Recipe for Satisfacton(67)

“I think you’re better than those bars. That’s why I harp on you.”

Jack dropped the pen he had been twirling between his fingers. He had no doubt his face matched his shocked system. And he wasn’t going to make the mistake of correcting the fact that he owned restaurants—not bars.

“I thought your decision to start your own business was selfish. We have so much here. So much has been given to us and I just couldn’t understand why you didn’t want to give back to the name that had given you a break.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve never given you enough credit, but you’ve just proven me wrong. You’re going to change the world one foster kid at a time.”

Was it too over-the-top that he wanted to yell I told you so? That he wanted to smile, point, and remind Neil that he may be the youngest, but that didn’t mean he was the laziest. But, he didn’t. “It isn’t fair that we lucked out. There are so many kids who are just like us with no hope and no one to turn to. “

This was it. The moment he had been waiting for. They were on board. Everything had gone according to plan. But there was something missing.

“So we’re all in agreement?” Cole asked looking from side to side.

As soon as Neil nodded in agreement, Jack took a deep breath, pride filling his chest. He’d never had this feeling before. And he owed it all to Sterling.

“I just have one question,” Finn said. “Who are you and what have you done with our brother Jack?”

“I think we can thank a lady by the name of Sterling for this sudden transformation,” Cole answered.

“Sterling helped me put together the presentation but she’s…” She did a lot more than that. She was the initial brains behind the idea but she would never take the credit. Sterling had opened his eyes to a brand-new life. But would life be the same without her in it? “We’re done.”

“What did you do?” Neil scolded.

“Nothing.” That’s a lie. “Our arrangement was only temporary. She knew that from the beginning.

“Uh-oh,” Gloria said. “What did you do?”

His shoulders slumped forward. “I found a stack of bank statements. She’s in debt. Major debt.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “I all but accused her of wanting me for my money.”

All three brothers cursed under their breath but Gloria didn’t hold back. “Why are you boys such idiots?”

“Hey, we’re not all idiots,” Finn said, his thumb pointing over his shoulder at Neil. “Some of us more than others.”

Neil shoved him into the table.

Their attention turned from Neil and Finn wrestling at the table to the front door smashing against the brick wall. Cole cringed at Penn’s carelessness as she wrestled several boxes through the door but he immediately shot up and raced out of the booth, to her rescue. Wasn’t he the one who always complained about how she always needed help? He carried three boxes to Penn’s one.

“What do you have there, Penn?” Finn asked.

She huffed as she settled her box on the table across from them. “This is a present from Sterling.” Penn zeroed her gaze on Jack. He tensed. Obviously she had already heard the news about his stupidity. She walked by him, her eyes throwing daggers, and leaned down to hug Gloria.

“Gather ’round, boys. I have something to show you.” Penn gestured to the table where she’d set up the boxes. She settled beside Cole on one side of the table, Jack flanked her other, Finn and Neil settled on the opposite side. “Your names should be on the lids, one for each of you. Go ahead. Open them.”

On the top of each box was what looked like a photo album, but when Jack opened the pages he realized it was a scrapbook. Every achievement, every event, every moment worth remembering was documented in the pages of the scrapbook. And they each had one.

“Shit,” Finn whispered under his breath.

“And all of the pictures that were found in the house were duplicated and you each have copies,” Penn said.

“Sterling did this?” Cole asked.

Penn nodded.

Jack watched his brothers as they rummaged through the photos. Cole stared at the framed photo of Vivian and him. Finn and Neil silently thumbed through their boxes.

“Jack.” Neil looked up and laughed, a loud bellow. “Remember when you dressed like a princess for Halloween?” He held up a photo of Jack in his costume, complete with blond wig, pink dress, and cone hat.

Penn burst out in hysterics beside him and snatched the picture out of Neil’s hand. “I’m so keeping this for blackmail purposes.” She looked inside Cole’s box. “There has to be some good ammo in here of you, Mr. Uptight.” She nudged Cole in the ribs and thrust out her hip trying to block him from grabbing the box.