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Jack handed out the file folders he had prepared with Sterling. “Our first big event would be an auction of Mom’s clothes.”
Gloria and Finn finally engaged and glanced down to flip through the folder. At least two of them were paying attention. Which meant they were listening, so he powered through.
“I also think we should expand by setting up a referral program from the local high schools.”
Crickets. The silence mocked him. Maybe he was way in over his head. Maybe the idea sucked. But he’d come this far.
“If you’ll all look at the folders, page three outlines the projected timeline for getting the foundation set up as well as for the event. Our lawyer is putting together the paperwork.”
Neil stared back at him with a stern glare. “That’s presumptuous of you.”
“Just being prepared, brother. I know we all need to agree.” Jack collected a breath and remembered Sterling’s advice: breathe, stay calm, and remember it’s your time to shine. But after the way he had treated her the night before, he was positive her advice today would be that he could choke and die. “At the back of the folder you’ll find the proposed date for the auction, the tentative guest list, and a marketing plan.”
The flip of pages echoed around him. Finally, they were looking through his presentation—everyone but Neil, who sat with his arms crossed over his chest, one ankle resting on his knee.
He could at least pretend to be interested. It seemed as though his plan wasn’t going over well. Their silence, and the fact that they barely even looked at one another, let alone him standing at the head of the table, didn’t bode well. He hoped it was just the shock over his change in character, rather than the idea itself. His conscience couldn’t handle a refusal. He needed this foundation. He needed to make his mother proud. But more than that, Jack believed so strongly in this idea and he was going to convince them, no matter what he had to do.
Time to break out the big guns. Jack had to let them know how much this meant to him.
“My life is in Chicago. But I want to do this for Mom. We should do this for Mom. We can’t let all of her hard work be for nothing.”
Not one of them gave away a feeling, not even a twitch of their eye or neck. Nothing to put him the least bit at ease.
“So, you’re going to create more work and then leave it for us to worry about?” Neil asked.
Inside, his heart deflated just a tiny bit. On the outside, he didn’t let Neil’s comment faze him. “It’s just an idea, Neil. And if Gloria is willing to take it on, I think it has the potential to be a really great idea.”
“Jack…” Finn spoke first. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? This foundation idea is your strength. You know how to schmooze.”
He looked at Neil. “Chicago is where I belong. I just couldn’t leave without putting this option on the table.”
“Forgive me for disagreeing…but you belong here.” Finn clasped his hands together on the table in front of him. “But I think this is a great idea and I’m on board.”
“I’m in, too,” Cole said as he pushed the file folder away from him across the table. He smiled. “Does this mean you’re leaving now, because I can’t wait to get you out of my restaurant.”
Jack laughed. “Yes. I’ll be out of your hair soon.” He knew Cole was only joking, trying his best to ease the negativity that seemed to settle over everything whenever the subject of his leaving came up.
Maybe that’s a sign you shouldn’t leave.
“Me, too,” Gloria said. She left her seat at the booth and sidled up to him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “I think this is a lovely way to honor my friend.”
“Mom would be proud, Jackie,” Finn said.
“I let her down once.” Jack squeezed Gloria’s shoulder and looked deeply into her eyes. He wasn’t there when she died, and he made her passing a joke. “I’m not going to let her down again.”
“You didn’t let anyone down. Your mother was proud of you, Jack. Of everything you’ve accomplished. Don’t ever doubt that.” She turned to his brothers. “All of you.”
He let out a sigh of relief. That’s all he ever wanted to do. Make her proud. To fill that gaping hole in his heart that had opened the day he got the call that she had passed. He wasn’t there for her on her deathbed. He sure as hell was going to be there to continue her legacy.
“But…”
He tensed. Was Gloria going to throw a wrench in his plans?
“I think I should be vice chair. I can handle things locally, but this is your baby, Jack.”
It was the best of both worlds. He got to be involved but keep his lifestyle. Although if he was honest with himself, he’d miss those damn kids. They had been a bright light in his life when it seemed as if he was in a black hole. And if he was even more honest, he was going to miss Sterling.
Gloria, Finn, and Cole were on board and were now conversing quietly among one another. But Neil still hadn’t spoken. When the other three noticed the stare-down between them they shut up quickly, the smiles disappearing from their faces. Although technically Neil wasn’t “in charge,” his opinion mattered.
