"I loved them," Shelby sighs wearily on our way home.

"They love you too," I say with absolute conviction.

"If it bothers you to talk about it, it's okay, but I was hoping you would tell me about your brother Rutherford?"

The question hangs for a moment. I do my best to keep my voice neutral and not show how much the topic angers me. "He went to Afghanistan, did three tours. The war changed him. He had a best buddy who died over there too. That was bad enough. Then ...