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Jerry’s throat was tight as he pulled up to the house, tires crunching as he drove up the long gravel laneway that snaked through the yard.

Cary was sitting on his front steps, his elbows on his knees, a cigarette dangling from his hand and a black, terrifying expression on his face.

He flicked the glowing ember into the night and stood as Jerry turned off the ignition, resting a gentle hand on Dustin’s head. He had passed out in his seat on the way home, slumped over sideways with his mouth open. Jerry left him be and got out of the car, quietly closing the door.

“Where is she.”

Jerry let out a long breath. “She’s not here,” he said slowly.

“I can see that.” Cary’s voice was dripping with menace. “Where did she go?”

“She’s fine, Cary. She’s safe. You know she’s safe, with him.”

Cary stepped forward and grabbed Jerry by the throat. “I’m not asking your opinion on my sister’s choice of sexual partners,” he seethed. “I’m asking where the fuck she is.”

“Honestly Cary? I don’t know. Her an’ Shane took off after Dusty’s event, an’ I don’t imagine they’ll be resurfacing ‘till tomorrow.”

Cary swore and tossed Jerry against the truck like a ragdoll. Jerry rubbed his throat, but didn’t look away.

“I trusted you,” Cary hissed. “I trusted you to look after her, to keep her – ”

“Keep her what, Cary?” Jerry said, his voice calm and soft. “Keep her a virgin? You seen them two together. I did as best I could for as long as I could, but come on. He loves her, Cary. You know he does. An’ he loves her the right way. The way she supposed to be loved, by somebody.”

Cary swore again, his hands balled at his sides like he wanted to punch Jerry.

“Go ahead,” Jerry said, no hint of a threat in his voice. “Go ahead and sock me, Cary. Do it, if it’ll make you feel better. But I’m tellin’ ya, he’s a good boy, an’ he gonna treat her right till she dies. How long are you gonna keep them apart, huh? Eventually they’ll just disappear, and neither of us will never see them again. I’m surprised they haven’t run already, tell you the truth.”

“FUCK!” Cary screamed, running his hands through his hair and over his face.

Jerry walked towards him and clapped him on the shoulder. “I love you, boy. I do. But this thing with you and Laney…” Jerry swallowed. They never talked about it. Nobody ever talked about it. “There’s no avoidin’ it, no more. It ain’t right. You know it ain’t right.”

Cary looked at him, a fathomless expression on his face, like he couldn’t decide if he should kill him for saying it or thank him for finally bringing it up.

“I would never touch her,” Cary said in a tight voice.

“Maybe not, but you hurt her, Cary.”

His face fell, and Jerry squeezed his shoulder.

“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered, sounding strangely like a child.

“Let her go,” Jerry said. “Leave for the summer like always. An’ leave Laney be. Give her some freedom, Cary. She done earned it, putting up with the likes of you an’ Linette her whole goddamn life.” Jerry stepped back and produced a joint from the pocket of his suit jacket. “For the road?”

Cary nodded miserably, and they smoked in silence, Dustin asleep in the truck, the stars watching them warily.

“Have a good summer, Jerry…” Cary said, as he got into his silver Acura Legend.

Jerry watched him drive away before slumping against the truck in relief. He was positive that the stars burned brighter, like the heavens had been listening and for the first time, were daring to hope.

But hope is a dangerous thing. And nobody knew that better than Jerry.