Regan said, “Anna didn’t go out and buy Lily the bracelet. She makes candles and jewelry. She also gave me a candle.”
Casey removed his arm and stirred cream in his coffee. “You know, Shannon, you and Anna should get together and go to some craft shows. You can take your soaps to sell.”
Whitney saw Regan roll her eyes at Casey’s comments. Obviously, hearing about Anna again wasn’t making her sister’s day.
“Don’t give Shannon any more ideas,” Tim said.
“Casey, where have you been?” Shannon raised her eyebrows at her brother-in-law. “I gave up the soap business.”
Whitney said, “None of us will have time to go to craft shows unless we decide to have a segment for our talk show, or our online magazine. I know we’re going to have another business discussion tomorrow morning, but I can’t wait to tell you what Ben told me Friday night.”
“Don’t tell me that the wonderful Ben thought of another business to have you visit,” Casey said in a sarcastic tone. “That turned out well.”
“Hey, it wasn’t all bad. I saw Jack in action as a paramedic,” Whitney said to Casey.
“What is it?” Regan asked.
“Ben knows a local TV cable show that needs help.” She hoped her sisters would be interested in seeing if they could help Cora with her show. In a rush of words, she told them what Ben had learned about Cora’s health condition.
“We definitely should consider a talk show if Cora’s interested in us filling in for her,” Shannon said. “More importantly, if the network is interested. It almost sounds too good to be true.”
Regan grinned. “Ben definitely is into you, little sis.”
“Hey, don’t forget about my offer that you can teach full-time at my school,” Tim said, jabbing a piece of melon out of Shannon’s fruit bowl.
“I don’t want to teach high school students. I’ll sub occasionally when needed but not full-time.” Shannon grinned at her husband as he ate the fruit. “I see where Brandon gets his manners from.”
“I asked first,” Brandon muttered.
Shannon exhaled a deep breath. “I’m willing to do the TV show. I just don’t want to fail again. I guess I started thinking an online magazine might be easier, but with Whitney’s professional background and if we can get backing either from Cora or elsewhere, I say we should go for it.”
“Come to my house tomorrow morning,” Regan said. “We can get busy on our plans after I take Lily to school.”
“I heard you three are planning on going to Hawaii,” Tim said. “I was thinking you could go in August to celebrate Shannon’s fortieth birthday.”
Shannon groaned. “You just ruined my day.”
Casey asked, “I’ll take your place if you don’t want to go, but Regan said how your mom wanted you three to go.”
“That’s not it.” Regan sighed. “Shannon doesn’t want to think about being forty.”
“It’s so traumatic,” Shannon said, “that in four months I’ll be forty. I mean my life is half over if I live to be eighty.”
“Mom, you aren’t old like my friends’ parents,” Caitlyn said.
Shannon raised her eyebrows. “Thanks. I think.”
Caitlyn turned her head to look at her dad. “Mom had a nice party for you when you turned forty.”
“I thought she’d like a trip to Hawaii instead.” Tim dunked a biscuit in his gravy. “But a party’s fine.”
“What about a pool party?” Casey asked. Three pairs of female eyes stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
Whitney wiped her lips with a napkin. “Let me tell him. A pool party means more stress with wearing swimming suits.”
“Woohoo. I always wanted to go skinny dipping in your pool,” Tim said.
Caitlyn’s jaw tightened. “I can’t believe you, Dad. You’re the principal.”
He gave an exasperated look. “I was kidding. Even though I think I look pretty good with or without my trunks.”
“Since it’s going to be in the eighties today and the next few days, we could open the pool this afternoon,” Whitney said. Maybe she’d give Jack a call and see if he wanted to help open the pool. She’d like to see him again after enjoying their date together.
“I have midterms to grade,” Shannon said, “and I thought you wanted to open the pool later this year, not earlier.”
Whitney shrugged. “I did but the weather’s been warm for April. I’m tired of swimming in the indoor pool at the Y.”
Regan grinned. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with Ben wanting to swim in the pool, now would it?”
“Your date with Jack must have gone well.” Shannon gave her a studied glance. “You look radiant today.”
“Shannon’s right. Your suit’s cute. I like the pink camisole top you have on too.” Regan gave her an approving look. “Tell us all about your date.”
“I’ll tell you later.” Whitney smiled at Regan. “Right now, I think I’ll call Jack. He can help me open the pool.”
While Whitney got her cell phone out of her purse, Casey said, “We can help too.”
Shannon said, “I’ll grade my papers by the pool.”
* * *
“What’s wrong?” Whitney asked as soon as they were in the house. She’d sensed earlier something was bothering Regan.
They’d all gone home to change out of their good church clothes after brunch. Then they drove to Whitney’s to help with the pool. While the men swept the leaves off the pool cover, Regan suggested to Shannon and Whitney, they get cold drinks and the pool stuff that had been put away when they’d closed it last fall.
Shannon nodded. “Yeah, what is it?”
“That’s a reason I love having sisters. You two are perceptive to my emotions. Sometimes Casey’s so dense.” Regan pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. “I need to talk about Anna. I’ve been afraid he’ll die trying to rescue someone, but maybe Anna’s the real threat. Now I have two reasons I want Casey to quit being a firefighter. I think she was using the candle and bracelet as a ploy to get Casey’s attention. What do you think?”
Shannon put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know. She probably gave gifts to the other firefighters.”
Whitney nodded. “I bet she wants to make some money off her crafts, so is giving some away at first to get people interested in buying.”
Regan frowned. “There’s more. She had Casey help her move furniture. And Anna’s boyfriend broke up with her so Casey wants to have her over for dinner sometime soon. I think she’s using the breakup to play on Casey’s sympathy. She wants my husband.”
Casey was a good-looking guy. Regan’s intuition could be right. “If you have her over for dinner, you can observe how she acts around Casey,” Whitney said.
“You could invite some single guy to dinner.” Shannon grabbed the skimmer basket off the cabinet shelf.
Regan grinned at Whitney. “I could invite Ben Spencer. I bet he’d like Anna. She’s gorgeous.”
“You have to be kidding. Ben seems perfect for Whitney.” Shannon bent down and pulled a blue container out of the box. “That’s great you already bought this mineral thing for the frog. Did you get the chloride ones too?”
“I got the slow dissolving chloride things for the frog dispenser, but only enough liquid pool shock to open the pool.” Whitney picked up a clear plastic bag with the jets and the white caps for the diving board.
“We need to give you some money for stuff.” Shannon glanced at the mineral container. “I know it probably cost you enough.”
“Actually I got it for ninety dollars because I bought it early,” Whitney said. “Cornett Pools had a pre-season sale. If you want to pick up a few gallons of shock, that’d be great. But I’ll probably swim the most.”
Regan shoved a lock of auburn hair away from her face. “I bet you will with your hot neighbor.”
Whitney gave Regan a little shove. “Will you stop? We better get outside or the men might quit working. I can see them coming in here.”
They walked out to where the men were still removing leaves from the cover.
Casey looked up from the pool cover. “Hey hon, where are the drinks?”
Regan kissed his cheek. “You’ll get your drink after the cover’s off.”
“Brandon and Caitlyn, get the rest of the water bags so we can start rolling this turkey up,” Tim ordered.
“I have the best brothers-in-law in the world.” Whitney said.
Casey grinned. “You got that right.”
“Also we’re free labor,” Tim used his arm to wipe moisture off his forehead. “Man, I could use a beer right now. I’m working up a sweat.”
“Okay, I’ll get the beer now instead of making you guys wait.” Regan glanced at her sisters. “How about you two? Do you want anything to drink?”
“I’ll take a beer,” Whitney said, looking into the part of the pool which was uncovered. “The water looks clear. It shouldn’t take much to get it balanced. I’ll test the water tonight.”
“I’d like iced tea, please,” Shannon said. “Ben’s outside in his yard. I bet you guys can use some help with the heavy diving board.” She waved to Ben and yelled, “Hello.”
“Hey, Tim and I aren’t wimps.” Casey raised his eyebrows. “We can carry the diving board.”
“It’s a shame Jack couldn’t come today.” Regan glanced at Shannon. “I’ll walk over and invite Ben. He offered to help open the pool when we first met him.”
Casey muttered. “I wish Jack could’ve made it.”
Whitney sighed. “Me too. He’d already promised to take a shift for another paramedic. He knew it’d be hard to get someone to work for him on a Sunday.”
Lily jumped off her patio chair. “Mommy, I see Adam playing outside. Make sure he comes too. I’m bored.”
Regan stopped walking toward Ben and turned around. “Whit, when Ben gets here, bend over and do something. Show your cute butt.”
Whitney put her hands on her hips. “I’ll do no such thing.”
Shannon rubbed her chin. “Regan’s right. You fill out those tight shorts in a good way. Flaunt it, sis.”
Caitlyn groaned. “I broke a nail on those stupid bags. I’ll go help Aunt Regan carry the drinks. Brandon can finish hauling the water bags.”
“Sorry about your nail,” Whitney said.
“Go ahead and open the frog dispenser,” Shannon instructed.
After Whitney had the top removed, Shannon handed her the mineral container. Out of the corner of her eye, Whitney saw Ben next to the pool. Even though she wasn’t going to follow her sisters’ advice, Whitney was glad that she’d shaved her legs.
As soon as Ben and Adam were in the yard, Regan gave beers to the men and Whitney while Caitlyn gave a glass of iced tea to Shannon. Casey sat on a patio chair and took a drink of his beer. Regan sat on Casey’s lap and sipped his beer.
Tim left the one end of the pool and walked over to them. “Ben, would you give me a hand with the diving board?” He grinned at Casey and Regan. “I think my helper is taking a break.”
Lily yelled, “Aunt Whitney, my bracelet fell into the pool.”
Regan got up from Casey’s lap. “How did it happen?”
Lily squatted and peered into the water. “I was showing my bracelet to Adam and it slipped off my wrist.”
Whitney leaned over the pool edge and Regan stood beside her. “I don’t see it.”
While carrying the diving board, Ben and Tim proceeded by Regan and Whitney. A big splash of water sprayed Regan, Ben and Tim when Whitney fell into the pool.
Whitney lifted her head above the water, and she pushed a section of soaked hair out of her face. She glared at Regan while pumping her legs in the deep end. “You pushed me.”
Regan started laughing and everyone joined in.
Casey said, “Whitney, why do you always have to be the first one in the pool? It’s not fair. I wanted to be first this year.”
Whitney swam to the side of the pool where Regan still stood. “Shut up, Casey. Since you pushed me, Regan, you can help me out of the pool. Obviously, I need help. The steps are covered and we don’t have the ladder in yet.”
“Whit, I can’t believe you’re blaming me. It wasn’t my fault. Tim bumped me with the board. But you have to admit it was funny you fell in with your clothes on.” Regan extended her hand to Whitney.
Whitney grabbed her hand and then pulled Regan in.
Regan surfaced to the top, choking on a mouthful of water. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Shannon laughed. “You both look so funny with your hair and clothes plastered to you.”
“Don’t forget to get my bracelet,” Lily said.
“Well, now I lost my flip flops in here,” Regan said, “thanks to your bad Aunt Whitney.”
Whitney grinned. “I still have mine.”
“We better finish taking the cover off, so they can get out of the pool,” Casey said to Tim.
“Or get the ladder out of the shed,” Tim said.
“Hurry up, the water’s cold,” Regan said.
“I bet you won’t push Whitney in the pool again,” Shannon said with a chuckle.
“Hey, it was an accident.” Regan gave Whitney a concerned look. “I hope it didn’t hurt that you got your stitches wet.”
She touched her forehead. “I’m sure it doesn’t matter. I’ve had them for almost a week anyhow.”
Regan grinned. “Falling into the pool might be a plus for you.”
“Why?”
“Ben might notice your wet clothes clinging to your body when we get out of here.”
* * *
After the pool work was finished, Casey offered to grill hamburgers. Ben and Adam couldn’t stay because of another commitment with Ben’s mom. Once Casey got the burgers on the grill, Whitney went inside to get paper plates.
Whitney smiled at her sisters after Regan got the fruit salad out of the refrigerator. “I have a surprise for you two to celebrate our new business. I’m thinking positive here that Cora will want us on her show.”
Regan raised her eyebrows. “We don’t want to go skydiving, so I hope you aren’t giving us our gift back.”
“No, it’s not skydiving,” she said while glancing at Regan. “You both will love it. I want to treat us to a day at the spa on Saturday if you’re free.”
“I love it. You should get bumped on the head more often.” Regan fingered the collar on Whitney’s pink polo shirt she’d put on after removing her wet clothes. “Casey should be able to watch Lily.”
Shannon stirred a teaspoon of sugar in her iced tea. “We haven’t gone to a spa together since—”
“Mom took us right before my wedding,” Whitney said, her eyes filling with tears. “It was such a happy time.”
Shannon squeezed Whitney’s hand. “We don’t have to go to the spa.”
Regan walked to the counter and brought back a box of tissues. “I want to go to the spa even though I’ll think about Mom. Whit paying for it is the only way I’ll get to go. Casey won’t think a spa visit fits into our budget.”
“Since we’re all tearing up here, I might as well give you something Mom wanted each of us to have. A few days before she died, she gave me instructions not to give it right away. It’s bothered me waiting a month, so I want to give it to you now. She wrote journals to each of us.”
“I saw her writing a lot, but I didn’t realize it was something for us,” Shannon said. “I wish she’d mentioned it to me.”
Regan said in low voice, “I’m glad she didn’t tell me. I loved the last day she felt better… right before she died and we chatted and laughed. I curled up next to her and she held me close to her.”
Whitney left them to talk while she went to their mother’s bedroom. She’d seen the jealousy in Shannon’s eyes. Mom giving her the journals hadn’t meant anything special. I’d been with her the most, so of course, she’d given them to me.
She carried the three journals to the kitchen. “After she ma
de three copies, she had me take them to Office Depot to get them bound and told me what colors to get for the covers.”
“They look so pretty.” Regan extended her hand and Whitney handed her the one with a red color. “She even thought about our favorite colors.”
“Mine must be the yellow one,” Shannon said.
“Yes and mine is blue.” She held Shannon’s bound book for a second before handing it to her. “Shannon, she gave me this job because I was with her so much, not because she loved me the best. She loved us all equally. She had no favorites. I just wanted to clear the air on that point.”
“I’m sorry,” Shannon said. “You two always were so close. Sometimes I felt left out.”
“Mom talked to me about you and Regan all the time when I lived in New York. I think Mom held on as long as she did because she loved us all a great deal.”
Regan glanced up from her book. “Did you read this yet?”
Whitney shook her head. “I wanted to wait until you had yours.”
Shannon sighed. “She instilled in us such a strong belief that we could do anything we wanted, but yet she didn’t believe in her writing. I told her many times to submit her manuscripts to an editor. She said they weren’t good enough but I loved the ones I read.”
“She said her writing wasn’t as great as Hemingway and Margaret Mitchell,” Regan said. “A mediocre writer like herself shouldn’t have dreams of becoming a published author.”
“She could be stubborn,” Whitney agreed. “She helped several of her students to become more than mediocre writers. Several have successful careers in the publishing world because of her influence.”
Shannon had a thoughtful look. “We should get her novels out and think about getting them published too.”
Regan frowned. “We might have a difficult time since she’s not alive but we can try.”
“I wish I’d thought of our TV show before she died. I bet Mom could’ve given us a great name for our program.” Whitney stared at her mother’s journal. “She was definitely a creative person when it came to writing.”
Whitney in Charge Page 12
