Young love…first love is so innocent. So pure and trusting. So all encompassing. I shouldn’t be on the receiving end of that love from her at my age, but in all honesty, she’s my first love, too.

28

Kenzi

Tor ~ age twenty-four

Asher ~ age twenty-four

I’m sitting in the old creaky chair in my office at the shop, trying to make some sense out of all the financial spreadsheets the accountant threw at me.

I don’t understand numbers. Or profit and loss.

Neither did Pop, apparently.

I mean, I know what it is, but I don’t know how to fix it so I have more profit and less loss.

I haven’t taken a paycheck for myself in three months just so I could pay my brothers. I’m hungry and exhausted and worried.

I hear footsteps at the door and turn to see Asher standing there.

“It’s midnight, Tor,” he says.

“I know.”

He comes in and throws a small brown paper bag and a white envelope onto my desk.

Looking up from my mess of papers, I ask him what it is.

“Open them.”

Inside the paper bag is a steak and cheese sandwich, extra cheese, salt and pepper, with grilled peppers. It’s my favorite and my mouth is watering just from looking at it.

“You didn’t have to do this, Ash.”

“Oh yeah? Did you eat today?”

I bite into the sandwich and almost groan from how good it tastes. “No.”

“Then yeah, I did have to do it. Open the envelope.”

Swallowing, I slice the envelope open with a knife and inside I find a check for fifty thousand dollars, made out to me. I stare at it, the zero’s blurring in front of me. I’ve never seen a check for this much money in my entire life.

“What is this?”

“A check.” He leans back against the wall.

“I can see that. For what?”

“For you. To fix this mess you’re in.”

Shaking my head, I shove the check across my desk towards him. “I can’t take your money, Ash. I appreciate it, but I can’t.”

I take another bite from the sandwich, which I will accept. But not money.

“You need the money, Tor. Don’t be stupid. It’s a loan from my inheritance. I don’t need it. My family wants to help you.”

Fifty thousand dollars would fix so much. I could get this place back in order, get out of debt, finally have a little money for myself again to eat and be normal.

“Asher, I can’t.”

“You can, and you will. You wrote the first songs that are making me money, Tor. You think I forgot that shit?” He asks. “No, I fuckin’ didn’t.”

“I get royalties. That’s enough.”

“It’s not. Your father left you a business that was in a hole, man. He didn’t have any life insurance. For four years you’ve been working your ass off trying to take care of everyone and keep this business going. This shop can be great but you have to get out of the hole first or else you’re just spinning your wheels. I can’t watch you kill yourself anymore. Especially when I have the means to help you.”

“Ash-”

“Shut up and take the money. My dad has a friend that’s a business and marketing consultant. He’s coming on Friday to help you get a business plan together.”

I finger the edge of the check. I’ve never taken money from anyone before. But he’s right – I’m sinking like the Titanic.

“I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back.”

He shrugs. “I don’t care if you ever do. I just want to help. You’re my best friend. I don’t expect or want anything back.”

Kenzi

Tor and I see each other whenever we have the chance. On the days I’m at his house, he comes home for his lunch break and we eat lunch together. Sometimes I stay until he comes home after work and we have dinner, talk, play with the pets, and make love.

I’ve been getting quite a few orders for hand written wedding invitations, and hand lettered tattoo designs, all by word of mouth. I’ve also been volunteering at the shelter as much as I can, and the veterinarian who takes care of the sick pets there hired me to do something that is very close to my heart. When her practice has a patient that passes away, they make an imprint of the pet’s paw in ink on notepaper, and she has me write a small, inspirational poem about eternal love on the bottom of the card, and I add the pets name and dates. Then its sent to the owner for them to keep. I personally think it’s very sweet.

Today is Sunday, and Tor’s out riding and having lunch with my father. We haven’t seen each other for three days due to just work and life stuff getting in the way, and I’m missing him a lot. To keep my mind busy, I’ve taken on the project of organizing all my pens, papers, and ink when I get a text message.