Page 54 of Return By Fire

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Six Years Ago

“Come for a visit,” I cajole.

“Jed, I’m still flying three to four flights a week. There’s no way man. Listen, let me send one of my crews to pick you guys up. Come to Seattle, introduce me to Dean.”

“Buddy, I’m telling you, once you hit Florida, you’ll never want to leave.” I get out of my truck and walk toward the Ponte Vedra high school Kara teaches at.

Which Kevin attends.

He capitulates slightly, “That sounds pretty decent right about now. I had a shittastic day.”

“What happened?”

“One of the Cessnas is toast.”

“Ouch.” I approach Dean at the side of the soccer field and give him a kiss. “Hey.”

“Hey. Who are you talking to?”

“Jennings. Say hey.”

“Hey, Jennings,” Dean casually calls. Nothing more, nothing less.

I sigh. Until I get these two into a room with each other, Dean’s never going to admit how much he’d actually like Jennings.

A shrill whistle announces a penalty. Jennings’s voice goes an octave higher when he yells, “Christ! Where are you at?”

“Soccer field. Penalty kick.” Meanwhile I’m thinking, Come on, Kevin, you can do it...

Then I shout, “YES!” Uncaring Jennings is likely deaf.

Dumb bastard deserves it. I mean, what do I need to do? Book him a flight and force his hand? Tell him I need him because I hurt myself? Hmm, the idea has merit. Dean happens to look over and growls, “Whatever you’re thinking, get it right out of your head.”

“Ahh...”

Jennings is cracking up on the other end of the line. “Getting scolded by the husband. I love it. Absolutely love it.”

Succinctly as I can, I tell him, “Fuck you, Jennings.”

Dean’s smile turns wicked, making my heart pump. “Listen, got to go.”

“Call me when you get back from your trip to the Carolinas. Have a good time.”

“Will do. Love you, brother.”

“Love you too.” Jennings disconnects.

I wrap my arm around Dean, who sweeps me against his side. His gaze never leaves Kevin, who is taking the ball down the field with impressive footwork. “Where’s Kara?”

“Up with the rest of the faculty,” he murmurs absentmindedly. Then he calls out, “Come on, Kev! You got this, son!”

I lean against Dean’s body and give in to reminiscing about life in the perfect Florida weather. Hook and Ladder does so much business I’ve had to hire two full-time managers to run the place. My partners and I are debating opening a second location, but I told them I’d like to build some more cash capital before doing anything else.

Maris has been running Smith’s Brewhouse so well that I could be a man of leisure on the profits from that alone. I feel guilty that I’m not there to run it with her. Dean agrees with my decision to sign over my part of the business to her permanently after the first of the year so she doesn’t get hit with a massive tax bill. As he said to me the other night in bed, “It’s her baby, her family, Jed. She should have full control.”

“I agree.”

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