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  “Just a woman clawing and scratching her way to the top.” Gabrielle shrugged as though all of her hard work wasn’t important or the only driving force in her life.

  “With what I saw back there, I’m sure you’re very good at what you do.” Dani smiled that adorable lopsided grin again and Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Thanks.” She leaned on the bench to push herself up and get moving, unaware that Dani had reached her hand out to help her.

  “Here. Your legs have to be jelly. I’m only standing because if I sit, I’ll never get back up.”

  Dani’s hand was warm and strong. Her fingers were long and her red nails filed and trimmed. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry, but that didn’t mean anything. Gabrielle removed her two rings and necklace during spin. It was hard to grip the handles of the stationary bike with the rings pressing uncomfortably into her fingers, or the slight wisp of a chain with a small four leaf clover charm hitting the underside of her chin.

  “As much as I would love to stay and chat, and I do mean that, I’m in a hurry to meet up with some friends,” Gabrielle said.

  “Then we’ll talk after the next spin class,” Dani said.

  Gabrielle nodded and smiled. The unspoken agreement that passed between them made her stomach flutter with promise. When was the last time she went out on a date? Hell, when was the last time she got laid? She gathered her caddy and headed to the private showers to quickly wash off. Even though it was a night in with Rosie and Anne, she wanted to be clean. Sweats, no makeup, a glass or two of wine, possibly cheesecake, and curled up on a couch talking to her best friends sounded like the best way to end her shitty day.

  Chapter Three

  “I hope everyone played the lottery. The drawing is tonight.”

  Diane placed a basket of steaming garlicky breadsticks in the center of the table next to the spaghetti and sat next to Paul.

  “I’m not old enough,” Faith said.

  Serena rolled her eyes. “The legal age to buy lottery tickets is eighteen. You’re thinking of gambling.” She backed away from mentioning the legal age of buying alcohol out of habit.

  “The payout after federal and state taxes is roughly half. Twenty or so million dollars would go a long way,” Diane said.

  “I would definitely retire. As much as I love fighting fires and working with the guys, I could easily stay home and learn to whittle or build things,” Paul said.

  “You would miss your job too much. Besides, you don’t even use the tools you have out in the garage now,” Diane said.

  “I wouldn’t have a problem quitting my job,” Serena said.

  “I thought you loved working at the bookstore.” Diane sounded surprised, like working in a bookstore was Serena’s perfect job.

  “It’s retail, Mom. I’m almost thirty and my boss is a tyrant,” she said.

  “There’s nothing embarrassing or wrong about working retail.” Diane’s voice was sharp, almost reprimanding Serena for having an opinion.

  Serena held up her palms. “You’re right. I just wanted more by now, but real life kind of got in the way.”

  The silence that followed was uncomfortable, but easy enough for Diane to maneuver around. She was a pro at it.

  “Faith, I see you brought your famous banana pudding fluff. What else are you learning?”

  “Crepes and all the possible things you can do with them.”

  “Have you heard back from any of the restaurants in town for a summer internship yet?”

  Serena had to give it to her mom. When she was sober, she was charming as fuck. She knew she wasn’t being fair, but Diane didn’t call a family dinner unless something was up. It was a matter of waiting.

  “I should hear something back this week. If not, I’ll just work shifts at Buddy’s like I have every other summer. They’re pretty good at adjusting the schedule for me,” Faith said. She reached for a breadstick and passed the basket to Serena.

  “I’m sure you’ll hear something soon. My little girl is going to be a hot commodity once she finishes school.”

  Faith’s smile melted Serena. Any misgivings she had about her mother’s intentions were put on hold as she smiled back at her sister. Pride pricked Serena’s heart. She knew that as long as Faith stayed on track and finished school, she would succeed. And culinary school didn’t require a four-year education. Faith was only four months away from graduating and spreading her wings.

  “So, what’s going on, Mom? Why are we having family dinner?” Serena couldn’t handle the anticipation any longer. Her anxiety was already off the charts, and sitting at the table making small talk wasn’t something they did as a family.

  “Fair enough. I guess you do know your mother pretty well,” Diane said. She held her glass of ice water as if she was giving a toast. “Okay. There’s no other way to say this, but Paul and I are moving to California.”

  The news stunned even Serena. She reached for the salad and knocked her glass of water over in the process. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry.”

  Diane and Faith jumped up to rescue the breadsticks and wipe up the water before it dribbled onto the carpet. A few napkins thrown Serena’s way and it was cleaned up in less than a minute. Paul returned with a fresh glass of ice water. She apologized again only for Diane to wave her off.

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I know it’s a lot to take in.”

  “Where in California?” Serena kept her voice from elevating. Why? When? How? Even through all of the emotional and exhausting abuse she endured her entire life, Diane was still her mother, and the thought of her not being around gave Serena a confusing mix of anxiety and happiness.

  “I applied for a captain’s position in Redding and got it.” Paul held his hands up and shrugged like it was no big deal.

  “That’s so cool. When do you leave?” Faith asked.

  “Well, that’s why we’re having dinner. We want to make sure you girls are okay with us moving and have everything you need before we leave,” Diane said. She busied herself by filling plates with pasta and sauce and passing them around the table.

  “I think Faith and I will be okay. I have her and she has me. As a matter of fact, we can help you pack if you need help,” Serena said. The message was there, and delivered with a side of trademark Evans passive-aggressiveness.

  Diane ignored Serena’s barb. “Always so thoughtful. If nothing else, I raised my girls to be kind and generous.”

  Again, Serena bit the inside of her cheek. She could take a lot from people, but her fuse was always short with her mother. She needed to get over it. This was a clean slate for all of them. She would still be in town for her sister, and the dark, ominous cloud of her past would disappear with her mother.

  “Congratulations, Paul. I think it’s crazy you’re leaving Vail, but at least you’re going to California, which is second best to Colorado. I’ll come and visit when we get breaks. And I’ll drag Serena with me,” Faith said.

  “Mrs. Brody only gives me two weeks off. Northern California is at least a two-day trip by bus and we all know my car can’t make the drive,” Serena said.

  “You should look at getting a new car soon. And demand a raise from that old biddy. You’ve been there long enough now.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  Faith softly touched Serena’s hand. “You really should get another job. Your boss is a jerk and takes advantage of you.”

  Serena scoffed. “Mrs. Brody knows everybody in town. If she finds out I’m looking, she’ll fire me on the spot. I have to be careful.”

  “What about where I work? The lodge will need a new front desk clerk since I’m going to give them my two-week notice on Friday. And you already know everyone there,” Diane said.

  She didn’t want her mother’s help, even if the idea had merit. Besides, she was the one who got her mom the job at the Waterfall Lodge. If it wasn’t for Jackie being willing to give Diane a fresh start, God only knows where her mother would have ended up. A new
job sounded great, but Serena didn’t like being around a lot of people, and a ski lodge meant a lot of new people daily, even in the summer. That much interaction would force her further into her shell, and that was the last thing she needed.

  “I’ll be okay. I like my job. Yeah, my boss is a jerk, but I get to read anything and everything that I want.”

  “But only when Mrs. Brody isn’t around. It’s not even a real perk.” Faith wasn’t trying to hurt her, but it felt like an attack.

  Serena took a deep breath. “Look, I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I’ve done all right for myself thus far.” She didn’t tell them about how she ran out of money Monday and if it wasn’t for Chloe dropping off a plate of cheese, summer sausage, and a box of crackers, she wouldn’t have eaten last night at all. After inventory, she’d wearily walked home and found, much to her surprise and gratefulness, that Chloe kept her promise of leaving leftovers. She’d even added two longnecks and a piece of pie. It was the perfect dinner, at least in that moment.

  “I’ll still put in a good word if you want.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I’m sure I’ll figure something out soon,” Serena said.

  “I want both of you to come over and take the things you want to keep. You know, report cards, art projects, old family photos. I think it will be a nice way to spend my last few weeks in Vail.”

  As much as Serena hated to admit it, her mother looked happy. Paul was a good influence on her. He was the first-long term relationship who stuck around. He was there during the last fallout and made sure she stayed on the wagon. Guilt washed over Serena. She had been burnt too many times before, but it was time to let it go. Her mother, the woman who made her grow up faster than she should have, was leaving. “Saturday afternoons work for me.”

  “Oh, we can stay the night on a Saturday. Make it a girls’ night,” Faith said.

  Serena smiled and nodded. She could grit her teeth and do that for a day. Then she would only see her mother a few times a year, if that.

  “I’ll order pizza. It’ll be so much fun. How about next Saturday?” Diane clasped her hands in front of her. She gave Serena a quick nod that went unnoticed by Faith.

  “I get the guest room, you get the couch,” Serena said to Faith.

  Faith rolled her eyes. “Tell me something I didn’t already know.”

  * * *

  “What do you think about all of this?”

  Serena reached out and squeezed Faith’s hand. Faith obviously had the better relationship with their mother. If Serena didn’t have so many damn chips on her shoulders and scars on her heart, she would be in pieces at this news.

  Faith squeezed Serena’s fingers back. “It’s a surprise and makes me a little sad, but I’ll always have you. You’ve never disappointed me. Maybe pissed me off, for sure, but you’ve been more of a mother than Mom, I mean.”

  Serena’s heart inflated at Faith’s confession. “It’s going to take a lot for me to leave you.”

  “Just don’t forget to have a life in the process. Okay? Promise me you’ll start to loosen up and have fun. As a matter of fact, me and the girls are going to have an almost summer cookout next weekend, if it doesn’t snow. Why don’t you come?”

  Serena pulled up to Faith’s apartment building and parked in the closest spot. “That sounds great. Just let me know what you want me to bring.”

  “Thanks, sis.”

  Serena looked confused. “For what?”

  “For being the better person back there. Mom’s finally in a place where she’s a decent mother and she’s leaving. You have every right to be angry with her, but you always take the high road. I know you love her. Deep down. I wish she was a better person, especially to you, but she’s all we have.” Faith leaned over and kissed Serena’s cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Serena waited until she saw the light flip on in Faith’s apartment to pull out of the parking lot. Faith acted young and immature at times, but every once in a while she would say something that plucked Serena’s heartstrings.

  “Did you survive family night?”

  Serena smiled at Chloe’s voice over the phone. “I did. It wasn’t bad. Get this. Are you sitting down?”

  “I’m on pins and needles waiting for whatever bomb you’re going to drop.”

  “Mom and Paul are moving to California,” she said.

  “Shut up. Why?” Chloe asked.

  “Paul got a captain’s job at the Redding Fire Department. They leave at the end of the month. We’re supposed to go over there some weekend before they leave to take things we want from our childhood.”

  Chloe snorted. “Like there’s anything left. Is there?”

  “I remember putting some things in boxes. It’ll be new for her, too. I’m sure she doesn’t remember much.”

  Chloe’s voice softened. “How do you feel about this? Are you okay with her moving?”

  “I was shocked at first. I thought I would be saddled with her for life, but now I have a new start. She’ll be gone. Faith will eventually move once she graduates.”

  “Now you can focus on you,” she said.

  “Now I can definitely focus on me,” Serena said. It still left her with a hollow feeling. She was forever taking care of her family and didn’t know the first thing about taking care of herself.

  Chapter Four

  “I didn’t win the lottery, so you are stuck at home with the kids.” Gabrielle checked the numbers when she got to work. Falling asleep on the couch had done nothing to improve her mood. Now she was restless with the added bonus of a crick in her neck.

  “Shit. Okay, I guess I’ll get them up and feed them after all.” Rosie gave a hard, audible sigh for effect.

  “Don’t make me call child services on you. Again.” That joke always made them laugh. When Rosie quit work to become a full-time mother, Gabrielle wasn’t surprised. Motherhood was her true calling, and Gabrielle had never seen Rosie happier. “Somebody did win it, though. The jackpot is back to the minimum.”

  “Maybe next time. Since you still have to work, what’s on your agenda today?” Rosie asked.

  “I have to fix the gas station mess Aaron left on his desk. Then I’m going to sit around and wait for them to deliver me the best design job ever.”

  “I love your enthusiasm and your belief in your job. I hope you get something incredible, and not another Target.”

  “I know. But doing these crap jobs just pads my résumé and makes me invaluable,” Gabrielle said. She sat back in her chair and relaxed. Ever since the announcement, her entire body was tense with anticipation. Hotels were the cream of the crop for the firm. Most non-chain hotels allowed the architect to make suggestions, and Gabrielle thought her artistic eye was the best. But Tom got that job and she had to wait. Like always.

  “I’m serious. You say the word and I’ll be your office manager and do boring paperwork for you while you live out your dream job. Open up your own place.”

  “If things don’t go as planned, I might take you up on your offer. And I should probably have a conversation with Christopher to find out what is really going on. This sexism thing isn’t really working for me.”

  “Go. Go now, while you’re still passionate about it.”

  “On it. I’ll call you later.”

  Gabrielle hung up, grabbed her iPad, and walked to Christopher’s office. She one knuckle knocked on the ajar door before peeking in. “Hey, boss. You got a minute for me?”

  He leaned back in his chair and waved her in. “Sure. Come on in. Have a seat.”

  Gabrielle took her time getting situated and formulated her thoughts. “You knew I was going to come in here.”

  He smiled. “I would’ve been disappointed if you didn’t.”

  “What do we have in the works? Big project wise? I want to know that the playing field will be even.”

  “Most of the things in the pipeline are pretty standard stuff. But the board came to the decision that you would get the next project, and I believe them. T
hey’re giving you a fair shake. I know it doesn’t feel that way at the moment, but several of the members are anxious to see what you will do with complete control.”

  “Oh, please. It’s an uphill battle and we both know it. I just want to make sure you’ve got my back in there and I have a fighting chance.” Gabrielle commended herself for keeping her cool and not letting her anger over the unjust situation get the best of her.

  “I promise you have more allies on the board than you realize. You’ve done a great job here and people know it.”

  “And I will continue as long as I know this isn’t a way to keep me quiet and I really have a shot at partner. You know how long and hard I’ve worked to get to this point.”

  “Without a doubt. Let’s just hope somebody closes a deal soon. I think we have a small soccer stadium and a closet company that wants to expand,” he said.

  Gabrielle perked up at the soccer stadium. That had the potential to be fun. “When do you think we’ll know?”

  “By the end of the month. Hang in there. We’ll get something fantastic in.”

  He seemed so genuine that Gabrielle believed him. She left his office feeling inspired. When was the last time that happened? Grabbing all the files on Aaron’s job, she headed to one of the conference rooms to spread out the drawings and put together the pieces. Since Aaron abruptly quit, there was a scramble to get a handle on this project. The customers were coming in next week for an update. Gabrielle had called them when the job became hers and introduced herself with as much confidence and excitement as she could muster. It was a shitty deal all around—for them, for her—but she was going to charm them. Aaron had fucked it up a dozen different ways. It had to have been on purpose. She sat down and sighed.

  “That bad?”

  Tom walked in, hands deep in his pockets, and looked at the piled chaos that was once Aaron’s job. He skulked around the drawings, barely lifting up a corner of the top one as if he knew it wasn’t his business. For some reason he was comfortable in her space, and that unnerved Gabrielle. After twenty seconds of review, he gave a low whistle and took a step back from the table. “I know you think I got the better deal, but if you can salvage this, they should make you partner.”