pack.â She gave him a teasing smile. âBut youâve got to promise to show me the fab display when the bruise comes.â
âYouâre only helping me for the entertainment value,â Zach complained, although he was relieved.
âWell, you havenât offered much entertainment lately,â Maralys replied. âWeâve got to make do with whatâs available.â
Zach made to follow his sister-in-law but was stopped by his brotherâs softly asked question.
âWhat really happened, Zach?â
Zach paused, then was surprised to find himself answering. âOne of my old customers didnât believe I wasnât selling anymore. He thought I was holding out on him.â
âAnd were you?â
âNo.â
James and Maralys exchanged a look.
Zach heaved a sigh. âIs it that hard to believe that Iâm on the straight-and-narrow?â
âYes,â they said in unison.
âEspecially as this is the first weâve heard of it,â Maralys said.
So much for honesty. âWell, then I came to the wrong place.â Zach whistled for his dog, who did not come running, but James put a hand on his shoulder.
âSorry, Zach. You just surprised me. If youâve really given it up, thatâs a good thing.â
âYou canât blame anyone for not expecting you to change,â Maralys said softly. âItâs been a long time, Zach.â
âWell, I have given it up. You can believe it or not, whatever you like.â Zach couldnât dismiss the sense that James was taking a wait-and-see attitude, but then, his brother had bailed him out of trouble enough to have earned the right to be dubious.
âDonât tell me the justice system finally reformed you.â
To Zachâs surprise, Jamesâ tone was light. He wasnât used to seeing his brother anything but serious and judgmental.
Pretty much an echo of their fatherâs manner.
Maybe heâd come to the wrong house.
Maybe heâd stepped into a parallel universe.
âNo, it wasnât that,â he said cautiously. âI just got done with it.â
âSince when?â
âSince New Orleans.â Zach stifled the urge to squirm because James was watching him very closely, probably seeing a bit too much.
To his surprise, James teased him. âIf Iâd known it would be that easy for Matt to change your thinking, I would have inflicted you on him years ago.â
Zach couldnât resist the chance to needle his big brother in return. âSo, maybe heâs just more persuasive.â
âRight.â James smiled. âHe just declined to help you out.â
âThe power of the word ânoâ,â Maralys said with satisfaction.
James was watching Zach so carefully that Zach almost fidgeted. âThat was a neat scheme for Mom you came up with this year,â James said softly.
Zach shrugged. âFatherâs expectation that everything pass immediately to the four of us seemed unfair, especially as a big chunk of the family money came from Momâs side. She could have challenged the will.â
âBut you negotiated a neat compromise instead,â James said. âYou should have come by yourself to pick it up: I would have liked to have told you what a nice piece of business that contract was.â
Maralys folded her arms across her chest and leaned in the doorway, watching as well.
âIt was a sound plan to have the four of us agree to wait until Momâs passing to split the estate,â James continued. âAnd a logical argument that Father must have assumed he would outlive her.â
âIf not one that would have been in character,â Maralys muttered but both men ignored her.
Zach shrugged, uncomfortable with his brotherâs approval. âI didnât want Mom to worry about money. Sheâs never worked, after all. I just did my best.â
âBeverly knows