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Lily looked up. Iris held her breath, waiting for her sister’s response. Lily was the only one who even tried to understand Iris’s feelings. She’d never meant to repay her sister’s love and support with pain.
Lily spooned more stew. “So how was everybody’s day?”
Their laughter shattered the tension. Hours flew by as the sisters enjoyed dinner with seconds and dessert, and good conversation. They shared kitchen duty after the meal. Then Rose and Iris left. The outdoor lights illuminated the porch and driveway. Iris stood on the other side of the front door and listened as Lily connected the locks.
She joined Rose on the driveway. “Be careful driving home.”
“You do the same.” Rose paused beside Iris’s Camry. “Listen, if you decide to go back to work, I’m sure I can help you get a position with another company. I have connections in the business community.”
“I am working.” Iris struggled to keep a hold on her temper.
Rose held up her hands. “You know what I mean.”
“Yes, Rosie, I’m afraid I do.” Why are we forever at odds? “I appreciate your offer. But I don’t need my family’s help to get a job. I can do this on my own.”
“Iris—” Rose stopped herself. She exhaled a familiar, frustrated sigh, then started over. “I know you want to do this by yourself and I commend you. But promise me that, if things get too hard to handle on your own, you’ll come to Lil or me for help.”
“I promise.” But she wouldn’t need help. She was going to succeed on her own. She could do this. If only she could land a big enough account.
* * *
“Earth to Ty. Are you in here?”
Tyler glanced around at the sound of his cousin’s voice. Xavier Anderson, the company’s vice president of finance, strode into Tyler’s office Thursday afternoon. Donovan Carroll, their friend and vice president of sales, joined him.
“What?” Tyler was still clearing his thoughts from the computer programming problem that bedeviled him.
“We knocked three times.” Donovan jerked his clean-shaven brown head toward the door behind him.
Tyler followed the gesture, then returned his attention to the two men. They were both tall and fit, and similarly dressed in dark pants and long-sleeved jerseys.
“I didn’t hear you.” Tyler pressed a couple of keys to save his computer file.
“That much was obvious.” Donovan shoved his hands in the pockets of his gray Dockers. “We should assign someone to check on you in case of a fire. I’m sure you wouldn’t hear the alarm.”
“Van and I are going to lunch.” Xavier stopped behind a guest chair. “Do you want to join us?”
“No, thanks. I packed.” Besides, Lauren Cobb, Xavier’s girlfriend of two months, would probably be there. He’d rather eat alone.
“You’re going to make me be the third wheel?” Donovan sounded as though he was only half joking.
“Sorry, man.” Tyler gave him a sympathetic look.
“You need to get out of your office once in a while, Ty.” Donovan pulled his hands from his pockets and folded himself onto one of the two gray guest chairs opposite Tyler’s desk.
Xavier took the other. “Have you heard from Kimball & Associates?”
“No, I haven’t.” Tyler looked at his black Movado watch. It was almost noon. “I thought you were going to lunch.”
“We have a few minutes.” Donovan shrugged. “So what’s the status on Kimball?”
Tyler turned away from his computer. Obviously, they weren’t going to let him get back to work. “They haven’t acknowledged my request for a proposal. They haven’t even responded to my emails or returned my calls.”
Xavier blew out a breath, sounding almost as disgusted as Tyler felt. “We’ve been working with them for years. Why are they now giving us poor service?”
Donovan glanced at Xavier. “I heard a couple of their account representatives recently left the company.”
