His mouth hung open for a split second before he closed it. “You’re reopening the mine to pay for Dad’s care?”
Now was definitely not the time to get back into the DNR question. Xander was a politician, but I’d spent the last ten years waging war and building infrastructure. I wasn’t showing my hand yet. Not when I couldn’t trust him to have a rational conversation about it.
“Yes. I have no control here, Xander. You have it all. You control Dad’s care, his finances, his council seat, and his very life. So if money is really the only reason you won’t let him stay in the house he was born in, that our mother died in, then I’m alleviating that concern. The money the mine will bring in from tours will more than cover it. Even if I can only give Dad fifty-five percent of the money.”
He flinched at that last sentence.
“I just thought you needed a job. Needed income,” he admitted quietly.
“Needed income? I’ve barely spent half of my army pay for the last ten years. I left my job to come here, and I’ve already had about a dozen offers with different firms making a hell of a lot more than anything the mine could haul in during the season. If I just wanted a job, I’d take one of those offers and cut the amount of shit I’m being given. Do you really think I’m here as a last resort?”
He glanced down at his shiny dress shoes. I bet his toes had to be freezing, and a part of me hoped so. “The thought had occurred to me, yes. Not that I’m not happy you’re here.”
“You show it so well.”
He sighed, looking up like he was praying for patience. Maybe God still listened to him. Good for Xander.
“You went behind my back,” he said softly, and a twinge of hurt echoed through his eyes.
“Coming home?” I clarified. “Because you’ve been asking me to come back to Alba for the last five years. Hell, you asked me to get out after Sullivan.”
“No, with the mine. You could have come to me. We could have pitched it like a team. Instead you left me out and made me look like a fool in front of the council for not knowing what you had planned.”
I swallowed the instinctive retort that he was only pissed because the optics hadn’t gone his way. But it had to be deeper, didn’t it? Sure, he cared about his image way more than I did mine, but it couldn’t all be about his reputation.
“I’m sorry,” I said, bleeding as much sincerity into my voice as I could so he’d know I was telling the truth. “I was afraid you’d react…well, exactly how you did. After dinner the other night, I didn’t trust you to have an open mind. I should have, and I’m sorry.”
He stood motionless for an awkward moment, then finally shook his head. “I’d like to think I would have listened and supported you. But maybe you’re right. The stuff with Dad the other night put me on the defensive. I don’t want to see you as the enemy, Cam. You’re the only brother I have.”
Left. I’m the only brother you have left.
“I don’t want to be your enemy. Ever. I’m just trying to do the best I can for Dad, and if that means pissing you off at times, then I have to be okay with that. But I am sorry that I didn’t bring the mine idea to you. It was a dick move.”
He shook his head. “You just apologized twice in the last two minutes. I should have recorded it, because I don’t think I’ll ever hear those words again.”
A half smile lifted the corner of my lips. “I’m bound to screw up, but I’m man enough to own it.”
“You didn’t used to be.”
“I didn’t use to be a lot of things.”
“Okay,” he said slowly, as if he’d come to some sort of decision. “I have more than enough on my plate with Dad and running my accounting business—”
“Plus the whole mayor thing,” I added.
“I think we both know that running Alba isn’t exactly a full-time job. Point is, my hands are full. And I know you technically don’t need it, but you have my support for the mine. I still think it’s a shit decision that has the potential to get people killed, but I’m trusting your skills. I’m trusting you. So while I’ll voice my concerns often and loudly when it’s the two of us, I’ll back you when it comes to the council.”
“Really?” I kept my voice as neutral as possible, not letting hope or disbelief change the tone.
“Really.” He shrugged. “If I’d known why you were doing it, I hope I would have been on your side from the get-go.”
“But you’re on it now.”
“I am. And we can talk about at-home care for Dad. Let’s have dinner at my place this week. I’ll show you the research I have and Dad’s finances, and maybe we can figure something out together.” The pressed line of his lips told me what his words didn’t—he didn’t want to give up any control, but he was willing to try.
“I’ll bring the food.”
“Sounds good. I’ll let you get back to your…” He glanced around the building that was way worse off than it had been when we were kids.
“My giant wreck,” I offered.
“Your giant wreck,” he agreed, then smiled. “Later.”
“See ya.” I sent him off with a wave.
When his shiny blue truck passed the doorless entry of the mining building, I went back to my inspection, mentally cataloging all the structural problems while replaying the conversation with Xander in my head.
Sullivan would have smoothed everything over effortlessly.
“He’s going to kill me when he figures out what I’m really doing. You know that, right?” I said softly. “Sure, there’s a slight chance I can win him over, but you know how he is.”
I moved to the window frames on the south side of the building, taking a minute to climb over the fractured support beam that had fallen from the ceiling before I’d even left Alba.
“Look at this place,” I muttered. “You would have loved it, though, wouldn’t you? You would have seen it as an adventure. A way to bring back a slice of our family legacy. I just see a structural nightmare with too many restoration rules to contend with.” Dropping to a crouch, I eased my way under another fallen timber to get a better look at the pilings. “I’m going to have to replace almost all of these. Let’s just add it to the list, shall we? Fight for Dad, fight the town, figure out what I’m going to do with my life… You would have taken it all in stride with a grin, wouldn’t you?”
“Hey,” Willow said from behind me.
I stood and smacked my head on the very timber I’d been trying to avoid. “Shit,” I cursed and rubbed the top of my head as I ducked and came out.