Page 71 of Mustang Summer

She must’ve checked out longer than she thought.Jesse snapped his fingers, but not in front of her face.He probably thought they’d come in and tackle him.

“What’s going on?That Walker boy didn’t upset you, did he?”

“No, not him.”Her brother had heavier shit weighing on his mind, but it didn’t stop her from spilling her worries to him.

“I think Bill’s going to…” she looked at the cameras, “acquire the car, you know, the one I told you about.”

Jesse swore under his breath.“You can’t let him, Josie.”He was adamant.“If he does, call the…” His gaze darted to the door.

Cops.Yeah.That’d be a hot mess.Turning Bill in.Hadn’t she done enough when she’d screwed him out of the car that could save his business?

“I’ll go home and see what’s going on first.”She regretted burdening Jesse, but his equal dismay made her feel better.She wasn’t overreacting, and she wasn’t silly for considering Bill capable of auto theft.Changing the subject, she asked, “Are you going to be transported right away?”

“No.”He sounded relieved, and she couldn’t blame him.“They told me it might be a few months before there’s an opening, but I’ll get credit for time served after the trial.I can call you in a couple of days.When I get to…” his voice grew thick.“I’ll call when I can.”

She bobbed her head, couldn’t speak around the lump in her throat.“A year will go by quicker than we think and you’ll be out.”

“Hope so,” he said and she detected false optimism, probably for her benefit.

He couldn’t visit for long and it was best she didn’t waste time getting home.Otherwise, she’d find herself at the Walker celebratory barbeque, feeling she like was knifing her brother in the back.

The drive to Waite Park was long and lonely.Brock wasn’t a chatterbox, but silence didn’t feel so oppressive when she was with him.

As soon as she got home, she wanted to turn around and head right back.Brock’s place was vibrant and full of life, even for a mellow guy who lived in a structured environment.But his house was a home, whereas hers hadn’t felt that way since Mom passed, bless her soul.

Grief that’d been at bay since she’d met Brock welled up.She hadn’t realized how toxic her home environment had become.Her dad was a shady businessman who made poor decisions and limited her options because of them.Not to mention the lack of support she’d had when burying her mom and afterward in the mourning process.If she didn’t have a serious talk with Bill, he’d imprison her as effectively as Jesse was, only her brother had an end date.

She pulled her Mustang into the garage and tried not to think of the Walker family get-together commemorating her brother’s sentencing.What was all over for the Walker family was her daily reality.

But Jesse was mentally in a good place.He’d had time away from Bill’s degrading and cajoling comments.Would the year in prison change his newfound sensibility?

Probably.

With a heavy sigh, she grabbed her things and got out.

“What are you doing home early?”

She yelped and jumped against the car.“Dad!You scared the shit out of me.”

“I must’ve.”

She’d called him Dad and he caught it.A one second scare and her decade long rebellion had ended.

Clutching her bag in a steel grip, she willed her heart rate down.“My friend had plans and I didn’t want to spend money on a room.”

The lines around her dad’s eyes were pinched and his mouth tight until he spoke.“I have some work coming in that I want you to stay out of.”

“Part of your hobby?”she asked snidely.

“You know what’s going on,” he snapped.“You’re not a child anymore.”

“No, I’m not, and as youradultdaughter, I have to ask, why do you keep doing it?We get enough legit business—”

“We don’t.Not to compete with the dealerships and bigger garages.”His shoulders drooped and he looked ten years older than normal.“With your mama gone, I’ve got to take care of you.So let me do this and make things right.I’ve got a plan.”

I’ve got a plancoming from Bill didn’t inspire confidence.She splayed her hand across her laptop bag.She’d finished some small projects at Brock’s place that she’d send off once she set up her laptop.But her clients weren’t enough to make a living.What choice did she have but to rely on Bill’s scheme?

Still, she said, “I wish you’d let me in on your plans.Maybe I could help.”Maybe I could talk you out of stealing from the same family that put Jesse away.

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