“And you’re sure?”
Timothy stared at him. Then, he proved that the Shaman wasn’t to be messed with at all.
“The woman that left, her name is Emily. She has a mother who was arrested for fraud, and her father is a deadbeat. She also used to strip in college, and she is infertile.”
Callen stared at him.
He knew about the stripping, and the infertility. That’s why he thought she’d be a safe bet.
“I hate when you do that.”
Timothy shrugged.
“Hate the game, not player.”
Callen laughed.
“It’s hate the player, not the game.”
The older Native man was to the point.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is your brother will be home soon, and if he comes here, he cannot stay. I have work to do to make sure that happens. I want him here for me, not for him. We need to do what’s best for him, and your father is not going to be able to be my partner in crime on this one. Tag, you’re it, Callen James.”
Well, shit.
He would like to see his brother again. They had much to make amends about.
“Am I allowed to be nice to him? Because I don’t want to be a dick.”
Timothy was grateful that with this past Christmas, Ethan had reached out to his brother, and had given him a gift so they could begin healing.
“Don’t be a dick. You just have to remind him that he’s meant to be in the FBI, and not here. This is your journey, and neither one of you will reach your goal if you do it here together.”
He hoped the old man was right.
Because he’d give his left nut to have his brother back. The hole in his heart from losing Ethan was a sucking wound, making his whole being hurt.
“Okay, Dad. I’ll help.”
That was good.
“When he comes back, move back in with me so he can use your cabin. Give him some space.”
He could do that.
Ethan was, after all, his brother.
“Okay, Dad. He can crash here. I’ll get the place cleaned up. When is he coming?” he asked.
Timothy said only one thing.
“Soon.”
Oh, boy.
As the old man walked out, Callen sat there. He wasn’t sure how this was all going to play out.
But he knew one thing.
