Page 127 of The Fixer

“Um, I think I have a business dinner that night.”

Of course she did. Undeterred, he rushed on. “Well, I happen to have some time off.”Thank you, Reece. “What would you think of me flying out there for the weekend? I’ll come on Friday and entertain myself while you’re out, and we can have all of Saturday and most of Sunday to ourselves, if you’re able to clear your calendar.”

“I think that can be arranged.” She was trying to play coy, but he heard the excitement in her voice.

“And … can I stay with you?”

“Of course. I have three guest bedrooms you can choose from.” Wait. Was she serious? “That was a joke, Charlie.”

He let out a relieved laugh. “I’m never sure with you, princess. You like to keep me dancing on my toes. I’ll send you my flight details once it’s booked.”

They hung up, and though that exchange had had its own brand of clumsiness, it had gone smoother than the last time they’d talked. Now all he had to do was decide whether to lead with his good news or the bad. With any luck, the mystery of the thefts and sabotage would be solved by then, so when he told her about them, he could immediately follow up with the culprit’s identity and assure her the worst was behind them. That way she wouldn’t be as prone to think he was dishonest, or incompetent for not managing his job sites, or a bad risk as a partner—in business and in love.

Friday couldn’t come soon enough.

“Somebody’s happy today,” Estelleremarked as Joy pranced into the office.

Somebodywas going to have a hunky visitor in two days. She couldn’t wait to show Charliehertown, to walk into the best restaurants on his arm,to show him the city lights from her condo—especially those from her bedroom. Today she would arrange to have a personal shopper pick out a casual array of clothing. While she still couldn’t muster much enthusiasm, at least her reason for getting the new pieces energized her.

“Eh, it’s another beautiful summer day, and I got to drive with my top down.”

Estelle’s eyes widened behind her glasses and locked onto Joy’s torso. “You drove without your top? Wow. Youareliving on the edge.”

“Haha. Very funny. Any calls?”

“One.” Estelle looked around and dropped her voice. “Your therapist. She says she’s been trying to reach you.”

“Ah. I’ll take care of it. Thanks.” Joy stepped into her office and quietly shut the door. She’d been ignoring the woman’s emails, voicemails, and texts, and she couldn’t dodge anymore. But there was one major roadblock in her way: her therapist would ask, as she should, whether Joy had spoken with her sister sincediscovering Helene’s letters.

Yes, Joy needed to confront Mary. Bolstered by her exhilaration over Charlie’s visit, she told Estelle to hold her calls and picked up her cell phone. No time like the present.

She chewed her bottom lip while Mary’s phone rang. Her cowardly hopes climbed with each ring. Maybe she wouldn’t have to have this conversation right now after all. Those hopes were dashed when her sister answered, and it wasn’t her voicemail greeting.

“Mary? Glad I caught you. Is this a good time?”

“Sure. What else would I be doing with my life?” Mary ran through a litany of her aches and pains and all the reasons she couldn’t live the glamorous life Joy had somehow lucked into. “You have no idea how good you have it, Joy.”

“You’d be surprised,” Joy deadpanned.

“What does that mean?”

Cut to the chase.“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Telling her little sister she wasn’t their parents’ biological daughter seemed like a detail Mary would have salivated over. She could have milked it for all the misery it would bring, yet she hadn’t so much as hinted at the old secret.

“How did you find out?”

“We are talking about the same thing, right?”

“That you’re adopted?”

“Yes, that.” It occurred to Joy that Mary might not know thewholetruth. Joy hadn’t been adopted at all. She’d merely been brought aboard the Holiday family fun wagon.

“Because Mom begged me not to. She said you’d suffered enough.” Joy could practically hear the eye-roll in Mary’s voice.

“I would have thought you’d be champing at the bit to spill.”

Mary sighed. “Don’t think I wasn’t, but Mom was adamant. Her wishes meant more to me than you learning the truth.”

Ouch.But the sting didn’t hurt as much as it once might have.

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