Page 47 of Coral Memories

Ginger called the girls from the beach, and they followed her around the side of the cottage to the patio. Marina and Brooke giggled with delight as she sprayed off the sand with a hose. She dried them with thick beach towels until they were relatively clean.

Sandi’s voice floated through the screen door to Ginger.

“We’ve just landed our first accounting clients, Dad, so we gave our notice at work.”

“I’m sure you and Dennis will do well,” Bertrand replied.

“He wants to prove himself to you and Mom.”

“We’ve always thought well of him.”

“I know,” Sandi said. “He’s still sensitive about his background. Having been in foster care, he’s never felt like he fit in.”

“Growing up overseas isn’t as glamorous as most people think,” Bertrand said. “You struggled to fit in, too.”

“Now I look at going to school overseas as an adventure that few others had.” Sandi glanced outside to check on her children. “We found office space, so we’ll open the new business soon.”

“What sort of clients are you looking for?”

“The ones Dennis brought in are investors. They own casinos and racetracks in Nevada, California, and other states. Dennis is brilliant with those sort of complicated tax returns.”

Bertrand was quiet for a moment. “Those are tough businesses, and the people running them can be difficult. Promise me you’ll be careful around those types?”

“Oh, Dad. Dennis knows what he’s doing. We’ll make a fortune from their work alone.”

Although Dennis was bright, charming, and held master’s degrees in accounting, Ginger wondered if their son-in-law knew what he was doing.

16

Marina brought the deep tart pan with its buttery crust from the oven to let it rest. She glanced at Jack, who was diligently tearing lettuce for a salad at the new kitchen island they’d added.

He looked far too serious.

She whirled around and stole a kiss. “Thanks for preparing that, sweetheart.”

Jack broke into a smile. “Why not? I like to eat, too. And that Leo can sure put the food away these days.”

“How’s Ginger’s story coming along?” Marina asked, stirring the tomato basil soup.

“Honestly, it’s incredible,” Jack replied, his voice filled with wonder. “Her life reads like a novel. The way she followed her heart, blazing trails for women in math and science, blending her professional and family life. It’s inspiring today, but back when women had fewer options, that took nerve. She blithely forged on, being the best version of herself she could be.” He chuckled. “That probably infuriated some people.”

Marina laughed. “She once said that you don’t have to know your place. Your place is wherever you decide it is.”

“Ginger was not easily dissuaded, that’s for sure.” Jack quartered a small tomato as he talked.

“She never took no for an answer,” Marina added. “She simply figured out how to do whatever she wanted.”

“You’re a lot like her.” Jack paused to select a cucumber. “However, I’ve noticed she doesn’t care about taking credit for her achievements.”

“That’s always been true. She’s too busy moving on to the next challenge. But she loved being the Grand Marshall in the parade.”

“That she did. I wonder if there has ever been anything she couldn’t handle.”

“Such as what?” Marina asked, pouring smoked bacon into the cooled crust.

“A disappointment or tragedy. Many people hit bottom—even the Gingers of the world.”

Marina’s journalistic instincts kicked in.Was Jack fishing for material?She hesitated, then relaxed. He was family now, and this book was about Ginger, after all.

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