“Eventually,” she agreed. And maybe that would be all right. Maybe it was time to let the secret become a celebration.
Rick packed up his notes and stood to leave, but hesitated at the door. The careful formality was gone now, replaced by something raw and real.
“Mom? I’m sorry. For all the things I said. For not trusting you. For staying away so long.”
Margo stood and opened her arms, and when Rick stepped into them, she felt like she was holding her child again—not the successful accountant with his careful boundaries, but her son who’d once brought her dandelions and believed she could fix anything.
“We both made mistakes, Rick,” she whispered into his shoulder. “But we’re fixing them now.”
“I love you, Mom,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’m proud of you. I should have said that years ago.”
“I love you too,” she whispered back, feeling the weight of old hurts begin to lift. “I’ve missed you.”
After Rick left,Margo and Meg sat in the quiet Beach Shack, watching the early evening light dance on the water. The ledger lay closed on the table between them, its secrets finally shared.
“That went better than expected,” Meg said softly.
Margo nodded, feeling lighter than she had in years. “Rick’s a good man. He just needed to understand.”
“And now?”
Margo smiled, thinking of the foundation they would build together, of the young people who would benefit from their combined efforts, of the promise to Richard that would continue long after she was gone.
“Now we build something that will last long after I’m gone. Something your grandfather would be proud of.”
Meg reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Something we can all be proud of.”
Margo squeezed back, watching the sun sink toward the horizon. Tomorrow would bring new challenges.
But tonight, for the first time in years, her family felt whole again.
CHAPTER FORTY
Meg's phone rang just as she was wiping down the last table at the Beach Shack, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the dining room. She glanced at the screen, expecting to see another routine message from a colleague, but Brad's name appeared with an unfamiliar tone in the preview: "Congratulations!"
She answered, setting down her cleaning cloth. "Brad?"
"Good news, Meg. Margaret Cassidy called this morning with their decision on Phase Two."
Meg felt her heart skip. "And?"
"They're moving forward with the expanded strategy. Full approval for the conservation partnerships, the local artisan programs, everything." Brad's tone was measured but pleased. "They want to formalize a longer-term consulting arrangement,and they've specifically requested that you continue working from your current location."
"Really?" Meg sank into one of the dining chairs, relief flooding through her.
"Really. Cassidy said the local perspective was what made the difference—that you understood their market in a way their previous consultants hadn't." Brad paused. "I'll be honest, Meg, I was skeptical about this remote arrangement. But this proves it works. More than works."
"I'm glad to hear that," Meg said, meaning it.
"There's something else. Mrs. Cassidy mentioned your work to the Coastal Tourism Board. They're looking for a consultant who understands what they called 'authentic community marketing.' I've got inquiries from three potential clients, all wanting the same approach you've developed."
Meg walked to the window, watching late-afternoon surfers paddle out in the gentle swell. "That's... that's incredible."
"It is. So here's where we stand—I can offer you a formal remote work arrangement, new client pipeline, and yes, the promotion track is still very much on the table. The question is, are you ready to make this official?"
Meg thought about Margo at the grill, Joey's dreams of marine systems training, the way the Beach Shack operated on relationships rather than metrics. "I'd like that, Brad. A lot."
"Good. Let's give this six months and see how itgoes. If the remote setup works well with these new clients, we'll revisit the VP conversation then." A pause. "You know, Meg, I always said the best consultants understand their markets from the inside. Turns out you don't need a corner office to change the world."
