“As a matter of fact, I just finished the Everett job yesterday, so I have a few days on my hand before I have another install scheduled.”
Relief bled through Jackson. If he couldn’t work, at least he’d get to spend time with his family. “All right. I should be there by supper tonight.”
“Great, I’ll tell your brother. Love you, Son.”
“Love you, Daddy.”
His plans settled, Jackson stood and packed his things away in his bag. A few days at home with his family were what he needed to get his head right. Hopefully, four weeks would be enough to fix his heart too.
Chapter 33
“Look who the cat dragged in. It’s the prodigal son.”
Jackson rolled his eyes and handed his brother one of his bags. “Either help me with one of these or move, Kip.”
His brother grabbed the large duffel, reached for the shoulder bag, too, and ushered Jackson in. “Damn, how long you staying?”
Jackson pursed his lips. “Why, you got something better to do than hang with your big brother?”
Kip didn’t even bat an eye. “Of course I do.”
“And this is exactly why I should’ve been an only child.”
His brother put Jackson’s bags down by the stairs that led to the bedrooms and grabbed him in a bear hug. “You know you love me,” Kip teased as he placed an exaggerated kiss on Jackson’s cheek that made a loud smacking noise. “You wouldn’t know what to do without me.”
Jackson chuckled. Kip’s antics might get on his nerves all the time, but he wouldn’t trade his baby brother for all the money in the world.
They moved farther down the hall until they were standing in the middle of a wide, sunken living room. Jackson looked around, the old wood paneling on the walls making him smile. He’d bet those panels were older than his forty years.
He didn’t mind them, though. His father had built this home with his bare hands, and every time Jackson stepped inside, comfort bled through him, each cell in his body soaking up the love and protection he couldn’t get anywhere else except home.
“Daddy outside grilling?”
Kip jammed his hands into his pocket. “His big son is home. You know he’s been looking for the perfect slice of animal carcass to throw on the coals since you called him.”
Jackson noted the curled lip and general look of disgust on Kip’s face. Just to needle him, Jackson rubbed his belly and moaned. “One of Daddy’s steaks would hit the spot right now.”
Kip made an audible gagging noise and grumbled something about caveman meat-eaters and walked from the living room through the kitchen and out onto the back porch with Jackson on his heels. “I don’t know how you people can eat that stuff. It’s so gross.”
Jackson slapped a hand on Kip’s shoulder and shook his head. “Is there anything sadder than a vegetarian Texan?”
Kip shrugged Jackson’s hand off his shoulder. “Yeah, a carnivorous Texan dying of heart disease. Speaking of, when was the last time you had your cholesterol checked, Big Brother?”
Jackson groaned. He was due for a physical within the next month. Although he was certain he was fine, he didn’t need that particular seed of doubt being planted so close to his next visit.
He spotted his father standing at his old smoker. The thing looked liked something out of a steampunk novel with all the smoke billowing out through the exhaust arm. His father had to be breaking all sorts of air pollution laws, but Jackson knew from experience that the taste of the barbecue coming out of the smoker would be well worth it.
Even his brother couldn’t deny their father’s ability on the grill. When Kip would have no part of their meat indulgence, their father learned delicious ways to cook vegetables on an open fire that had anyone with taste buds licking their chops.
“All right, old man,” Jackson called out as he walked toward his father. “Don’t you mess around and burn my steak.”
Jacob closed the smoker and turned around with a big grin. He pointed his finger at Jackson in that loving no-nonsense way he always had about him. “I done told you ’bout calling me ‘old man.’ You ain’t too old for me to tan your hide.”
“You’d have to catch me first.”
His father shook his head. “You know what comes with age, Jackson? Wisdom. I’m too smart to be out here chasing you. All I gotta do is wave a plate of this here barbecue in the air, and you’ll come running to me.”
Jackson winked and clapped his hand over his father’s shoulder. “Never been truer words spoken, Daddy.”
