“An insult?” Colleen asked.
Mari nodded. “I hope she doesn’t, of course. But that’s been haunting me, that your mother might see me starting this project as a sort of sanctimonious slap to the face. It’s her town, after all. She might consider it intrusive, as if I’m purposefully throwing the crash into the spotlight again…re-opening old wounds.”
“But you’re trying to heal old wounds. This project is about the future, not the past,” Colleen exclaimed.
“I’m so glad you see it that way. But you must see what I mean. Not everyone will agree.”
“Like your brother?”
Mari sighed. “Yeah. Like Ryan. He also believes the past should remain safely buried and contained.”
Colleen inhaled deeply. “Well, we’ll just have to take it one day at a time. People have their opinions, it’s human nature. Just because everyone in Harbor Town isn’t on board initially doesn’t mean we can’t change their mind. They’ll come around once they see the positive things that come out of The Family Center. The proof is in the pudding, right?”
Mari chuckled, feeling a little less weary. “Bless you, Colleen.”
A few minutes later, Colleen checked her watch and gasped. “Look at the time. I’d better get back to make the kids something, or Uncle Marc will have already fed them pizza and Cheetos or something.”
“He’s not that bad, is he?” Mari asked, grinning.
“No, in all fairness, he’s not. Marc would probably throw in an apple and make them drink milk, along with their Cheetos. Liam, on the other hand, thinks pizza ought to be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Brendan totally agrees.” Colleen paused in the process of getting her keys out of her purse and glanced at Mari speculatively. “Marc told me you were going with him to Chicago this weekend.”
“He did?” Mari asked weakly.
Colleen’s aquamarine eyes sparkled. “Yeah. And I think it’s a brilliant idea.”
“Really?”
“Do you know how rare it is to be given a second chance with someone?” Colleen asked, suddenly sober.
“Colleen, I’ve meant to say… I’m so sorry about your husband. I wanted to tell you yesterday, but I just never got around—”
Mari was reminded of Colleen’s courage when she smiled and stood. “There’s no need to apologize, Mari. Darin and I had some wonderful years together. I cherish every moment I had with him. You and Marc should do the same.”
“It’s hard,” Mari admitted. “The future can be so uncertain.”
“All the more reason to grab your chance at happiness while you can. I’ll talk to you soon,” Colleen said before she left the room.
After Colleen was gone, Mari lingered, thinking about what she’d said. If she looked at it from Colleen’s point of view, everything seemed so certain, so clear.
But it wasn’t all that cut-and-dried, was it?
Marc had recently been through a divorce. He’d said that a serious relationship or marriage was the farthest thing from his mind. The pregnancy had come from a wild, impulsive moment. What if he wasn’t pleased by the news? It was one thing for him to say he wanted to be with her, even when he’d formerly planned to be cautious in the dating arena, but suddenly being strapped with a relationship and a baby was another thing altogether.
Mari locked up the offices, but her thoughtful mood made her stroll toward the woods and the dunes instead of immediately getting in her car. She walked the length of Silver Dune and paused, staring out at the vast, blue lake. The wind whipped her hair around her face. She pictured standing next to Marc on that ledge fifteen years ago.
Stop thinking so much, Mari. Just jump.
Mari wished it was all that simple.
She kept herself busy that night and the following day. Distracting herself with plans and projects for the Center helped her from ruminating on her worries about Marc, the baby, Brigit, Ryan and a dozen other things.
By the time twilight fell on Thursday evening, Mari knew she was going to have to confront Ryan about her plans to go away with Marc the next day. She broke the news while they were cleaning up in the kitchen after dinner.
“A weekend in Chicago?” he asked slowly. “That sounds serious.”
“It is, I think,” Mari admitted.
“How serious?” Ryan asked, his dark brows drawn together in concern and growing anger.