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"Nope"

He chortles again "We all have to walk the plank someday I’ll bet you a bottle of Royal Salute 50 she has you engaged by the end of the year"

"You’re on" I hold out ain and we shake on it Louisa ten-thousand-dollar bottle of scotch off his hands

I spot my father a few yards across the lawn and head in his direction Looks-wise I take after him--tall, thick dark hair, blue eyes, and a face that appears fifteen years younger than his actual sixty-five

We shake hands and he pats my shoulder affectionately "Son"

"Hey, Dad"

He sips his brandy "How are the crio

My father was never a fan of coasting by on the clout of one’s last na my teen years, family dinners were like the Spanish Inquisition: What have you contributed today? How have you distinguished yourself? What will you be reot it in his head that I should go into politics--become Prosecutor Brent Mason, then Attorney General Brent Mason, eventually Senator Brent Mason--after that it’d be to infinity and beyond

Instead, I became a criotten over it

"They’re defendants, Dad Not criminals"

"Is there a difference?"

"I’m sure it makes a difference to the innocent ones"

Okay, alal things just for the sake of doing the out the playing field for those eren’t born with a silver spoon up their ass is what gets her-up in the DOJ," he says

My father plays racquetball with everybody But he’s not a naht Club--the first rule of having the for good men--keep it incabinet"

"Brent, sweetie, you’re here," my mother says in that soft, breathy voice as she walks up beside entle, delicate Like a rose whose petals will fall off if you blow on it She’s never cursed, doesn’t raise her voice--not even when I was seven and they had to take ency room because I jammed popcorn kernels up my nose just to see how many would fit (Twenty-three, in case you were curious)

"Hi, Mom" I lean down and kiss her cheek

She runs her hand over the fabric of ht blue polo shirt "This is a very nice color on you, dear"

"Thanks"

Her gaze drifts over ly "Walk withith , "we need to talk"--it never ends well