When We Found Home(18)

Keira grinned. “Right? I don’t get boys at all. A couple of girls I know want boyfriends, but why? Anyway, school’s okay. I like what we’re studying. At my old school the classes were really easy. Here I have to work harder, but that’s okay.”

She paused, then said, “I’m glad you’re here. I hope you like it and stay.”

“Me, too. The sister thing is...” She searched for the right word.

“Bizarre,” Keira said, drawing out the syllables. “But nice.” She scrambled to her feet and reached for Lizzy. “Okay, now I’m going to do what Malcolm said and leave you alone to get settled. Want me to come get you before dinner? We can walk down together.”

“I’d like that very much.”

“Good. See you then.”

Keira ran out of the room, the kitten in her arms. Callie stayed where she was on the floor and looked around. The space seemed less intimidating now that she knew Keira was next door. She had no idea what was going to happen over the next few days, but the fear had mostly faded. She reached for a piece of cheese and took a bite, then got up and plugged in one of the night-lights.

First she would unpack, she told herself. Then she would shower and maybe after that she would check out her new phone. Not that she had anyone to call or text, but maybe that would change. With luck, she had been given a brand-new start. If that was the case, she was determined to take advantage of every opportunity. Screwing up had too high a price.

* * *

Delaney’s small condo came with a few unexpected features. When the weather was nice, she had a peekaboo view of Mount Rainier from her balcony, the garden window in the kitchen had a built-in tray for herbs, and there were his and hers closets in the bedroom.

When Delaney had decided to totally change her life, turning her back on corporate America and returning to college to become a naturopath, she’d divided her wardrobe into a before and after configuration. Her before life clothes included her beautiful suits, silk blouses, expensive shoes and a handful of cocktail dresses she wore to various events. Her after wardrobe was much more simple. Yoga pants, T-shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans, sweaters, tennis shoes and boots. She had three hoodies in different weights of fabric, depending on the weather, and a leather moto jacket she’d bought at a consignment store. She kept the before closet door shut and rarely went inside. One day she would have to decide what to do with those clothes, but not today.

At four o’clock on Saturday afternoon, she put down her mug of tea and walked barefoot into the large bedroom and crossed to the closed door. She was meeting Malcolm for dinner and knew that however soft the fabric, yoga pants would not cut it.

She opened the door and flipped the switch on the light, then waited for the kick in the gut that was recent but nonetheless painful.

Maybe it was silly, but she loved these clothes. Loved them. They were stylish, well tailored and pretty. She’d always felt confident and successful in her suits.

She still remembered the summer between her freshman and sophomore years of college when she’d joined an on-campus organization for future women business leaders. One of the speakers had been an image consultant, and she’d explained the importance of looking the part. Delaney had not only taken her advice to heart, she’d worked extra hours at her summer job to pay for a shopping session.

Monique had taken her to the downtown Nordstrom where Delaney had discovered the difference between a $110 Anne Klein jacket and a $600 Boss jacket. She’d tried on every suit brand and had learned that Classiques Entier clothes fit her perfectly and that no one made a Ponte pant better than Eileen Fisher.

Monique had then taken her to the designer department where Delaney had nearly thrown up when she’d seen the price of an Armani blazer. But when she’d put it on, she’d fallen completely and totally in love. She’d also discovered that the St. John collection had been made for her body type, especially their conservative but elegant dresses.

None of her friends back in the neighborhood had understood her obsession with the perfect interview suit. While they’d been saving for summer strappy sandals, Delaney had been putting away all the cash she could for the perfect silk shell. She’d made friends with one of the sales associates who worked the designer department at Nordstrom, haunting the aisles until the kind woman took pity and told her about an upcoming sale. Delaney had walked into her first job interview wearing Armani.

She remembered the feeling of confidence, of knowing she looked the part. She wanted to be successful and it showed.

Now she ran her hand along the sleeves of her suits before turning to the dresses hanging neatly together. Nothing too fancy, she thought. It was just dinner. She picked up a black sheath and put it back, then reached for a dress she’d bought but had never worn.

It was dark green, a Jason Wu textured jacquard fit-and-flare sleeveless dress. At the bottom of the full skirt was an unexpected touch of small gold-tone grommets. Given that it was still April and cool, she would top the dress with a black leather jacket. She had simple black heels and her go-to diamond studs.

As she collected the various pieces, she hesitated before opening the small jewelry box sitting on top of the built-in dresser. She’d bought the earrings herself after her second promotion. She’d gotten a sizable raise and after saving for several months, she’d walked into Tiffany & Co. and purchased the diamond studs.

Her dad had been proud, but Tim had been furious and they’d fought for days. He refused to see the earrings as a sign of her accomplishment. Instead, he’d felt they were a slap—something he couldn’t afford to buy her. He told her that women weren’t supposed to buy their own jewelry—not like that. It was emasculating.

All her friends from the neighborhood had sided with Tim. All her work friends had told her she was doing the right thing—that she had every right to celebrate the good things in her life. She and Tim had agreed to disagree and had never discussed the studs again, but every time she’d worn them, she’d felt his disapproval.

As she stared at the earrings resting in the palm of her hand, she wondered if she should sell them. Maybe the bad memories were just too strong. Maybe she had been wrong to want tangible proof of what she’d achieved. Only she’d felt so good buying them and so proud when she wore them. Deep down inside, she’d always believed Tim was wrong to think the way he did. Now she chided herself for being disloyal.

Delaney showered and did her makeup, then dressed. She tried to remember the last time she’d been out to dinner with a man who wasn’t Tim or her father. If she excluded work events, then the answer was simple: never. She shook her head. She was twenty-nine years old and about to have her first date since she was sixteen? Holy crap—how had that happened?

She knew the answer, of course. She’d fallen for Tim in high school, had dated him through college, then gotten engaged to him. If he hadn’t died, they would be married by now and she’d probably be a mother or at least pregnant.

She finished getting ready, then opened her Uber app to get a car. Twenty minutes later, she walked into the Metropolitan Grill and saw Malcolm was already there.

In the second before he noticed her, she took in the clean line of his jaw and how confident and handsome he looked. He was a man who took control, who wasn’t intimidated by much. She smiled—one exception to that might be his twelve-year-old sister.

He turned and spotted her. Appreciation and interest darkened his eyes as he approached.

“You made it,” he said, bending down and kissing her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

He gave his name to the hostess who seated them at a quieter booth. The restaurant was a Seattle mainstay, serving excellent steaks and generous portions. Delaney was already planning to use her leftover fillet on a salad for lunch the following day.

They ordered cocktails—scotch for him and a lemon drop for her. When their server had left, she leaned toward him.

“Tell me everything. How is Keira? How’s the new sister? I’ve been wondering what it must be like to have unexpected family suddenly appear and I honestly have no idea.”

“Could we start with something simple, like how to solve climate change?”

“That tough?”

“That confusing. Keira is doing much better. She’s caught up on her schoolwork, is taking great care of her kitten and playing music too loud.”

Delaney laughed. “A typical twelve-year-old.”

“Apparently. Callie arrived yesterday.” He hesitated. “She’s quiet. This is a big change for her. She and Keira have the same freckles. Keira says all three of us have the same smile, but to quote her from dinner last night I ‘never smile, so it will take a while to see it.’”

“Ouch. For what it’s worth, I think you smile the correct amount.”

“There’s a limit?”

“Sometimes. Keira is very honest in her appraisals.”

“Tell me about it. I’m still dealing with being the asshole brother. Or rather trying not to be.” He shook his head. “Okay, it’s been five minutes and we’ve gotten way too serious and deep for a first date. Want to start over?”