Page 12 of Daring Enzo

I sigh. It’s a beautiful place, in a wonderful location as well. Too bad it no longer feels like home to me. I should have dragged the girls on this trip.

“Where’s Mom and Dad?” I ask.

“Oh, they’re coming down from the Hudson Valley house right now because they know you’re home,” she responds with a smile.

“Oh okay. What are you doing?” I ask as Molly sits back down on the couch behind her laptop and focuses her attention on the screen.

“I’m looking at a company’s file and the books just won’t balance.” She rests her body against the back of the couch and presses her thumb and index finger to her eyes. “I don’t know why. Perhaps I’ve been thinking too much.”

She lets out a deep sigh, a telltale sign she’s frustrated, although knowing Molly, I know she won’t give up until she finds what she’s looking for.

“Let me take a look at it,” I say, wanting to relieve her stress.

“Yes, please,” my sister says, pushing the laptop towards me as I sit down beside her.

I go through the file and quickly run the numbers, making the calculations in my head as I go.

“There it is,” I say after a while. “There’s your problem.”

I highlight the problem area on the screen, smiling when Molly hurriedly sits up and loses her frustrated expression. She scans the file and looks back at the cells I just highlighted.

“Wow, with how irresponsible you act most of the time, it’s easy to forget how much of a genius you are.”

I press my lips together in a slightly pained smile as she returns to her file. I’ve always hated it when people call me a genius. Dad had really been looking forward to me working for the company, but I make myself scarce and only show up when things are important.

The door opens as I’m thinking this, and my parents walk in. Mom is sporting the exact bob style as my sister, with her blonde hair. Her hazel eyes are covered by sunglasses. She’s dressed in a simple white sundress that reaches her ankles and minimal jewelry, although each piece can buy a house somewhere.

Dad smiles when he comes in, his green eyes lost in his eyelids as he squints. Laugh lines decorate the corners of his eyes from a youth spent smiling, and freckles dot part of his face. He has on a button-up shirt tucked in black pants. They are both gorgeous, but very muted and reserved, like my sister.

“Hello, Mom, Dad,” I greet as I stand up.

“Oh Kelly, we’ve missed you so much,” Mom says as she wraps me in a hug. The faint scent of her floral perfume fills my nostrils along with the familiar coconut shampoo she’s always used since we were children.

“I’ve missed you all too,” I say as I pull away from her to hug Dad. He pats my back before pulling away, still holding me at arm’s reach.

“How are you, my darling?” he asks.

I stare into his eyes, and then Mom’s, seeking reassurance they are okay. Their eyes hold a quiet happiness and fill me with relief.

“I’m fine, Dad,” I confirm with a smile and he nods. “How are you?”

“We’re all good.” I nod.

My sister’s laptop is closed as she watches the interaction between our parents. Everyone’s busy, but it appears to be a healthy sort of busy.

“You don’t need to avoid us so much, dear. You can come home whenever you feel like it. You know I’ve given up on trying to convince you to work for the company a long time ago,” Dad says.

I smile sheepishly, and he chuckles.

“It’s more than that, Dad. It’s not just about not wanting to work for the company. Being in one place makes me feel like I’m trapped.”

Mom’s face falls, her eyes losing their shine. “I’m sorry if we made you feel like settling down was a bad thing.”

I frown at her choice of words. Her expression is guilt-laden. My heart clenches at making Mom feel guilty. This was not my intention at all.

I go to her, taking her hands in mine. “Mom, don’t say it. "

In a way, she isn’t wrong. Although the Jones Corporation has diversified now, at the core, we’re an accounting company. A long family line of accountants who made a name for themselves and founded a strong business… until Dad’s turn.

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