after me they couldn’t print enough money for her to have another.”
     
    Jamie laughed in delight. “You were a little hellion?”
     
    “Let’s just say that I was busy. According to them, they couldn’t take their eyes off of me for a moment. I think I was six when I wrecked my dad’s new truck. And mom’s car.”
     
    “Both? And you were just six?” she exclaimed.
     
    “Yeah. Got in Dad’s truck and was…” he made tick marks with his fingers, “…driving. Knocked it into neutral. It rolled down the drive and rear-ended mom’s car.”
     
    Jamie giggled as she imagined a six year old Leo jumping on the seat of his dad’s truck as it rolled down the hill. “I bet that went over well.”
     
    “I couldn’t sit down for a week. I don’t think he has ever completely trusted me with his truck again.”
     
    “Boys will be boys. I saw a group of them trying to get their dad’s truck out of the ditch on the way home this morning. They had driven the truck into the ditch, trying to cross it, I guess. Except they went straight in instead of crossing at an angle. Looked like they stuck it but good.”
     
    “Where was this?”
     
    “On 118, about twenty minutes north of town. Why?”
     
    “Just wondering. I would say it was drug runners, except that they were kids. It’s probably just a bunch of kids out tearing up someone’s pastures.”
     
    “Yeah, that’s what I figured. They’re going to have some explaining to do if they tore up their dad’s truck, though.”
     
    Leo grinned. “Yes they will. Been there, done that. Except