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“It’s going to be fine. You have one really big advantage.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re a cowboy.”
“Hmm. I guess that might help. Should I have brought him something? A gift?”
“A bribe?”
“No. Well, maybe.”
“You don’t need to bring him anything. All he needs is you.”
J.T. blew out a breath. “I hope that’s true. And I hope I’m enough.”
“You are. Call me later and let me know how it went.”
“Okay. Thanks for checking in.”
“Of course. You’re my favorite brother.”
J.T. ended the call and finished his coffee. He took his cup inside and rinsed it out, then turned off the coffeemaker. He wiped down the counter and thought about doing the few dishes in the sink.
“Wow. You’re so desperate not to go, you want to wash dishes?” He ran his hands through his hair, then put on his hat. It was time to go.
He got into his truck, then drove the quarter-mile to Joey’s house. He thought they might be waiting on the porch for him, but the porch was empty. He parked the truck behind Joey’s car, then went to knock on the door. Joey answered a moment later, as though she was waiting on the other side of the door for him.
He gave her a small smile. “Hey.”
She returned his smile, then opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
J.T. removed his hat as he stepped through the door. There was still no furniture in the living room, but he could tell she’d done some painting. “You painted.”
“I started painting. I wanted to do that before I have the floors refurbished.”
“Good call.” He fiddled with his hat.
When Finn came running from the parlor, they both turned to look at him. He ran to Joey and took her hand, then looked up at J.T.
J.T. smiled. “Hi there, Finn.”
“How do you know my name?”
“Your mom told me. My name is J.T.”
Finn wrinkled his nose. “Jaytee?”
“Yeah. It stands for Jacob Thomas.”
“Do you want to see my room?”
“Um…sure.” He glanced at Joey and she nodded as Finn ran toward the parlor. J.T. followed him.
The parlor was set up with Joey’s furniture from Boise, with a couch, two chairs, a coffee table, and a television on the mantle of the old fireplace. Finn continued through the room to a set of French doors. The room off the parlor was a large bedroom, where Joey had set up one corner with Finn’s bed, a dresser, and a bookshelf full of toys.
Finn looked at J.T. “It’s my mom’s room, too. But this part is mine.”
“It’s great.”
