(Back to the regular storyline)

"You take care of him." Esther whispers as she gives Tim a hug before he and Avi leave for town.

"As if he were my own son." Tim smirks, as he picks up a couple of pair of work gloves. He loves the way she is protective of her little brother but sometimes she has a tendency to over do it. "Av, you ready?"

"Yep." Avi says with a big smile. He loves hanging out with Tim. Tim takes care of him but doesn't baby him like his sister. She tends to smother him at times.

"Be careful." Kirstie smiles and waves as the guys get into the truck.

"What are we looking for again?" Avi chuckles as they walk through the rubble of Tim's home.

"Any board that hasn't been broken that we can use to repair the shed roof." Tim answers. "Watch where you step."

Avi moves some boards and uncovers a picture in a broken frame. The photo was heavily damaged from the rain. But he could see that it was Tim and a beautiful blond lady holding each other closely and smiling at the camera.

"Uh, who is this?" Avi asks, secretly wondering if his sister had competition.

"Huh?" Tim asks as he looks around. His eyes falling on the picture. "Oh, that's Jenika. She was my wife."

"WHAT? YOU'RE MARRIED?" Avi asks, his eyes widening. "AND YOU'RE DATING MY SISTER??!!"

"I said she WAS my wife." Tim repeats. "She passed away seven years ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Avi says as he looks down at the picture. "What happened?"

"Ovarian cancer." Tim answers.

"I never knew. I'm sorry." Avi says sadly.

"I don't really like talking about it much." Tim says, shaking his head. "We were only married for two years but we started dating while we were in college."

Avi lays the picture back down, not knowing what else to say.

Tim smiles as he notices Avi's sad face.

"It's alright, Avi. If you have any questions, feel free to ask." Tim smiles. "It's been seven years. I'm not going to freak on you."

Avi smiles shyly and shrugs his shoulders.

"Do you still love her?" Avi asks.

"Of course I do. I always will. But she's gone." Tim answers as he takes a glove off so he could wipe his forehead.

"Does Kirstie know?" Avi asks then chuckles shaking his head. "That was a stupid question. Of course, she knows."

"Kirstie and Jenika were very close. Besides being sister-in-laws, they were best friends. Jenika's death was very hard on Kirst." Tim sighs.

"What about Esther? Have you told her?" Avi asks as he checks another piece of lumber.

"Yeah, she knows." Tim nods.

"Is this conversation depressing you?" Avi asks, innocently.

"Kinda." Tim smiles. "That's why I don't talk about it much."

"Sorry." Avi says with a slight smile.

After finding enough lumber to do the job, they go out to the back yard to the crumpled shed. Tim digs through the mess until he finds a box of nails and a couple of more hammers.

"I think this will do it." Tim says as he puts everything in the back of Esther's truck.

"Tim. I don't know if I've ever thanked you or not." Avi says as they get back into the truck.

"Thank me for what?" Tim asks as he backs out of his driveway.

"For going that extra mile to try and help me learn. And for taking up for me against those bullies." Avi says as he plays with his fingers.

"You're very welcome." Tim smiles as he reaches over and rubs Avi's shoulder. "You know, I was bullied too growing up."

"Really? Why?" Avi asks with raised brow.

"I stuttered really bad. All the kids made fun of me." Tim answers. "I had to go to speech therapy."

"Wow. I'm learning so much about you today." Avi giggles.

"I still slip and stutter every now and then. I have to slow down and take a deep breath and start over." Tim shrugs.

"Oh, you stuttered some the other night when you showed up at our house after the tornado." Avi says.

"Exactly. It usually happens if I get overly excited or really nervous." Tim says.

"This is fun." Avi smiles.

"What is?" Tim asks, glancing quickly over at Avi then back to the road.

"Learning more about each other." Avi smiles.

"So when did you realize that you had a gift?" Tim asks.

"What gift?" Avi asks.

"The gift of art." Tim chuckles, shaking his head.

"Oh. I don't know." Avi giggles and shrugs. "I've just always loved drawing and making things. I realized that I would see things on paper or on wood and just kinda copy it. It's hard to explain."

"Being an art teacher myself, I have to say that your technique is very unique." Tim says as he pulls into the driveway.

"Ok? I don't really know what that means but I take that as a compliment." Avi laughs as he gets out of the truck.

They walk into the house as Esther and Kirstie are beginning supper.

"How'd it go?" Esther says giving Tim a quick kiss.

"Great, I think we have everything we need now to fix the shed." Tim answers, sitting down at the table.

"We had a great time." Avi smiles, sitting down as Kirstie hands him and her brother a glass of tea.

After supper, Esther asks Tim and Kirstie to stay the night. Hearing no complaints from the two or from Avi.

"So, did you have fun hanging out with my big brother today?" Kirstie asks as she cuddles close to her boyfriend.

"Yeah, it was awesome. I learned a lot about him that I didn't know." Avi nods.

"Really?" Kirstie asks, raising her head from his chest. "Like what?"

"Things like he used to be bullied for stuttering." Avi answers. "Is that true?"

"Sad but true." Kirstie nods. "He used to stutter so bad. But you can't tell it now. Just every now and then you hear him stutter."

"I also found out that he was married." Avi says quietly.

"He told you?" Kirstie asks.

"Well, I found a picture of him and this really pretty blond haired lady." Avi tells her. "I was kinda worried for Esther so I ask who it was."

"Jenika." Kirstie nods. "She was so sweet. I was looking for that picture but couldn't find it."

"I found it under some planks. It had gotten wet." Avi replies. "I felt bad for asking."

"He doesn't talk about it too much. It still hurts, even after all these years." Kirstie says sadly as she lays her head back on Avi's chest. "She really suffered. She didn't even look like the same girl he married, with the chemo and all. But he still looked at her the same way he did on their wedding day."

"That's so sad." Avi says as he rubs her gently on the back.

"He hasn't even looked at another woman. But that was before he met Esther." Kirstie smiles.

"I hope they get married. Tim would be a cool brother-in-law." Avi smiles.

"That's not the only way that could happen, Sweetheart." Kirstie mumbles to herself.

***********

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