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“Isn’t that the girl that got hurt at your birthday party?” Mark asked, looking to all of them for an answer.
“Yes. But she isn’t just some girl,” Rick said, pointing his fork at his brother.
Mark gave him a teasing look and said in a singsong voice, “Rick’s got a girlfriend.”
“Shut up, Mark. You’re just jealous no one’ll look at your ugly mug,” Rick snapped back.
“Boys, that’s enough. Sean doesn’t want to hear all that,” Cynthia said, as if she refereed regularly.
Cynthia really did act as if she were the boys’ parent instead of their sister. Couldn’t she see they were all grown up? Or was she afraid to let go? Sean said, “I don’t mind. My older brother treated me the same way.”
They all quieted as they continued eating their meal. Mark’s phone rang and he picked it up.
“You know there are no phones at meals,” Cynthia said as he touched the screen to answer.
“I need to get this. It might be about a new job I applied for today.” He slid out of the chair.
Cynthia didn’t look pleased as she watched Mark leave the room.
Minutes later he returned with excitement written all over his face and pumping the air. “I got the job. I got the job.” He slid into the chair again, almost vibrating with excitement. “It’s full time. I’m going to be working at Action Auto.”
“That’s great, but won’t that be hard to handle with school?” Cynthia asked.
Sean gave her a speculative look. Wasn’t she glad he had gotten a job? It looked as if she would appreciate his help with the finances. Sean had been brought up in a household where anyone who had a steady job was unusual. Except for him. He’d handled work and school. Had been the first to take on a job when he’d been old enough. It was something that his parents couldn’t do. Cynthia should be proud of Mark.
“I told you I wasn’t going back to school next semester,” Mark almost snarled.
“Mama and Daddy wanted you to go to school,” Cynthia insisted.
Mark leaned across the table. “They’re not here. And they wanted you to go too.”
Cynthia appeared stricken. “We should honor their wishes. You know I plan to go back.”
“Then you go instead of me. For right now I’m going to work.” Mark pushed his chair back and stood. “I’ve got to get things together for tomorrow. Thanks for dinner.”
Sean hurt for Cynthia, could see her unhappiness. As if her world were dissolving around her.
She looked at him. “I’m sorry, Sean. This isn’t how we were raised to treat a guest.”
“It’s okay. Dinner and entertainment. That’s more than I usually have on a Sunday evening. I’m not complaining.”
That got a ghost of a smile out of her. “Thanks for understanding.”
Rick’s chair screeched as he pushed it back. “I’ve got a project to work on. See y’all later.”
Sean looked at Cynthia and smiled. “I guess that leaves us doing the dishes.”
“I’m sorry the evening turned into a family feud. It seems that I’ll owe you another meal to make up for this one.” Cynthia rose from the table.
“That works out perfectly for me. How about dinner Friday night? I’ll pick you up at seven.” Sean wasn’t sure about Cynthia being involved in a selling pyramid scheme or her over-devotion to her brothers, but he couldn’t resist getting to know her better. Regardless of their differences, he found her interesting and sincere. He just plain old-fashioned liked her. It wasn’t as if they’d ever become involved enough to marry but he did like her company.
Cynthia carried the roast beef platter to the kitchen counter. “I’m supposed to be the one doing a meal for you.”
“Next time. This time I want to take you out.” Sean picked up two bowls and followed her to the kitchen counter.
“That sounds like fun. Let me take care of cleaning up. I don’t want you to accidentally hit your thumb.”
“I’m not an invalid. I can at least carry things to you.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before he returned to the table and picked up a bowl. “Do Rick and Mark ever help with cleaning up? After all, you do the cooking.”
She squirted dish liquid into the sink. “Not really. They have a lot going on.”
“More than you? I’d think the three people could split the work three ways,” Sean commented as he added another plate to the dishwasher.
Tension filled the air between them. Had he said too much? Sounded too critical?
Cynthia didn’t say anything and continued to clean.
“I’m sorry if I said something wrong.” Sean hoped to get them back to teasing each other as they had been before dinner.
She shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”
Somehow Sean didn’t believe that.
A quarter of an hour later they were finished cleaning and the air between them had been easy.
“So what did you bring to work on tonight?” she asked.
“Do you mind helping me with that organization we talked about earlier? I’m not feeling good about this grant application at all.”
“Get your stuff. Bring it over here to the table and we’ll have a look.” Cynthia became all business.
Sean went after his bag that was still where he’d left it near the door. “Okay. Maybe with your help tonight I can make some real progress on this mess.”
* * *
They spread the papers out across the table. Cynthia went to get her laptop from her office while he opened his. She returned and sat next to him. She smelled of home cooking, a hint of gardenia and something that could only be her scent alone.
Sean leaned just a little closer as they reviewed side by side the contents on their screens. For the next two hours they worked diligently trying to organize reports in a logical format. They were careful to make note of any missing support material.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms up over his head, yawning
. “I think this is in a better form than I have seen it in weeks. I owe that to you.” His arm came down around her shoulders and he gave her a squeeze. “I can’t thank you enough.”
* * *
She looked directly at him. “I know you’re going to make a big difference in many people’s lives. It gives me a good feeling to be a part of that. Even in a small way.”
“That’s one of the things I like about you. Your concern for other people. Your help won’t have been in a small way if I get that grant,” he said as he stood.
“You’ll get it.”
* * *
He liked her vote of confidence too. Here she was supporting his work when he couldn’t do the same with her thoughts on selling online food. Somehow it didn’t seem right. Still, he couldn’t support what he knew from experience was a bad idea. When was the last time he’d really had someone in his corner like this? He could get used to it. With a hand on her shoulder, he quickly responded, “Thanks for everything. The meal and the help. I’d better go. I have an early case in the morning.”
Cynthia helped him gather the papers from the table. He put them in his bag along with his laptop. She walked him to the door.
He put his bag on the floor. “You know, I really enjoyed tonight.”
“Even with all the blood and family fireworks?” She grinned at him.
“For the first time in a long time I had a meal with a real family. I know better than most that family meals can often be a little tough to live through. More than one of my family’s was.”
She nodded. “I appreciate your understanding.”
He glanced down the hall fully expecting one of her brothers to come around the corner. Every time he attempted to kiss her they were interrupted. This time he didn’t care whether someone saw them or not. “Did I say thank you for patching up my thumb?”
“You did.” She looked at him with those questioning eyes. “More than once.”
“But I don’t think I did it properly.” Sean slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her to him. She didn’t back away. Instead she came to him willingly. His heart beat faster. Cynthia wanted him to kiss her. His mouth found hers warm and welcoming. She came closer, bringing her body to meet his, hands moving up to the nape of his neck. It didn’t require much coaxing for her to part her lips. Her tongue shyly touched his before she joined him in the hottest kiss of his life. He pulled her tighter against him. With a moan edged with regret, she placed both her hands on his shoulders and pushed away.
