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about not burning the brewery down than I do about your fucking pizzas, Jamie. Big surprise.”
“It’s just the exhaust. Nothing was burning down.”
“And now what? Just hope it doesn’t happen again?”
“Obviously,” Jamie said through clenched teeth. “I’m going to call the rep right now. But I’ve got the vent locked open, so it’s fine. All right?”
“No!” Eric shouted. “It’s not all right. None of this is all right. Wallace is gone. The line is screwed. You almost burned the place down. And in a few weeks…” Eric forced himself not to say it.
Jamie threw the wrench he was holding into one of the cabinets. The crash prompted Chester to poke his head through the double doors. “Guys? Everything okay?”
“I got the exhaust fixed,” Jamie growled.
“Okay.” Chester looked doubtfully between Jamie and Eric before nodding. “Sure. I’ll just leave you alone then.”
As soon as the doors closed, Jamie stalked forward. “In a few weeks, what?”
“Nothing,” Eric muttered.
“Bull. I know exactly what you were going to say, and I am so sick of your shit, Eric. You agreed to this. I’m not asking you to jump in and pretend it’s your lifelong dream, but if you don’t get that fucking chip off your shoulder, I will knock it off.”
“We going to fight again?” Eric snapped.
“If we need to, I’m fully prepared to kick your ass. But I’d rather you just live up to the agreement you made this summer.”
“We didn’t make an agreement.”
“You said you’d support me.”
“And I haven’t?” Eric threw his hands up. “How much money have we invested in this? I’ve agreed to everything you wanted. The menu and the concept. The new tables, the new front deck. The oven and fridge and freezer. We’re doing everything you want!”
“And you resent every damn minute of it.”
“I don’t. I don’t resent it. It just has nothing to do with me.”
Jamie’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right? We’re equal partners here. You can’t just pretend this part of it doesn’t belong to you, just because you’re not in charge anymore.”
“I never wanted to be in charge!” he yelled.
“That’s a lie,” Jamie said with a bitter laugh. “You ran the brewery on your own for years, and you still ran it on your own even after Tessa and I took our places. I’m sorry that couldn’t go on forever—”
“I didn’t want it to go on forever.”
“Of course you did.”
“I didn’t even want to be in charge in the first place. Do you get that, Jamie? I didn’t want it!”
Jamie shook his head with another bitter laugh. “Whether you wanted it or not, you sure as hell took to it like a fish to water. But you’re not in charge, Eric. You’re not the owner. And you’re not our dad.”
Eric put his fists on his hips and let his head drop. “Yeah. You don’t have to tell me. I’m pretty clear on that count.”
“Then stop sulking around here like I’m a rebellious kid who won’t do what you want. This is what I want. And I’m making it happen. I’d like you to get behind me, but if you won’t do that, at least get out of my way.”
“Fine. But do you really think this is what Dad would’ve wanted?”
Jamie’s jaw dropped. “What? What he would’ve wanted? I have no fucking idea. He’s been dead for thirteen years, Eric. Who knows what he would’ve done with the place? And for godssake, you’re not the keeper of everything Dad believed in. You don’t get to lay claim to that.”
“Yeah, I’m clear on that, too. Believe me.” Eric let his head fall back and stared up at the ceiling. A few faint wisps of smoke still lingered near the lights. “I’m happy for you, Jamie. I swear I am. And I want this for you. But for me…Jesus, for me I want something else, and I don’t even know what it is.”
