VIVIAN PACED AROUND Josh’s apartment from the family room into the modern kitchen and back. The furniture was tasteful, though sparse. The vibe was more like an upscale hotel room. Not exactly cold, but it lacked the inviting, homey feel of the farmhouse. And it was neat. Not an empty glass in the kitchen sink. Or stray magazine with a water ring on the coffee table.
She wasn’t finding comfort in her fake boyfriend’s apartment. That was to be expected. That her family was putting her even more on edge, well, that was unavoidable. Her mother had claimed Vivian would save the family. And Vivian was still trying to come to terms with that bold proclamation.
Heather and Wade sat together on the leather sofa. Her mother held her computer, which Vivian had retrieved from the RV earlier, and perched on the edge of the leather recliner.
Vivian stopped on the other side of the coffee table and said, “Let me make sure I’m following. Wade received a request for proposal from...”
“South Trek Enterprises,” Heather supplied for her. “We need to provide South Trek with a comprehensive business insurance proposal that covers all their commercial insurance requirements while being affordable, but also exceeding their expectations.”
No small feat. “And you have forty-eight hours to submit your response?” Vivian eyed her family. They nodded in sync as if they’d rehearsed this particular part earlier. Vivian continued, “And you want me to work my magic on the presentation?” Those had been her mother’s exact words.
“And save the family.” Her mother slipped in that piece again as if it required repeating. As if she fully expected Vivian wouldn’t hesitate to take up the charge.
“That about sums it up.” Heather leaned her head back against the couch. Her morning sickness had passed, yet she still looked too pale to Vivian.
The situation might’ve been summed up, but nothing was clear. Vivian pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Look, Vivian. This contract with South Trek Enterprises gives a solid first step in the corporate business sector,” Wade explained. He reached over and touched Heather’s leg like a silent checking in. Her sister set her hand on top of his. Wade added, “This contract is part of that growth strategy I mentioned to you last night.”
Oh yeah. When they’d been walking back to the farmhouse, just before Wade had told Vivian it was time to remember who she really was. Certainly, this wasn’t her family’s misguided attempt to remind her who they wanted her to be. Vivian disliked her cynicism and worked to shove her suspicions aside. Her mother looked genuinely worried.
“We’re sustaining with our residential clients and sole proprietors,” Heather added. “But it’s barely enough to cover salaries and day-to-day operations of the business. We have to expand into the commercial sector.”
Barely sustaining. No one had mentioned anything to Vivian. Then again, Vivian had skimmed around the topic of the company when she’d called home. For her own selfish reasons. Still, shouldn’t they have told her? You can’t be in and out when the mood suits, Vivian. If you’re chasing your dream, then go all in. Those had been her father’s words, then he’d set down the three-year time limit—the same time it would’ve taken her to earn her master’s degree in marketing. Vivian looked at her mother. “What does Dad think?”
“Your father still believes in handshakes over lunch to close deals.” A weariness settled around her mother’s eyes. “But the landscape has changed out there with more options for customers to buy insurance. Heather and Wade are right. We need to change and adapt our business if we want to stay relevant.”
That they were sitting there now without Vivian’s father spoke volumes.
“Without this contract, we risk not growing.” Heather unscrewed the cap on a bottle of ginger ale and took a small sip. “And when a business stops growing, it can’t exist for long.”
Vivian wanted to blame Heather’s morning sickness for her dire words. But there was too much truth there. Vivian had never considered the potential closing of the family company. The potential end of the Bryant family legacy. Although Heather’s sober expression told Vivian her sister was more than serious. Her parents would be crushed. Her dad most of all. Vivian spun around and moved to stare out the window that overlooked the pasture and back of the stable barn. She took care not to look at her mom or Wade. Knew she would see the truth—the one she didn’t want to even consider—on their faces too.
“If you work on this Vivian, then dad will know you buy in.” Her mom’s words were earnest and tinged with a splash of hope. “Your dad will know this is the right direction if we show a united front.”
That selfish side within Vivian waved its arms and wanted the business to close. That would free her, wouldn’t it? Such disloyalty left a bitter taste in her mouth. Vivian needed to take a breath and leaned against the windowsill. “You guys have been managing the business. Why do you need me?”
“You’ve been doing this exact thing for us over the past few years,” Heather argued. “Vivian, this is nothing you haven’t done before when we’ve sent you presentations and proposals to review.”
“You’ve always enhanced them for us,” her mom added. “Fixed our mistakes and improved what we had put together. You have an eye for the details.”
But those were one-offs. Quick read throughs for Vivian at night in her camper. They weren’t make-or-break proposals. Not like this one. Vivian touched her stomach, wishing she hadn’t added so much syrup to her waffles earlier. Breakfast seemed like a lifetime ago, when all she’d been worried about was her treasured horse.
“Even more, you know the software, Vivian.” Wade stood up, walked into the kitchen, and opened the soda cracker box. He handed several crackers to Heather, without her having to ask.
Vivian wanted to ignore him. But he looked after Heather like her sister deserved. And that was how love, when it was the right kind, was supposed to work. Vivian crossed her arms over her chest.
“Your dad doesn’t want to hear about portals, secure websites and automation.” Her mom watched Vivian over the top of her computer. “And he’s not interested in learning either.”
Heather arranged her crackers on a napkin on her lap. “Viv, you know how to best represent our business.”
“We’re just asking for your help, Vivian,” her mother stressed. “Just a few hours of your time. That’s all. It’s not too much to ask.”
Her mother had given more than that during all those years of driving Vivian to her horse-riding lessons out in the country. No, this wasn’t too much to ask now. Because while Vivian was selfish, she loved her family.
Vivian pushed away from the window and sat on the couch next to her sister. She held out her hand toward her mom and took the laptop, then said, “Let me see the request-for-proposal documents.”
Her mom stood and leaned over to wrap her arm around Vivian’s shoulders. She squeezed Vivian tight. “I’m going outside to learn about the motor home with your dad and Sam.”
Vivian read through the request documents from South Trek Enterprises. Beside her, Heather chewed on her crackers and Wade tapped on his phone screen. It was two more passes through the documentation before Vivian finally set the computer on the coffee table and looked at Heather and Wade. She said, “This is way more than a growth strategy. It’s a ten-year contract.”
Heather reached over and took Wade’s hand. He nodded.
Vivian ran her palms over her jeans. “If you get this book of business, you could fund mom and dad’s retirement. Buy that motor home outright and pay them a substantial pension.”
Wade exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath. “Now you understand exactly how important this is.”
“Mom and Dad let us pursue our dreams, Vivian.” Heather leaned over and touched Vivian’s arm. Her words earnest. Her gaze understanding. “It’s time Mom and Dad had the freedom to do the same. And without having to carry the business on their shoulders too.”
Vivian wanted to deny her sister’s words but couldn’t. Her sister was right.
“You should also know what Mom didn’t say.” Heather glanced at Wade. At his small nod, her sister continued, “Dad can’t handle the stress any longer. His heart isn’t what it used to be.”
Vivian opened her mouth.
“Nothing serious has happened yet. We would’ve told you—” Heather squeezed Vivian’s arm “—but his doctors, and we, as well, want to help prevent something from happening.”
“We want your dad to be around for our kids,” Wade added.
“And your children someday.” Heather offered Vivian a gentle smile. “I know this sounds like a guilt trip. It’s not intended to be. We really just want you to have the full picture of what’s going on.”
Their father’s brother and business partner had passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition five years earlier. Her father was now the same age his brother had been when his heart gave out. Vivian worked to calm the unease and worry working through her. Nothing bad had happened yet. That mattered. Except that yet made her all the more concerned. She would do this. Do her small part to give back to her parents, especially her dad. As for her practice and those things she needed to do, well, she’d make it up later somehow. Her family needed her.
“We have work to do,” Vivian said. “Those proposals we’ve done in the past are like introductions to what we need to put together now.”
Wade disappeared into one of the bedrooms and returned with two laptops. One he handed to Vivian. “You’re going to need this. Heather and I can use hers.”
The trio settled in at the kitchen table and got to work. More than an hour later, Vivian stood up to stretch her legs. She walked to the window, saw Isabel and Josh together with the horses. Told herself that was for the best anyway. After all, she didn’t want to stand in their way of a reconciliation. Still, it took her a few minutes to squash down her disappointment beneath workers’ compensation premiums and liability umbrellas and saving her family.
Lunchtime was closing in when Wade called a timeout and declared they all needed fresh air and food. Vivian tossed her truck keys to Wade, and the couple went on a food run. Vivian finished the last of her notes, then closed the laptop and picked up her jacket.
“Where are you going?” Her mother came through the front door, holding what appeared to be one of Sam’s clipboards. “We need to discuss the gala. Sam and I did some preliminary organizing since you were tied up here. And Josh was busy too.”
“Heather and Wade are picking up lunch.” Vivian zipped her coat up. “I’m heading to the stables to find Josh.” And finally work in a short practice.
“He’s not there.” Her mother tapped her watch on her wrist. “Isabel and Josh left not twenty minutes ago.”
Vivian looked out the window. Isabel’s car was gone. This was what Vivian wanted. Not to be in between Josh and his ex-wife and their unfinished business. That was true, she hadn’t wanted to be in their way, but she also hadn’t wanted to be so far out of the way, she’d been forgotten. Even that was for the best, wasn’t it?
“You okay?” Her mom tipped her head and studied Vivian.
“Just hungry.” And tripping herself up in the make-believe exactly like she’d sworn not to do. Vivian moved back to the square kitchen table. “Let’s talk about the gala while we wait for Heather and Wade.”
Her mother pulled out a chair and sat down heavily. Then she frowned at Vivian. “Between you and me, Vivian, the gala needs to return to a barn dance. Because that’s the only available space in this town. A barn.”
Her mother’s expression matched the thick, forlorn note in her words. Vivian pressed her lips together and caught her laughter. “There’s a town hall. I saw it when I drove through downtown.” The building was historic-looking but not small by any means. “The town hall should have conference rooms. Maybe the rooms even connect.”
“According to both Abby and Sam, it would be standing room only for the two-hundred-plus guests expected to attend.” Her mother wrinkled her nose. “And by that, I mean the guests could eat off each other’s appetizer plates, they’d be so close to one another.”
That wouldn’t do. Vivian tapped her fingers on the table. Perhaps a barn dance wasn’t all that bad.
“Abby’s husband, Wes, owns the Feisty Owl Bar and Grille.” Her mother’s mouth pursed. “But they should be preparing for their new baby’s arrival, not a gala.”
Vivian nodded. “There has to be a suitable place in town that isn’t a barn.”
“You need to get with Josh,” her mother urged. “And scour the town until you find a venue. It can’t wait.”
How was she supposed to do that? Josh was with his ex-wife. Unfinishing whatever their business was. Vivian stilled in the chair and stared at her hands. Then her sweater jacket. She felt green, then she chided herself. Jealousy was never a good look. On anyone. And if Vivian wasn’t mistaken, she also sounded jealous.
How bad was that? She’d just face-planted in a mess of her own making. Nothing to do now but get herself out of it. Step back. Way back. Far enough that she wasn’t interested in her cowboy any longer. Vivian reached for the clipboard. “I don’t need Josh. I can take my truck and scout out places around town myself.”
“It might be faster if Josh went along with you,” her mother said.
“He’s got clients he needs to work with.” An ex-wife to reconcile with. Vivian stood up. “I’ll just get on my way and call you when I find something.”
“What about lunch?” her mother asked. “Heather and Wade just got back.”
“I’m not that hungry after all.” With that, Vivian grabbed her spare set of keys and hurried outside before her mom could stop her. She was in her truck and headed downtown within minutes. Determined to put distance between her heart and her cowboy.