“If you’re sure it’ll be all right—”
“It’ll be fine,” Colleen assured. “Come on. Let’s go catch up on the last fifteen years of our lives.”
That’s precisely what they attempted to do while sitting on the Kavanaugh’s front porch sipping iced lemonade. Mari was having such a nice time chatting with Colleen that she realized an hour had passed, and she’d hardly worried about the news she’d received that morning. She also hadn’t spoken to Colleen about The Family Center. She rectified that as soon as she made the realization.
Colleen listened, a sober expression settling slowly on her face as she listened to Mari try and put into words her plans for the money she’d received from the law
suit so many years ago.
“You never touched any of that money?” Colleen asked in a hushed tone after Mari had talked nonstop for several minutes.
Mari shook her head. “You’ll never know…” she began, pausing when her throat tightened uncooperatively. “You’ll never know how many times I wondered what that money had been meant for before the lawsuit. Had it been saved for your college funds? Marc’s law school? For Deidre’s and your weddings, perhaps? Nest eggs for Kavanaugh grandchildren?” She met Colleen’s stare and smiled despite the tear that had fallen down her cheek. “It was torture to consider it. I had loved all of you, in a way. I considered just giving my portion back—”
“No,” Colleen quietly interrupted. “That wouldn’t have been right. It would have offset the balance of things.”
Mari’s mouth fell open, stunned that Colleen had captured so succinctly the essence of her feelings.
Colleen stared at the glass of lemonade in her hand with a fierce focus.
“I accept the job offer,” she said.
“You…you do?” Mari asked, surprised at her decisiveness.
Colleen nodded. “I’ll look over the contract, of course. I’m not sure how much notice will be required at my current job, but yes—I want to do it.” She glanced over at Mari and smiled. “It seems right somehow, you starting The Family Center and me working there. Like coming full circle.”
Mari inhaled and laughed shakily.
“What?” Colleen asked.
“I’d forgotten how formidable you can be at times.”
Colleen made a face. “Doesn’t go with the blond hair, huh?”
They both laughed.
“There’s one other thing you should know, Colleen, before you make your final decision.”
“What?”
“Eric Reyes will be working at the Center, as well.”
Colleen’s amusement faded. “In a full-time capacity?” she asked.
“No, no,” Mari assured. “He’ll only be volunteering an afternoon or morning every week, but, given what happened in the parking lot the other night, I thought I should mention it.”
“I see.” She seemed to consider. “Well, I can get past it if he can. We don’t have to be best friends to work together for a few hours a week.”
Mari sighed with relief.
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Marc’s car coming up Sycamore Avenue. Colleen’s glance followed Mari’s.
“I’m sorry, Mari,” Colleen said.
She gave Colleen a smile of reassurance. Of course, Colleen didn’t know what had been happening between her older brother and Mari, but she must have sensed the tension.
“It’s okay,” Mari assured her. “I was making dinner for Marc tonight, anyway.”
“You were?” Colleen asked. She seemed pleased.