He Smirked, Called Me “The Family’s IT Girl,”

like that, but…” He looked down. “I ran my mouth. I put a target on this house.”

“Yeah,” I said.

He flinched.

Then I sat across from him anyway.

Billy was asleep on the den couch in his dress uniform pants and one of Dad’s old fishing shirts, boots still on. Medal case on the floor beside him.

My mother set a plate in front of me. Cold brisket. White bread.continue reading …