Healing Dr Fortune. Judy Duarte

      Max answered, a scowl plastered to his face. He invited Jeremy in, but he didn’t crack a smile.

      “How’s it going?” Jeremy asked.

      “Okay.” Max closed the door. “My sister will be out in a minute. Have a seat.”

      Jeremy scanned the tidy room, noting the simple furnishings that had been carefully placed around the room: a beige sofa adorned with brightly colored decorator pillows, a wrought-iron floor lamp with a matching shade, dark wood furniture.

      Red candles and a few photographs were displayed on the mantel over a brick fireplace.

      The living room had a cozy, welcoming feel about it, and he could tell Kirsten took pride in her home.

      Max sat in a recliner, his eyes glued to the television, watching a college basketball game. A portable travel crib rested beside him, where Anthony lay on his back, kicking his feet and watching a dinosaur mobile.

      “Who’s playing?” Jeremy asked, taking one last stab at being friendly.

      Max was so focused on the game that it took him a moment to respond. “Oklahoma State at Texas A&M.”

      “What’s the score?”

      “The Aggies are up by five.”

      Silence again.

      Jeremy decided to let it go. He was just about to take a seat when Kirsten entered the living room wearing a simple black dress and heels. Her hair had been swept up into a twist, revealing that small pair of diamond studs.

      She wore only the slightest bit of makeup: mascara to highlight those pretty blue eyes, a pink shade of lipstick to accentuate a natural pout.

      He’d known she was attractive in denim and T-shirts. But the transformation from casual tomboy to classy dinner date was jaw-dropping.

      “You look great,” he said.

      Her cheeks flushed when she smiled. “Thank you.”

      Max lifted the remote toward the television and turned down the volume. Then he stood, crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one hip. “So where are you guys going?”

      Jeremy hadn’t suffered through a date-night interrogation since he’d been a teenager going to his last high school prom. And it prickled him to have to go through it now, especially from a man who was probably more than ten years his junior. But he shook off his irritation and played the game. “I thought we’d go to Bernardo’s, the new Italian restaurant that just opened up a few blocks down the street from Red. That is, if Kirsten doesn’t mind.”

      “Bernardo’s sounds good to me.” She offered him a breezy smile, then grabbed her purse from a small table near the door. “I’ll see you later, Max. You can call me if you have a problem with Anthony.”

      “I’ll be okay.”

      Good, because Jeremy was looking forward to putting some distance between them. What was that guy’s problem?

      Jeremy opened the door, then followed Kirsten out of the house. Moments later, they were in his rental car and headed into town for dinner.

      “I’m afraid I need to apologize for my brother’s rudeness,” Kirsten said. “His life has been turned upside down, so he’s been a little testy with everyone lately.”

      “No apology necessary.”

      “I know. But …” She pursed her lips. “I guess everyone has their cross to bear. And Max is mine.”

      Jeremy wasn’t sure why she felt that way. “How old is he? Twenty-four? “

      “Actually, he’s twenty-six.”

      “Then I’d say it’s probably time for him to move on and make a life of his own.”

      “I wish it were that easy.” Kirsten glanced out her window at the passing scenery, then back to Jeremy. “He’s between jobs, so I can’t very well boot him out into the street. And now that he has Anthony …”

      “I can see how that would complicate things.” Jeremy had a strong sense of family loyalty, too, so he understood why she was supportive of Max. “How’s it working out?”

      “It’s been tough.” She gave a half shrug. “But there’s not much I can do about it until he lands another job and can move out.”

      “What kind of position is he looking for?”

      “Anything at this point. I think he wants to move as badly as I’d like to see him go. But he doesn’t have a high school diploma, which limits his options when it comes to finding something that will pay the rent, and now he has day-care expenses to cover.”

      “That’s too bad.”

      “I know.” She took a deep breath, then sighed softly. “I tried to talk him into getting his GED and picking up some college courses, but he refused to even consider it.”

      “Why?”

      “I’m afraid it was probably because I suggested it.” She rested her hands on top of the small black purse that sat in her lap. “And because he’s never been particularly ambitious. After he dropped out of high school, he just drifted from job to job for one reason or another.”

      “In that case, you might not be doing him any favors by letting him stay with you.”

      “Actually, two years ago he was hired on at the feed store and was able to keep that one until a couple weeks ago. He really seemed to like it, but when the new management took over, they laid everyone off, and Max was back at square one.”