“I wouldn’t call it a big romance, but that doesn’t mean Erin wouldn’t,” he said dryly.“They met at a church dance when he was home on leave from the army.He was a lieutenant at the time.Rumor has it, she asked him to dance.They continued to see each other whenever he came home.He left the military when he was a captain.”
“I thought you called him the Colonel?”
“It’s a nickname, not a title.”He changed lanes to go around a slow-moving truck.
“But he worked hard and proved himself in the business or something?”
“He took over one of the shipping divisions.Once he’d doubled its worth, he was allowed to propose to my grandmother”—he shrugged—“I’m guessing it was during that time he earned the title of Colonel.I can imagine how disciplined he was, what a hard-ass.”
That part, at least, the man had passed down.
“My great-grandfather’s wedding gift was one of the divisions of the company the Colonel had built.Because of his own sense of pride, he renamed it Donovan, US.Over time, it’s grown.About ten years ago, he renamed it Donovan Worldwide.Humble beginnings, but my grandfather’s devotion and sense of obligation have made it what it is.”
“I think you’re underestimating your own contribution.”
He shrugged.“I have had a good example to follow.”
She was beginning to see a pattern with the Donovans and their easy humility.
They had to park down the street, and just before they entered the house, Erin opened the door and yanked her inside the house and into a big hug.
“I think you needed that,” Erin said.
No matter what, she’d always been able to count on her friend.
The party was better than she expected.Angela, Connor’s mother, was a wonderful hostess, even though the gathering was in her honor.She’d assigned each person to bring something, and it was a feast.Nathan had brought quiches from the local delicatessen, Erin had brought fresh-cut watermelon and honeydew, Kathryn had brought dozens of croissants from a local bakery.
Lara felt no more uncomfortable than she was at any business meeting.And it helped her to think about it in those terms.
No one asked about the contract details or wedding arrangements.
Erin mentioned that she’d decided to invest her own money into a friend’s corset shop in Kemah.
“I’m not surprised,” Nathan replied.
“We’re planning to open for the Fourth of July weekend.”
“Then spend September through May wondering how to pay the rent?”he replied.
Erin shook her head.“You’re forgetting Christmas.And all kinds of different events.Street festivals, that kind of thing.”
“If you have a good online presence, that will help, too,” Lara added.“Custom orders.”
“Who knew those things would come back in style?”Libby shook her head.“I remember celebrating their demise.”
“I’ll come to your grand opening,” Aunt Kathryn promised.
“It’s your trust fund,” Nathan replied.
The conversation ended, and the family worked together to clean the table, put away the leftovers and load the dishwasher.
She wandered over to Erin, who mixed them each a strong mimosa.“I was hoping to celebrate your engagement, but we can just as easily use it to forget your sorrows.”
“It’s not all that bad.”
“Call me anytime.Unlike you, I remember to keep chicks before dicks.”
“The dick in question is your brother.You realize that, right?”
