Page 25 of Wild Nights

"Can we pick up Joey on the way? I want to see him."

Affection for my brother rushed through me. "He'd love that."

I closed the door to my room and dialed Maeve as we walked toward the elevator. When she answered, Eli pushed the down button. "Morning. How is everything?"

"Great. We ate around seven, and now we're watching cartoons."

"Can you put Joey on the phone?" I asked her.

"Sure." Then I heard, "Joey, your dad wants to talk to you."

"Daddy!" I pulled the phone away from my ear on a chuckle. "You want to go to brunch with Uncle Eli?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Pancakes?"

"Of course." I heard the phone drop, and Maeve picked it up. "Sorry, he was a little excited."

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside.

"That's to be expected. Can you make sure he's dressed and ready to go? We'll be there in ten."

"Absolutely. See you then." I hung up as Eli pressed the button for the lobby.

"I miss him. You should bring him around more often."

I nodded. "He adores Maeve though."

The doors opened on the lobby level, and Eli asked for his car to be brought around. "How are things going for her? She get into any schools yet?"

"She said she has, but she's waiting on the financial aid package."

"You think she'll be okay?" Eli asked as we waited for his SUV to arrive.

"I was going to suggest that if she doesn't get everything she needs, we offer her a scholarship. She won't want our help. But we could create one and give it to her, make it seem like it's open to everyone. Maybe even create two so we can give one to another local kid."

Eli nodded. "I'm all for that. A scholarship from the Wilde Resort for deserving local kids. What would the requirements be? Grades. Volunteer work?"

"It could be anything. We can have them write an essay to explain why they think they deserve it. I don't think it should be based primarily on grades. Not everyone comes from the same circumstances."

The valet arrived with his SUV.

"Get in,” Eli said. “I'll drive you back afterward."

I didn't argue because I wasn't done discussing the scholarship.

When we were on the road headed to my house, Eli said, "I like the idea of a scholarship and helping Maeve. She's been so good for you and Joey."

"She's reliable, and I can see how hard she works to keep her grades up so she can get a scholarship. Her parents are against her doing any kind of student loans. They don't wanther to start out in debt." Her parents didn't have the money for college, and I don't think they'd saved anything. They just didn't make enough money in their jobs. Her father worked as a mechanic at a local dealership, and her mother cleaned houses.

"She deserves to go to college."

"I agree. And if we can help more people, why not?"

"Kylie has a monopoly on the local charity stuff, so let's make this a thing we're doing."

"I'll work the numbers to see how much we can afford to offer, and how many scholarships we want to distribute."

"It's a great idea. One more way to improve our reputation in the community while also helping some deserving kids. Mom and Dad will be proud."

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