Chapter 8: Chapter Eight

Entering Reagan National Airport on her way to the JetBlue arrival pickup, Kennedi weaved her car around shuttle buses, past abruptly stopped vehicles in the pass-through lane, and dodged people hurrying to get to and fro. Airport traffic was the worst. Her cell phone rang. Evie’s name flashed up on her car’s dashboard screen.

She tapped the call button. “I’m almost there.” Her friend stood just up ahead with hands waving like a referee calling a foul on the ten-yard line. Evie’s frizzy dark toffee locks bounced about and framed her slight shoulders. “I see you,” Kennedi said and hung up as she whipped around a string of idling cars and came to a stop at curbside.

Evie placed her carry-on luggage on the back seat before getting in up front. Cheerful, baby leaf-green eyes, complexion the color of newly cut pine, pressed white V-neck T-shirt, denim leggings and red Chucks on her feet—she always seemed put together, even after catching a red-eye. The light freckles across the bridge of her nose beneath her red wire-rimmed glasses only added to her beauty.

Kennedi took a glimpse at herself in the rearview mirror. Ugh. Puffy eyes. Insomnia had been a bitch for days. They greeted with a hug. “Sorry I’m late. Overslept.”

“No worries. Baggage claim took forever. I stepped outside no more than ten minutes before you pulled up.” Pinning wavy strands behind her ears, she let out a deep breath. “Two weeks is far too long of a trip with my family. I’m glad to be back.”

“How was your brother’s anniversary party?” Kennedi merged into the flow of exiting traffic.

Evie brought her eyes skyward and sighed. “They’re all one track short of a train wreck. My brother’s wife, Robbie, had put on the party invitations, ‘no children under the age of twelve.’ She hates kids. I feel for Samuel. My brother loves kids. Anyway, Robbie’s sister, Carla, brought her six-year-old daughter, Mary.”

“What did Robbie do?”

“She kept her cool until her niece set the sheer panel curtains on fire.”

Kennedi’s head jerked to her. “No! Was Mary okay?”

“Her left hand suffered minor blisters because she tried to extinguish the fire with it. Other than that, she was fine. I saw her stuffing her face with cake soon after. But Carla and Robbie got into a screaming match about improper child rearing and how some people shouldn’t have kids, namely Carla. The entire scene escalated out of control. They went at it fist-style. Hair pulling.” Evie laughed. “Girlfriend, I called a Lyft and got myself a drink to go.”

Kennedi chuckled. “Did Patrick show up?”

Evie glanced over. “Of course he showed, and my parents still see him as this perfect catch for me. He has them so fooled, while I’m made to look like the selfish, ungrateful bitch who chose to leave a good man.” Green eyes instantly watered.

Biracial, and having been adopted by a white family at ten years old, Evie had to deal with a family she’d often said loved her but didn’t understand her. Kennedi clasped hold of delicate fingers that palmed the edge of the seat, offering a light supportive squeeze. “You need to tell your family, Evie. Expose his ass. Don’t ever think you were wrong for leaving him. Verbal abuse is still abuse. That’s a firm kick-his-ass-to-the-curb damn-good reason to leave. You know Tab and I are always here for you. Why didn’t you tell us?”

Evie drew her gaze away and stared down at their linked hands. “With him commuting back and forth to Connecticut, it seemed manageable.” She looked over again. “I realize now how ridiculous that sounds. I’d blamed Patrick’s behavior on the stresses of his job. Working for my father is no picnic, I know. At first, it only happened when he’d drink too much. It wasn’t often. Then it was as though whenever he’d complain about work and the pressure my father placed on him, it seemed he’d take his anger out on me.”

“So he’d yell at you since he couldn’t retaliate against your father.”

“Yes, I guess. Patrick asked for another chance. He said he’s in counseling.”

Kennedi flashed her a glance. “What will you do?”

“I told him it was good that he’s working on himself. Good luck with that.”

“Yes.” Kennedi nodded.

“Any news on Chase Confections? Did we hear back from the loan officer on the refi?”

“They turned us down because of the retail space buyout by Shaw Enterprise. We’re considered a risk, since we may not have a business. Oh, and Tabitha isn’t speaking to me. We had a fight. Trenton Shaw offered to purchase Chase Investments, but I turned him down.” Her friend’s eyes widened. “I know what you’re going to say. You agree with Tabitha, that I should’ve taken the offer, and that I’m letting my emotions interfere with smart business sense. I said some things to her I shouldn’t have.” Glum, Kennedi slumped her shoulders. “My father built that company. It’ll be all I have left of him when he…he…” A soft, warm hand took hold of hers this time.

“How is he? Any change?”

Kennedi didn’t stifle the tear that slipped down her cheek. “I walked into his room yesterday and his eyes lit up. He recognized me. It was one of his good days. I don’t know how many more of those days I have left with him.” Tears flowed easily but she swept them away, refusing to give in to the consistent plague of anguish. “Brighton is extremely hush-hush about their patients, which is what my father wanted. His doctor is accessible, and the staff is really great. Pop’s attorney went out of his way to get him admitted there.”

“Yes, and you argued against it.”

Kennedi nodded. “I see now it was a good decision. He seems to have settled in.”

“That’s great. It takes a bit of burden off you, for sure.”

“Yes, I suppose so.” Pop’s well-being still kept Kennedi up at night, but why subject her stress upon others?

“I’m glad you’re back. It’ll take some of the pressure off Tabitha at the boutique. We still have orders to fill, but we’ve stopped taking any elaborate ones until we know which way things will go.”

“I could ask my parents to loan us the money.”

“Evie, it would put you in a situation Tab and I wouldn’t want to see you in again.”

Evie nodded. “They’ve never been shy about telling me how I threw away my Ivy League education. The loan would definitely come with conditions, but I’ve already made clear to them I’d never want to become majority owner and take your mother’s store from you.”

Kennedi would never allow it. “I’ve spent most of this week at my father’s office, trying to figure out what’s happening there. There’s so much I don’t know about his business. I’ve been reading up on real estate investments and market trends. I think my head will explode if I stare at another freaking graph table. To restore my sanity, I’ll be at the boutique later tonight.”

“After you drop me off at my place, I’ll shower and head over.”

“You don’t want to rest up?”

“I’m fine. It’ll be good to get back to work. We have orders to fill, even if they’re likely our last.”

Kennedi winced. She knew it hadn’t been meant as a jab; that wasn’t Evie’s way. But it struck sharply nonetheless. “Tabitha was right. When Trenton Shaw offered to buy out my father, I reacted with pure emotion. I intend to call Shaw today to see if he’s still interested.” Doing her best not to choke up, she went on. “If he is, after we pay off the balloon note, you and Tab will be free of my financial mess.”

Moving along Beltway traffic just as the encroaching dawn shoved back the full moon’s glimmer, they sat in comfortable silence for a good stretch of road.

Thinking about all that she had on her plate, Kennedi gave a look at her friend. “I’ll be attending the National Cancer Association Matchmaker Charity Auction tomorrow night for Newton Marketing. It’s a good commission.”

Evie’s brow crinkled. “Matchmaker auction? It’s like a dating game or something?”

“No. Representatives from donating companies participate. This year, men will be auctioned off and those of us seated will bid. I’m told it’s primarily for networking. There’s dinner and dancing. My max bid is a hundred K.”

“Nice. You could use a little fun. Shit, we all could. I can’t remember the last time I went dancing. By the way, was the dollar amount Shaw offered decent?”

That question circled the conversation back to part of what kept Kennedi up at night. “Don’t know. I shredded the contract without fully reading it. The whole situation would be more palatable if the man wasn’t such an arrogant ass.”

“But you kissed him.”

Kennedi gasped and jerked a look over. “Tabitha told you.”

Evie shrugged and laughed. “I’m not mad at you, girlfriend. I’ve seen pics. He’s hot.”

No sense disagreeing on that front. “Yes, and he’s still an ass.”