“Remember, hon, it’s me you’re talking to. You can tell me the truth.”
I set my taco down. “He’s doing fine. I just wish he’d find something to live for again. He’s lost that light he used to have, you know?”
“He’s lucky he has you looking out for him.” Lacey nodded. “He’ll find his way.”
“I hope so.” As much as I might dream about leaving Ido, I could never move away from my brother. Zeb had enlisted in the Marines right out of high school and spent five years on active duty before the transport he was in rolled over an IED. When he came home, he was a different person than the young man who’d left with stars in his eyes and the desire to follow in our dad’s footsteps.
“Just give it time. Time heals all wounds, isn’t that what they say?” Lacey dipped a chip into her guacamole.
Time. That was one thing I never seemed to have enough of nowadays. “You asked about running to the Phillips House. What do you need?”
“Oh, I’ve got some linens I picked up from the dry cleaner from last weekend’s wedding that need to be put away. If you’re out that way, would you mind dropping them off for me?”
“Sure.” It was the least I could do. Lacey wouldn’t hesitate to do me a favor. All I ever had to do was ask.
CHAPTER 2
ALEX
The unseasonable heatof a late-February afternoon drifted over me like I’d walked into a steam room. Unaccustomed to any amount of humidity, I tried to suck in a breath as I exited Houston’s Hobby Airport. In the past twenty-four hours I’d experienced a change in time of nineteen hours and a temperature shift of over seventy degrees. In my time away, working in one of the coldest places in the world, I’d all but forgotten how I’d almost melted during my childhood in Texas.
I tightened my grip on the handle of my bag. My fingers slipped a bit. I was already sweating, and I’d barely stepped outside. Maybe taking this opportunity was a mistake. Before I could go too far down that path, a horn sounded. A huge pickup truck screeched to a halt in front of me, and Charlene hopped out of the driver seat.
“If I wasn’t looking at you with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe you’re here.” Before I could reply, she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight.
My throat constricted at the sight of my sister. It had been too long. “Good to see you, too.”
She pulled back and I caught a hint of tears in the corners of her eyes. I’d let her take on too much. She never should have had to deal with Gramps on top of everything else she had going on.
She flung her arm around my side and guided me toward the truck. “Have I told you how happy I am that you’re here?”
I hugged her close. “How’s Gramps?”
The smile faded, her mouth turning slightly downward. “He’s still at the nursing home right now. But I’ve got to get him out of there. He’s so unpredictable.”
“I don’t know how you do it. Raising four kids, practically by yourself. You’re incredible, you know?” I had nothing but the utmost respect for my older sister. When her husband signed up for another tour of duty, she’d done everything she could to hold things together. Being so far away, I had no idea what kind of toll that took. But now that I saw the worry lines etched into her forehead, how her clothes hung from her thin frame, and the dark smudges under her eyes, I vowed I’d do what I could to ease her burden.
“So tell me about this job you landed. What kind of opportunity brings a guy who’s spent the last six months working in Antarctica back home to Texas?”
“I’m not sure you’ll believe me if I tell you.” When I talked to Munyon’s attorney about the job, I thought it was a joke. I still didn’t believe it myself.
“Go on, try me.”
“Okay.” I waited for Char to climb into the truck as I buckled up. “I got an offer to take care of a small group of penguins.”
“At the aquarium?”
“No, that’s just it. They’re redoing the exhibit, so I have to relocate them.”
“Where?” Char asked.
“I’m not sure yet.” That was the only kink in my plan.
“We don’t have room for penguins. So help me, Alex, if you think you’re going to?—”
I twisted in my seat to meet my sister’s gaze. A few years ago, I might have strung her along for a bit, just for a few laughs. But in her current situation, I didn’t want to risk sending her over the edge and having to take on all of her other responsibilities in addition to Gramps.
“Don’t worry, they’re not coming to your place.”
