The main door opened, which had to be Seth because I’d locked the doors when Jack and Chelsea, the closing servers, left. Sure enough, he sauntered into the bar.

“What’s up?” he asked, eyeing the assortment of appetizers. “Did you start without me?”

“We weren’t sure you were going to make it,” I said.

“Bullshit,” he said as he took the stool next to Cash.

“Hot food waits for no one,” Cash said. “What are we drinking?”

“Like you, I brought an assortment. I’ve got my strawberry-blonde pale ale, which we hope to replicate and market as Beach Babe. Then we have an IPA, soon to be Hoppy Summer Days. And last, I brought a crisp, light lager that I’m calling Smooth Sailing. Where do you want to start?”

“I could use some Smooth Sailing,” Cash said.

Seth nodded, so I poured us a round into pint glasses. I was about to raise mine to take a swig when Cash held his glass out for a toast, which surprised me.

Seth and I extended our glasses to his.

“To the guy with a dream. I know I’ve given you shit about it being pie-in-the-sky, but you’ve turned into one persistent MF and look where it got you. You’re on your way.”

We clinked and drank, and I used those seconds to swallow my shock and the emotions my reticent brother’s praise elicited.

Seth held up his glass again, and we followed.

“I’m proud of you, Holden. Can’t wait to see where you go with Rusty Anchor. Here’s to your overall smooth sailing.”

“This is some top-notch lager,” Cash added.

We clinked again and tipped our glasses back. I tried to figure out what to say, but after all these years of pretending like I didn’t care what anyone else thought of me and then changing my ways and telling myself it was for me and me alone, I never could’ve guessed what the support from my brothers would mean to me.

“Thanks,” I said simply, meeting the gaze of each of them. I shook my head a little, laughed, and said it again. “Thanks. Means a lot coming from you two hard-asses. You think you could use the lager in a dish or two?”

Cash took another swig, and I could tell he let the flavors roll over his tongue as he nodded. “I’m thinking some kind of pork with bacon dish with a glaze. Or I could make a mean chili with some heat to it. Brisket… Yeah. I could use the lager in a dish or two.”

“I was thinking we could introduce a new menu at the same time the brewery opens, kind of a celebration of the marriage of your cooking and my beer,” I said.

Seth picked up the thread right away. “Grand opening for the brewery, new offerings from the restaurant… We need to go all out.”