Page 6 of The Calendar of New Beginnings
Since he was her eldest sibling, Moira usually listened to what he had to say. When she rolled her eyes, he realized he must be off his game.
“Her parents are already worried,” she said, tucking her chin-length brown hair behind her ear. “You can see it on their faces.”
“Give Lucy some time to tell us what’s going on,” he whispered back, tugging Moira over to the corner next to a ficus tree. “She just got home.”
His sister gave him the kind of look she probably usually reserved for when she had to fire people in her capacity as human resources director at a top Denver engineering firm. Sometimes Moira could be an ass-kicker, and apparently she was about to kick his.
“She doesn’t need time,” his sister said in an aggrieved tone. “She needs a best friend who’s willing to listen. Whatever happened must have been horrible. Especially if she didn’t tell you!You’reher best friend.”
He’d already thought of that, and it had dried up all the spit in his mouth.
“Ask her to take a walk with you, Andy. Right now.”
“In the middle of her homecoming party?” he asked, aghast. “Ellen would kill me. Slowly.”
“No, she won’t,” Moira informed him with a determined shake of her head. “She and Mom are hoping you two finally hook up and have babies now that you’re both back in Dare Valley. Sorry, that was probably a little brusque, but it’s true.”
Yeah, Moira knew it was hard for him to think about moving on with anyone after losing Kim, let alone with the friend he’d known since babyhood. His stomach wrenched. He’d hoped his mother would understand that, even if Ellen didn’t. Not only because Lucy was Lucy, but also because he was taking his time with the whole dating thing.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Moira said, giving him a push for good measure. “It’s not like you have to give in to their fantasies. Just go talk to her.”
The more she nudged, the more he wanted to dig his heels in. “Lucy will tell me when she wants to. We respect each other that way.” Which was why her silence hurt. He was smart enough to realize how much of her life she censored from their Skype chats and emails, but he’d never thought she’d hold back something important.
“Hogwash, as Uncle Arthur says. Are you afraid to hear what happened?”
“Maybe a little,” he admitted softly.
He wasn’t sure he could stand any more tragedy, which was why he hadn’t asked more questions. He’d fretted over Lucy’s sudden announcement that she was coming home. Even then, he’d realized there was something behind it—some dark story. But how was he supposed to help her when he was still shoring up the devastation inside him and trying to start over? He felt guilty—and weak. Lucy deserved better than that from him.
Moira put her hand on his arm. “Imagine how alone she must feel. No one has more respect for Lucy than I do, which is why I just embarrassed myself by having a fan moment. The places she goes and the images she captures… Even I’m not that tough.”
He studied her no-nonsense expression. “You’re plenty tough.” Right now, he was starting to feel a little bullied. Thank God, his mother and two other sisters hadn’t jumped on the pile with Moira. Otherwise, he’d be suffocating.
“Be her friend,” Moira said with another push. “You can do it, Andy Cakes.”
He gritted his teeth. “I hate it when you call me that.”
“That’s why even Lucy still uses the nickname.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “Now, go. I’ll keep an eye on Danny.”
Since she wasn’t going to give him an inch, he rolled his shoulders and prepared himself to face Lucy again. “You’re a pest.”
“And you’re our hero,” Moira said, giving him a sporty pat on the behind that made him snarl. “That’s why you were born in the number one slot, and I chose number four.”
He hated being the eldest sometimes. Everyone expected him to be responsible and supportive, to set a good example. At moments like this, he wished he could give them all the bird.
“Fine, I’m going,” he said. “But don’teverpat me on the butt again.”
Moira was laughing as he set off to talk to Lucy. She was now surrounded by a new crowd—one much less interested in her journalistic endeavors. Andy’s two other sisters, Natalie and Caroline, saw him and shifted to include him in the huddle. His mom shot him an eager smile—God help him—as Lucy mentioned having a few appointments to see rental properties in the next couple of days.
“But I thought you would stay with your dad and me,” Ellen said, a frown marring her face. “You loved your room growing up.”
“Mom, we talked about this,” Lucy said diplomatically. “I still love it, but as Arthur pointed out earlier, I’m almost forty. I couldn’t possibly live with my parents for more than a few weeks. Whatwouldpeople think?” She laughed, playing up the famous O’Brien charm, causing others to laugh with her.
But Ellen was having none of it. “I don’t give a fig what people think,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.
“Now, Mom,” Lucy said, jostling her playfully. “I’ll be closer than I have been in years. Trust me. This is going to be the best for everyone.”
“You can stay with me, Lucy,” April said, glancing at Ellen. “It’s only me in that big old house.”
