As close as he and Paul were, they never spoke of the indignities. They soldiered through because it was what had to be done, and it was what their father would’ve expected of them. And they did it because they loved their mother and were fully aware of all she’d done for them.

Though he was as exhausted as he’d ever been, Alex was also keyed up on adrenaline after dealing with his mother and knew he’d never sleep this early. “Do you care if I take the bike out for a ride?” he asked Paul. After the recent walk-about, one of them had to be home with their mom, which was why they rarely made social plans for after work.

“I’ve got six weeks’ worth of accounting to catch up on, which should take me every night this week and well into next, so go right ahead. I’ll be here.”

“Do you need help with the accounting?” It wasn’t lost on Alex that his brother had shouldered a heavier portion of the burden for many months before he finally asked Alex to come home to help him.

“Nah, I’ve got it figured out, and it would take too long to show you the system. Easier to do it myself.”

“You sure you don’t care if I go?”

“I don’t care, Al. I’ve got Sam Adams and the Red Sox to keep me company. Who could ask for anything more than that?”

The lighthearted statement contained far more truth than Paul had intended. Here they were, fairly good-looking guys in their mid-thirties with no sign of a wife or children for either of them, and no hope of such things when they couldn’t make a single move without considering their mother’s welfare first.

Yeah, Alex thought, as he went out to the barn where he kept the Harley he’d brought home from DC with him, the Martinez brothers made for very attractive marriage material.

He’d expected to be married by now, maybe even have a couple of kids, too. But life hadn’t worked out the way he’d planned, and who knew when he’d have time to think about a family of his own? He’d probably be too old and too bitter by the time he was able to go there.

Doctors had told them their mother could live for decades in her current condition. After losing his father so young, Alex was in no rush to live without his mom, but he couldn’t visualize a future that didn’t involve her daily care. What woman in her right mind would want to be a part of that?

“You’re so fucking depressing to be around,” he said to himself, taking advantage of the opportunity to swear to his heart’s content. “Who’d want you anyway?”