Free All or Nothing by Deborah Cooke

pack.” She gave him a teasing smile. “But you’ve got to promise to show me the fab display when the bruise comes.”
    â€œYou’re only helping me for the entertainment value,” Zach complained, although he was relieved.
    â€œWell, you haven’t offered much entertainment lately,” Maralys replied. “We’ve got to make do with what’s available.”
    Zach made to follow his sister-in-law but was stopped by his brother’s softly asked question.
    â€œWhat really happened, Zach?”
    Zach paused, then was surprised to find himself answering. “One of my old customers didn’t believe I wasn’t selling anymore. He thought I was holding out on him.”
    â€œAnd were you?”
    â€œNo.”
    James and Maralys exchanged a look.
    Zach heaved a sigh. “Is it that hard to believe that I’m on the straight-and-narrow?”
    â€œYes,” they said in unison.
    â€œEspecially as this is the first we’ve heard of it,” Maralys said.
    So much for honesty. “Well, then I came to the wrong place.” Zach whistled for his dog, who did not come running, but James put a hand on his shoulder.
    â€œSorry, Zach. You just surprised me. If you’ve really given it up, that’s a good thing.”
    â€œYou can’t blame anyone for not expecting you to change,” Maralys said softly. “It’s been a long time, Zach.”
    â€œWell, I have given it up. You can believe it or not, whatever you like.” Zach couldn’t 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.
    â€œDon’t tell me the justice system finally reformed you.”
    To Zach’s surprise, James’ tone was light. He wasn’t used to seeing his brother anything but serious and judgmental.
    Pretty much an echo of their father’s manner.
    Maybe he’d come to the wrong house.
    Maybe he’d stepped into a parallel universe.
    â€œNo, it wasn’t that,” he said cautiously. “I just got done with it.”
    â€œSince when?”
    â€œSince New Orleans.” 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. “If I’d known it would be that easy for Matt to change your thinking, I would have inflicted you on him years ago.”
    Zach couldn’t resist the chance to needle his big brother in return. “So, maybe he’s just more persuasive.”
    â€œRight.” James smiled. “He just declined to help you out.”
    â€œThe power of the word ‘no’,” Maralys said with satisfaction.
    James was watching Zach so carefully that Zach almost fidgeted. “That was a neat scheme for Mom you came up with this year,” James said softly.
    Zach shrugged. “Father’s expectation that everything pass immediately to the four of us seemed unfair, especially as a big chunk of the family money came from Mom’s side. She could have challenged the will.”
    â€œBut you negotiated a neat compromise instead,” James said. “You 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.”
    Maralys folded her arms across her chest and leaned in the doorway, watching as well.
    â€œIt was a sound plan to have the four of us agree to wait until Mom’s passing to split the estate,” James continued. “And a logical argument that Father must have assumed he would outlive her.”
    â€œIf not one that would have been in character,” Maralys muttered but both men ignored her.
    Zach shrugged, uncomfortable with his brother’s approval. “I didn’t want Mom to worry about money. She’s never worked, after all. I just did my best.”
    â€œBeverly knows