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The unexpected trip was all for Brittney. She was the princess of the family, and what she wanted, she got. Thank God for his brother-in-law-to-be, Trent. The courtship had been quick, but he was looking forward to his sister’s wedding this weekend and could tell how happy his sister was. Plus, Trent’s family was bigger than life in the small world of Omaha law. Trustworthy. Tenacious. Almost a spotless record with wins of all sizes.
It was flattering when Trent approached him to create a conglomerate of their two firms. His father and sister thought the idea held merit to move Young & Associates into the next phase. If only Liam loved law as much as his sister did or father had. It didn’t call to him like so many other things. Many people would call them just hobbies: travel, creative writing, hiking, and rock climbing, but they kept him sane. He hoped he’d be able to start a conversation with one of Hera Aviation’s employees for the duration of the seven hours of flight time about his love of the Rocky Mountains. His hike up Pyramid Peak near Aspen, Colorado, had given him the biggest rush that spring.
But today his life was about Sam. Their family had become a little cracked, fractured, split, and it seemed Sam had been gone for more than five years. Sam’s decision to go to Mexico wouldn’t have been Liam’s choice, but Liam’s path had always been stymied by expectations everyone else had of him to live up to. In many ways, he admired his little brother for not caving to parental coercion, but he also envied the hell out of him for living the life he wanted.
Liam had succumbed to the pressure of joining the family business. Corporate law. His job demanded everything to be crystal clear and expectations consistent, but nothing was clear or consistent in his life lately. Other than my 14-hour days, 6 days a week.
And it didn’t seem anything would change anytime soon. Their mother had passed six years ago, and their father was ready to leave the law business to Brittney and Liam and become a snowbird in Nevada where he’d probably gamble away every last penny he had. Their father and Sam were very much alike in too many ways, and they agreed on very little, except their animosity toward each other.
Liam pinched his eyes closed and opened them to a cloudy vision. Everything around him was changing— people moved, got married, simply headed off into the sunset to live their lives. Yet he was Mr. Dependable. The one they could always count on. Liam had put his life on hold for so long he figured it wasn’t worth wondering if there was more. He lived each day like a repeat of the previous. He glanced at his phone. The screen read Tuesday. He would’ve said it was Monday. But every day felt like a Monday to him.
A small jet landed flawlessly, the tires kicking up a light spray of water off the tarmac. After a short taxi toward the building, the plane stopped and a male flight attendant released the door and lowered the steps. Hera Aviation, owned by Trent’s friend, was now an angel to their family.
It was time. There would be a stop in Las Vegas, but by the end of the day, he’d be seeing his brother. The thought warmed his heart, but he couldn’t find the energy to smile outwardly.
A woman, hair pulled back into a low bun, and wearing a black pantsuit with black, heeled boots, opened a Hera Aviation umbrella and walked cautiously down the steps. The single button jacket on the suit emphasized the mind-bending curves of her voluptuous body. His chest heated taking her all in. He’d neglected his body’s base needs for so long that, given a little respite from work, he found himself daydreaming about what she might be like as a date and more. With every step, her hips swayed in a hypnotic motion, and he fought to keep his gaze on her face.
“Stop it,” he mumbled to himself.
“Liam?” A voice called from behind him, breaking into his thoughts as Liam let out a long breath and stood.
“Trent. Hey, man. Didn’t think you were going to be here.”
“I have some business to settle up with the flight crew.” Trent brought Liam into a bro-hug. “And someone wanted to say good-bye.”
Brittney stepped into the room, her eyes ringed in red. “I wish I could go with you.”
Trent wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead. “Babe, Liam’s got this. We’ve got plans to finish up. Sam will be here by the end of the day.”
Britt nodded but sniffled as her lip quaked. The edge of breakdown teetered in her. Liam remained amazed at the focused and direct woman Brittney was in the board and courtrooms and how vulnerable she could be outside of it. That range of emotion mesmerized him. He wanted to feel more, but there wasn’t time to stop and experience emotions. In truth, he wondered if he couldn’t bear those sensations anymore.
“Sis, I promise, we’ll get him back here.” Liam brought her into a hug.
“I miss how we used to be.”
He froze. “What do you mean?”
“Before Mom died. Before Dad checked out of our lives. Before Sam ran away. Before I knew lots of things I wish I didn’t know.” Her gaze drifted to Trent and her back straightened, shoulders shifted back, and her face erased of emotion, just like if she was in the courtroom and her lawyer hat was back on. She was presenting an argument to him, but Liam just didn’t know what issue she was defending.
Their father had never checked out of Liam’s life, metaphorically riding Liam like a jockey on a horse at the Kentucky Derby. But the rest he could understand. All the siblings had such different memories of their parents that it wasn’t fair to compare his recollections to his sister’s. She adored their father. Liam was mostly neutral on him. And baby brother Sam hated him.
Trent seemed oblivious to her state, staring at his phone, then answering a call and stepping away.
“Britt, is something wrong?” Liam asked her.
“Just some pre-wedding jitters, I think.”
That wasn’t everything, but the airport terminal door opened behind him and captured his attention.
A man in a navy suit stepped into the room. “Mr. Young? Sorry to interrupt, I’m Paul with Hera Aviation. We need to get you on the plane. We’re on a tight timetable today.”
Liam nodded. “I’ve gotta go.” Liam kissed her cheek and gave her one last hug. “Just enjoy the next few days of pampering and attention. I’m only a phone call away.” He backed from her.
“I’ll take that for you, sir.” The flight attendant reached for his bag, making sure to keep it under an umbrella as he stepped outside.
“Love you, Liam,” she called out.
“Love you, Britt.”
