“What?” Owen asked, apparently noticing the look Brent was giving him. “Youarefamily. I practically grew up with you until Riley moved out.”
Brent had been around at the Jules’ house a lot when he was younger. Riley had been with his family a lot, too. They’d been inseparable since elementary school.
He’d just never really expected any of them to think of him as part of the family.
Mrs. Jules had always been so kind to him, but she was kind to everyone. Brent hadn’t thought he was anyone special.
“I guess,” Brent said. “I never thought of it that way. Not that I don’t like the idea.”
“I’ve come to learn that family is what you make it.” Owen shrugged. “You’re important to us. We care about you. And I know you don’t want pity over what happened on the weekend, so instead, I want to make sure you know you have our support. And that the store’s financial business will still go through you, if you still want the work.”
Brent nodded automatically. “I do. I really, really do,” he said.
“Then it’s yours. Seriously. There was never any question in my mind.”
As what Owen was saying sunk in, Brent felt as though a ton weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It was only one client, and he couldn’t survive on a single client alone, but it was a start. It meant all hope wasn’t lost.
That was all he needed to hear right now. Brent was good at turning bad situations around. He was a survivor. But having a little support meant the world to him.
“Thank you. You have no idea how good that is to hear.”
“Hey, I still remember the time I broke a glass in the kitchen and you helped me clean it up so mom never realized.” Owen smiled at him. “I owe you one.”
Brent had almost forgotten that incident, but he remembered it as soon as Owen mentioned it. He’d only been maybe fourteen at the time, Owen ten or eleven.
It was strange to have memories of him from so long ago. Owen seemed so mature, so responsible now, that it was sometimes hard to remember that he was actually younger than Brent.
He’d been through a lot, too. Brent felt as though they understood each other in a way few people would.
Owen had come out the other side of his own personal tragedy just fine, with a beautiful daughter and a happy family.
Maybe there was hope for Brent, too.
“I remember that,” Brent said belatedly. “But you don’t owe me anything.”
“I’m actually not doing this because I owe you,” Owen said. “I’m doing it because I like you. And because you’re a very good accountant, and those are hard to find. You saved me a fortune last year. I want you to keep wanting to deal with me.”
Brent was always a little surprised when people praised his work, but he was proud, too. He tried his best. Accountancy wasn’t a glamorous or interesting profession, but it was steady work and he got to help people with stuff that stressed them out. That was enough for him.
It was also why he couldn’t figure out what Riley saw in him, though. Brent had always wanted a simple, quiet life. Riley was the opposite. He could barely sit still.
“Thank you,” Brent said. “And I know I keep saying that, but I’m grateful.”
“Well, you’re welcome. You wanna hang out in here until Tom leaves? I’ll come get you when he’s gone.”
“Would that be okay?” Brent asked. It made him feel like a coward, but the thought of having to confront Tom here and now was too much for him.
“Sure. Anytime, okay? You can always let yourself in here.”
Brent smiled at that.
Owen had been a good kid, and he’d grown up into a good man.
“Thanks. I’ll just… text Riley and let him know why I’m taking so long.”
“Riley’s kind of like a dog. He doesn’t know how time works,” Owen said.
It wasn’t entirely untrue. Riley’s punctuality left a lot to be desired, though he always showed up on time when it really mattered.
