Right Brother by Patricia McLinn

Linc demanded.
    Trent sat on the concrete steps that led to old shop fronts on Main Street. It looked like one—Zeekowsky Shoe Repair, if his memory was right—was being renovated. But the workers were either off today or taking a lunch break elsewhere.
    From here he could see the café and spot Coach’s arrival. In the meantime he’d have privacy for this phone conversation.
    â€œYou are nuts,” Linc amended before Trent could respond.
    Trent grinned. Imagining his friend and business manager’s face, incredulity adding a ruddier tinge to his coffee-colored skin. They’d met eight years ago at the wedding of Trent’s teammate to Linc’s sister, started talking investments and hit it off.
    There wasn’t anyone Trent trusted more. There wasn’t anyone who knew the ins and outs of his finances better. There wasn’t anyone whose chain was easier to jerk: just edge an inch toward being a fool with money.
    â€œYou’re always the one saying don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose,” he said.
    He could hear Linc’s keyboard going, and knew his friendwas already researching car dealerships in general and Stenner Autos in particular.
    â€œThat’s a hell of a lot different from investing money you expect to lose.”
    â€œI didn’t say I expect to lose it. I asked how long it would take me to recover financially if I lost all the money it’ll cost to buy Stenner Autos.”
    Linc snorted. “From what you said, you should be expecting to lose it. Small town, selling a couple kinds of cars instead of specializing—I didn’t think manufacturers even let dealers do that. Thought you couldn’t sell competing new cars.”
    â€œStenner Autos is grandfathered in. Started doing it so far back they didn’t have rules like that. But if the dealership officially goes bankrupt, it loses that exemption, and that’s one of its most valuable assets.”
    â€œHmph. This place has assets? Besides, if it’s in the hands of a judge, how can you pull it back from the brink? Why would he let you try?”
    â€œYou don’t know Drago. The Dixons and the Stenners go way back.”
    â€œStill doesn’t make this a good investment. Why couldn’t you start a Lexus dealership? Or Mercedes-Benz.”
    Trent laughed. “In Drago? Linc, we need to pry you away from that California wasteland and get you out here into the heart of the country. Status isn’t a cash crop the way it is in L.A.”
    Linc grunted. “You said it’s been losing money forever.”
    â€œNot forever. It used to support the Stenners very well.”
    â€œTimes change.”
    â€œYeah, they do.” Sometimes. And sometimes, even when times changed, people didn’t. “But change can be good. Turns out Zeke-Tech’s bringing a division of his company here.”
    He’d seen signs of decline in town, but also a subtle kindof perking up. Like the drooping flowers in a concrete planter by the café that Loris was tending with a watering can. It must have been an optical illusion, because he imagined he could see the purple flowers reviving from here.
    â€œThat’s your town?” Trent could practically see Linc sitting up, intent with interest. “I heard about that move. Hmm, maybe this could work.”
    â€œYeah? Well, don’t count on it,” Trent said, switching roles. “It will take a year, probably more, for enough folks to move here to really make a difference. And they’ll come with cars. So it could take even more years before they need a new one. So your concern’s well-founded.”
    â€œYeah? When you start admitting I’m right, I know you’re in sorry shape. This isn’t all about the money, you know. You sure you want to climb back into that pit?”
    â€œNo. But…” He gazed down the street.
    â€œBut what?”
    â€œAs far as I can