“Truth is never wrong between us. Please continue.”
“So. No money. I will hire a local real estate agent to take photos and help sell this building. There’s always been a ton of interest in it. It won’t be hard, and I imagine we will more thandouble what we paid. Hire a packing company, shut our phones down, new numbers and emails— you will, of course, get all of this from us.”
River continued the Noah’s Ark of To-Do Lists until everyone seemed to melt under the avalanche of minutiae.
“Have you even spoken to your grandmother yet?”
Rowan volunteered to tap in for River. “We are today. She has always wanted to visit Morcote. It is supposed to be one of the most picturesque villages in Switzerland, and the weather this time of year is gorgeous. Raven is supposed to find a house to rent for two months. It will be the vacation of a lifetime for Nan, and she deserves it. And... we’ll love it too, and... I’m sorry, Rave, but you need to be surrounded by as much love as we can get for you.”
Oh, God. How long before the pain would ease? Tears squeezed from the raw corners of her eyes. She could only nod in agreement. The other women were dabbing eyes and attempting to pull the meeting back to order.
River managed first. “It seems like an unclimbable mountain of moving parts, but we only have to tick one item off at a time and eventually we’ll come to the end.”
“After Switzerland?”
“Once the movers pack our house up, we’ll have it freighted to Dublin and stored in a facility until we’re ready for it— a facility that is on the list of things to do.” Even River sighed at the tasks ahead.
“I love you guys, and I know you all feel the same, so you won’t be offended when I ask you this. Can you afford this move to another countryanda two-month stay in Switzerland?”
“Valid concerns,” Rowan assured her. “Financially, we are frugal. The money we received from our... parents, we invested and make a very nice yearly allowance from that alone. We did use some of it initially to pay off college and to buy this building,but I guess what I’m trying to say is that weknowwe cannot be excessive, so we won’t be.
“Our Vrbo, or however that works out in Morcote, will be modest. We will cook and clean ourselves. We will not purchase or lease a new space for Triskelion until this place is sold. If we must, we’ll live with Nan and work in Boyle until we have enough money.”
“I would be honored to give you guys money or... a loan,” she quickly tacked on at seeing their horrified faces.
Raven spoke, though her voice was scratchy. “We love you for offering, but Jo, wewillsucceed even if it takes longer than River’s projections.” They all smiled at that.
“Okay, so I have a nonmonetary gift for you three. I’m sure you’ll appreciate that my gift is nonnegotiable.”
“Oh, yes, please, we love prezzies!” River laughed, making grabby hands at Jo.
“Your To-Do List is... scary. So, and again, this is nonnegotiable. We will divide and conquer that bitch. I know an excellent moving service— they do it ALL— I will find a reputable storage facility in Dublin and a moving company to pick up your belongings and take them there.
“Also, one of my best friends from college lives in Dublin, and, drumroll, she’s a badass real estate agent. If there is a space perfect for Triskelion that doesn’t break the bank, she’ll know already or find it. Lastly, I live to plan vacations that I never take. I will find you and your Nan the perfect,affordablerental. You will let me do this for you. Please let me.” Jo’s voice cracked at the end, and tears coursed down her cheeks.
The Byrnes were immediately on the floor surrounding their friend. Oh God, Raven hated leaving her in Oklahoma. One of many things hurting her heart.
“Ignore me, damn it. I told myself to stay strong.”
“We’re all breaking down around her, Jo. You never need to hide anything from us. We wish you wouldn’t.” Rowan tucked a piece of Jo’s golden, blonde hair behind her ear.
“I really hate you guys are moving. I’ll miss you horribly.”
“First and most importantly, we accept your gift. Mom and Dad didn’t raise fools.” River smiled, squeezing Jo’s hand. “Second, youusedto plan vacations you never took. That ends here. We know you must see Wolves through ’til its opening, but after that, you will visit us in Ireland. In fact, you might want to consider spending half your time there and half here. And don’t act like your family doesn’t travel the world for jobs, and you just admitted one of your best friends lives in Dublin.”
Jo sat up at this. The idea apparently held some appeal. Raven held her breath.
“You know what. You’re right. I can do whatever the hell I want, and I want to live where my best friends live. At least part of the time. You guys just made my future seem not only bearable but brighter. I suddenly feel hopeful about all this. I hope you guys feel peace about it all too.”
First, River squealed, then Rowan laughed, clapping her hands, Jo was beaming, and Raven... smiled and put her arms around Jo and her sisters in a group hug... too bad her body was so numb she couldn’t feel it.
CallingNan was as hard and cathartic as Raven knew it would be. After Jo left with hugs and kisses and her own big To-Do List, the three girls sat around Rowan’s desk and called their grandma.
“Well, this is a nice surprise. I get all three of my girls at once.” They could hear the smile in her voice. Raven looked at River. She was to go first.
“We’re all calling together because we have a surprise for you. And we really hope you like it because we can’t take it back.” River grinned at her sisters. The news about Raven’s personal life wouldn’t overshadow how excited they were for their grandma.
“A surprise? Oh, my, girls. You didn’t have to do that.”
