“Yer a wise man,” Ned said gravely. “Right here’s where all the world’s problems get solved. What can we do fer ya this fine morning?”

And it was a fine morning indeed. The sultry heat was gone, the sky was clear and blue, the breeze warm but not oppressive. A perfect Gansett Island day.

“Did my dad tell you about the situation with the album?”

The two men exchanged guilty glances.

“Oh, come on,” Evan said, laughing. “I know he told you. You two are more married than he and my mother are.”

“Not sure how I feel ’bout that,” Ned said.

“It’s kinda true,” Big Mac said. “I told him because I knew you wouldn’t care if I did.”

“And I was comin’ to see ya today,” Ned said. “So ya saved me a trip.”

“Coming to see me about what?” Evan asked, eyeing the doughnut plate and trying to decide if he dared to steal a second one.

“I don’t wantcha ta think that just cuz I gave ya the money ta start the studio, I expect ya ta pass up a golden opportunity with Buddy Longstreet. There ain’t no strings attached ta that money. You shoulda damned well known that.”

“I do,” Evan said, moved by Ned’s impassioned speech. He’d been a beloved second dad to Evan and his siblings all their lives, and none of them had any doubt about where they stood with him. The studio had been Ned’s idea in the first place, and he’d financed the purchase of the equipment. Ensuring Ned’s investment was well protected had been foremost on Evan’s mind in the last few days. “Of course I know there were no strings, but I appreciate the reminder.”

“What’re you thinking, son?” Big Mac asked. “Air it out with us, and let’s figure this out together.”

Since there were no two men he’d rather air it out with, Evan took a deep breath and spilled his guts. “The kicker is,” he said when he had explained the situation from every angle, “I no longer want what I once would’ve given everything for.”

“Then that’s what you need to tell Buddy,” Big Mac said. “I don’t know the guy at all, but it seems to me he’d probably understand that plans change. Goals change. Dreams change. What did he expect you to do for the last year while the bankruptcy was hashed out? Twiddle your thumbs?”

“Yer daddy’s right,” Ned said. “I’ve read about this Longstreet fellow. He’s known fer being a straight-up kinda guy. I’m sure he’d appreciate ya being straight up with him, too.”

“I suppose he would,” Evan said, even though the thought of being straight up with Buddy Longstreet made his stomach hurt.