Adler shrugged. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate.”

“Pull up a chair, Clay.” Daddy gestured to an empty seat. “This concerns you too.”

“You can’t make me work at Paxton Trucking. I start at the University of Texas next month.” He gave his father a teasing look, but he sat.

“You’re still a part owner.” Daddy grinned. “And it’s Paxton Freight Company now.”

“Paxton Freight . . . ?” Since he’d arrived home a few days before, he’d heard an awful lot of business talk from these four—which he’d successfully avoided.

“When I thought I’d never be able to come home—” Adler lowered his chin, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Clay gripped his hands together. Even with forgiveness, regrets remained. “Go on.”

Adler cleared his throat. “I came up with a business idea—Air Cargo Express Shipping, ACES for short.”

“A great idea,” Daddy said. “Air shipping is the future, and the military will have a lot of surplus planes for sale.”

Adler leaned his elbows on his knees. “After I decided to come home, I didn’t give ACES a second thought.”

“But we did.” Wyatt lifted a clipboard. “It’s a smart way for our company to grow.”

Clay frowned at his oldest brother. “I thought you and Dorothy were going to stay in England and work for Fairfax & Sons.”

“It was a fine plan.” Mr. Fairfax’s British accent sounded out of place in the Texas Hill Country. “However, Wyatt had difficulty obtaining permission to reside in England, and the new Labour government plans to nationalize many areas of commerce. My company might not be viable for long.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”

“But America is brimming with opportunity.” Had Daddy ever looked so happy? “Dorothy is welcome in the US as a war bride, and Reg will have both family and a job, so he’ll probably be welcome too. I’ll pull some strings and make it happen.”

Wyatt flipped a page on the clipboard. “The first of the year, we’ll set up Paxton Freight Company here in Kerrville. Daddy will be in charge and will still run the trucking business. Adler will set up ACES.”

“We want to base ACES in Salina, Kansas, Violet’s hometown. We’ll stay in Kerrville a while to let Timmy get used to living with me and his new mama.” Adler smiled with a newlywed glow. He and Violet had gotten married in Salina at the beginning of December with the whole Paxton family in attendance.

“Reg will be in charge of setting up branches at our hubs, starting in Salina, partnering with other regional trucking companies or buying them.” Daddy clapped Mr. Fairfax on the back.

The Englishman stiffened but smiled. Maybe Clay ought to loan Daddy his serviceman’s guide to Britain to teach his father about English reserve.