“Yeah. And you try something fool like that again, and I can guarantee the next kick won’t be in the butt.”

“I was just playing around. Lighten up, will ya.” Vance tsked.

“This here is one fine car ya got, man,” Peg commented with way too much admiration in his voice for it to actually be genuine.

I slid my eyes over to where he was running a dirt-coated hand along the black hood that shone in such a gleam it looked like a mirror.

Vance winced, evidently catching on to the nasty smudges Peg was leaving all over the car. “Thanks, man.”

“Peg, go get to work,” I ordered, and even though he grouched about it all the way back to the greenhouse, he did as he was told. That was Peg’s mode of operation —obedient in the most disagreeable way possible. Life hadn’t been easy on him, so he’d stubbornly determined to not be easy about anything. Period.

“Vance, we have a swimming pool,” Boss blurted, face lit with enthusiasm.

Vance’s lips drew downward as he nodded his head with an air of being rather impressed. “Wow, Boston. Ain’t y’all fancy.”

Boss shook his head. “No. We’re farmers. You wanna go see it?” He was about to head that way, turning and waving for Vance to follow, but I grabbed his elbow to stop him.

“It ain’t a pool. It’s an oversize pond. And, Boss, we have chores to do. Change into some work clothes and go help Peg in the greenhouse. . . . Thank Vance for this afternoon.”

“Thanks, Vance, for this afternoon.” Boss grinned so big his eyes closed.

Vance waved him off. “No problem. The movie theater has an early showing of E. T. tomorrow. That cool with you?”

It was surprising that Vance would choose to spend a Friday evening with my brother rather than his group of friends or a girl for that matter. Malorie Fitzgerald came to mind and her incessant chattering about Vance even though he paid her very little attention at school, not even sitting with her at lunch. For the last month, he’d actually been sitting with Boss while his friends gave him questioning looks. I wondered if hanging out with my brother was his choice or the doings of his parents, who liked to keep the Cumberland family on the front page of the paper to show off their do-gooding.

Boss, close to two hundred pounds and over six feet tall, clapped his hands and jumped up and down. “Yes! Yes! That’s real cool!”

Vance smiled, producing dimples. “Cool.”

Boss finally hurried inside after a little more encouragement from me. As soon as the door slammed shut, it was opening again.

Charlotte stuck her head out the door, eyeing the flashy car and then Vance while hollering at me, “Ox, it’s time to get the twins from day care!”