Before she had time to think on it, he was back and sliding into the seat across from her. He handed her the can of Coke before popping open the top of his. Curious golden eyes were leveled at her. "What's wrong with your brother?" he asked her quietly.
Taking a sip of her Coke, she contemplated how much she should tell him.
"He has a drug problem."
He gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm really sorry to hear that. I know you lost your mother as well."
"Last year." She drank some more Coke. "Caleb could not handle the fact that her mind was gone. They were very close, you see, and it affected him greatly." She managed a smile. "What brings you here?"
"I was visiting a friend." He hesitated before plunging on. "Look, I've been planning to reach out. I know what your dad did for mine and realize that we probably haven't done enough to show our appreciation."
"You did enough," she told him firmly. "You paid for all of his medical expenses, and you had your own grief to contend with. I was sorry to hear about your dad."
Brant smiled grimly. "After escaping a gunshot, he was killed by a drunk driver. Life is certainly not fair." He shook his immaculately cut sable-brown head. "And I'm preaching to the choir. What will happen to him? Your brother?"
She shrugged. "He will have to go to rehab. The sheriff was a friend of my parents and has been bending over backwards to make certain he does not end up in prison, but there's only so much he can do and no more."
"Let me help," Brant said suddenly.
"What?"
"Your dad took a bullet for mine. The least I can do is try and help your brother out. Let us pay for his stay at the rehab. There are some excellent ones available. You can do your research and let me know which one suits him best."
"I appreciate the offer-"
"But you have your pride." He reached over to put a hand on hers. "There's a time and place for it, and now's not the time."
"You don't understand-"
"Then why don't you explain it to me?"
His phone went off just then. Plucking it from the pocket of his sports jacket, he glanced at the screen, a frown touching his brow.
"Please excuse me. I have to take this."
"And I have to go."
"Indigo, just... dammit. Please give me a few minutes."
It took more than a few minutes, and by the time he returned, she had left.
"What?" she blurted out when her friend continued to stare at her.
Indigo had practically flown from the hospital after peeking in at her brother and came straight to the sports bar and grill, owned and operated by her best friend.
"You know what." At this time of day, the place was practically empty, with the lunch crowd already gone and the dinner crowd a few hours away from making an appearance. Pouring them both two glasses of Cabernet, Juliet rounded the solid oak counter to come and sit next to her. "The man offered you money."
"No. He offered to pay for rehab for Caleb," she corrected, taking the glass of wine. "The family helped out more than they should. Not only did they pay for dad's medical expenses-"
"Which they damn well were entitled to do."
"They also paid for his funeral expenses."
"Honey, your father took a bullet for Benjamin O'Keefe. I'd say that forking over the money to pay for his medical bills and funeral expenses was a small price to pay, especially since the family is loaded."
Shaking her head, Indigo picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. "It's not that simple." She took another sip and felt the bitterness rising like bile in her throat. "Daddy had a death wish."
"Now-"