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Tunnel, and the flat planes of the valley magically transformed into the mountainous landscape she loved, Alex finally began to relax.
    “That’s why I’m here, Dad. Whatever she needs.”
    “Good, good. How are you feeling?” He didn’t look at her but instead shuffled some papers before him.
    “I’m great. My summer’s been a blast and my batteries are recharged.”
    Now he did look, with squinted eyes that tried to understand the inconceivable fact that someone so young and healthy-looking might really be sick.
    “Good! That’s good!” he said, and smiled with obvious relief.
    Changing to a more comfortable topic, Alex asked about his business, a subject she knew would both brighten his spirits and occupy the conversation for the foreseeable future.
    “Not good, sunshine, not good at all. All of this wash-and-wear and casual work attire is killing the dry-cleaning business. Thank God for kids who throw up in bed. We can still get forty bucks a pop for cleaning bedding! The other businesses are fine. They’ve become our bread and butter.”
    Sitting back in her chair and assuming a comfortable pose, Alex looked at the joy on his face even as he talked about business going down the drain. She’d heard it all before, from her grandfather, and from her dad, yet here they were thirty years later, still going strong. She humored him, though.
    “Will anything be left for Andrew to inherit?” she inquired about her older brother, who’d worked for their father since he was big enough to walk, or so it seemed, and had essentially never left. He’d attended the local college for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, married a local girl, and settled into the same neighborhood as their parents.
    He sighed. “I don’t know, sunshine. Probably not much future in dry cleaning. But I’m looking into a couple of liquor licenses.”
    Alex knew the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was investigating the sale of their liquor monopoly. Under the current system, the state owned all of the hundreds of stores that provided liquor to both the public and private sectors. The governor was looking to privatize the system. Good arguments on both sides of the debate made the decision a difficult one. Revenue from alcohol sales funded everything from building roads to paying state salaries. Those who supported the sale of the stores touted the economic opportunity for people like her father.
    “That’s good,” Alex replied. “Where do you buy those?”
    He laughed. “They’re only going to award a handful. You need to have money to get one. Lots of money. And you need the right political connections. But I’ve contributed to the campaigns of every senator and congressman and representative in the area, and you know—it’s all who you know.”
    Alex studied him for a moment, choosing her words carefully. She’d never agree with him about things like this, but she didn’t want to offend him by expressing her opinion too strongly. “That doesn’t seem very fair, Dad. I mean, shouldn’t they sell licenses to people who’ve lost their jobs and give them an opportunity to make a living?”
    He squinted again, appearing confused. “They couldn’t afford them.”
    “Maybe they could, if they dropped the price.”
    Again, the squint. “Then how would the state make money?”
    “Just sell more licenses. Give everyone a chance.”
    Waving a dismissive hand, he shook his head. “That would never work, Alex. If the little guy spent, say, fifty grand on a license, it’d be a waste of his money. The outlet liquor stores would undercut the prices, and everyone would go there. Sure, people would go to the corner store to pick up one bottle of wine for dinner, but if they were having a party, buying a dozen bottles, or if they owned a restaurant or a bar—they’d drive a few extra miles to save money. And your little guy would be out of business in six months and fifty thousand dollars in debt.”
    Alex tried not to show