Erik darted by Levi and went in for a lay-up. The ball sank through the hoop.
“Money still pretty tight, huh?”
Erik was the only one he’d told about the financial struggles, although even he didn’t know just how bad things were. “Something’s got to give, man.”
“Can’t you just borrow against the equity?”
“My parents took out a second mortgage, remember? All of it was used on the renovations.”
“Well, I’m sure your marketing plans will pan out. Hopefully you’ll be full up all season.”
“That would help me breathe a little easier.”
“You know, you should probably level with your sisters. They’re owners too. They’d be ticked if they found out you weren’t shooting straight with them. And you shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone.”
Erik tossed Levi the ball.
Maybe his friend was right. That would at least keep them from unnecessary expenditures. He was getting tired of being the bad guy every time one of them wanted something for the inn.
Levi took the ball out, moving slowly, catching his breath. But this was his responsibility. He was the oldest. He’d been told from the time his sisters were born that he was the big brother and responsible for taking care of them when his parents weren’t around.
“Look out for your sister,” his dad had said on Molly’s first day of school.
“Look out for your sisters,” he’d said when Levi was a teenager and his parents left for the evening.
Look out for your sisters.
And just like that, the night of the accident flashed in his mind. The dark night, silent but for the terrible metallic screech the Jaws of Life made on the wreckage containing his parents.
He’d been home for a vacation when his buddy Erik called. He made it to the scene before the ambulance left. It took a while for them to pry his parents from the car.
It was too late for his mom.
That terrible truth still hadn’t sunk in as Levi followed his dad into the back of the ambulance and squeezed in by his stretcher. His dad’s eyes were closed, but there were tears on his cheeks. His face was pinched as if he was in pain. He seemed to struggle just to draw a breath.
Mom’s dead.It didn’t seem real. He couldn’t think about that right now.
Levi grabbed his hand. “Dad, I’m right here. Everything’s going to be all right.”
Levi glanced at his medic buddy who was taking Dad’s vitals from the other side of the bed, but the look on Erik’s face wasn’t encouraging. The ambulance took off, the siren splitting the night.
“Le-vi...” his dad said through a moan of pain.
“I’m here, Dad. I’m here. What is it?”
“Love you... all.”
“We love you too, Dad. But everything’s going to be all right.”
“Take...” His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly. “Take care... of your sisters.”
Levi’s stomach bottomed out. A chill swept through his body. His throat closed. “Don’t talk like that, Dad. You’re going to be just fine. We’re on the way to the hospital. They’re going to take really good care of you.”
Dad’s eyes opened just then, the clear blue of his irises clouded by pain or something worse. Levi tried to brace himself for what might happen. For what had already happened. But his pulse was pounding in his ears. He couldn’t seem to think.
Dad gave his hand a weak squeeze. “Promise... me.”
He looked into the suddenly old face of his dad. A tear leaked from the corner of his father’s eye and trickled down into his salt-and-pepper hair.
