“That’s the same nonsense he fed me.” Anne’s tone was acerbic. “I don’t care what the problem is. You are brothers and you need to work it out. It is unacceptable that this standoff has lasted as long as it has. He has enough to deal with between Seamus and his mother’s first husband! You should try to be the calm side of his family.”
Cara wanted to cheer. It was exactly what she’d been telling them!
“Don’t smirk, Luke. You are just as much to blame.”
Luke quickly wiped the look from his face, turning back to the stove. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Do not patronize me.”
“Never.” Luke cast a grin over his shoulder at his mother, and James rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics.
Dinner passed uneventfully. Being around Anne’s naturally maternal air always comforted Cara, and she felt more of the tension she’d been carrying fall away. At one point, as she sat next to Anne, the older woman placed her hand over Cara’s and asked quietly, “Are you all right? You’ve barely touched your dinner.”
“I’ve been working a lot.” Cara made a show of shoving a forkful of pasta into her mouth.
“It’s not something she’s used to,” James teased. In the past, a comment like that would have bothered Cara, but not anymore. She loved this new part of herself she’d discovered. The part that worked hard and found enjoyment in her work.
“Anne told me you work on a movie set? That’s exciting!” Bruce said. “Is that what you want to do for a career?”
“It’s not my long-term plan.” Cara hesitated, casting a look at James, who nodded encouragingly.
Luke caught the exchange and shot his brother a dirty look. “You told this idiot and not me?”
“This idiotcalls me,” Cara pointed out, dabbing innocently at her lips with her napkin.
“You don’t have a phone?” He arched a dark brow at her.
“I’ve called you twice. It’s your turn.”
Luke opened his mouth to rebut, but Anne tapped on her glass with a fork.
“You bicker like you are still children! Cara, I’d love to hear about your plans.”
Cara looked around the table at the faces of her family and smiled. “Originally, when I came to Atlanta to go to cosmetology school, it was to learn the basics of makeup so that I would have the knowledge I needed to create a makeup line with my mom.” Anne gave her a sympathetic smile. “But as you know, she’s getting married again. So those plans are on hold—probably indefinitely—and, as Declan pointed out, I didn’t actually have any experience. So, I thought I’d get the education, work in the field, and then Declan might be interested in investing.”
She took a sip of ice water. “I enjoy doing makeup. I do. And I love all the special-effects training I’ve gotten. As much as I’m having a blast being part of a movie, and makeup is an important part, I don’t think I’m passionate enough about it to keep putting in the long hours.”
“It’s why they call it work,” Luke said dryly, and she glared at him.
“I know that. But it’s on your feet work, sometimes for sixteen hours. Depending on the call time, I might need to be there before dawn, and if it’s a night shoot… It doesn’t really leave any time for a life outside of work.”
“She makes a good point,” James said, surprising her. “It’s easy to get burned out.”
“What is it you want to do, then? I can tell by your voice you have something in mind,” Anne asked, sending a curious look at James.
Cara fidgeted with her fork. “When I was in school, I learned so much about the biology and chemistry of skin reactions. The more I work, and encounter actors with different skin types and sensitivities, I’ve gravitated to the skincare side of the industry. In particular, skincare using natural ingredients or products that aren’t primarily artificial chemicals.”
Encouraged by their attention, she continued. “I thought I might get more education about that and do a natural ingredient skincare line. I’ve been experimenting in my kitchen, finding ways to combine easy-to-purchase products so that, not only is it as natural as possible, it’s affordable for the average person.”
Anne clapped her hands together in front of her mouth, and her eyes gleamed. “I think that is a wonderful idea!”
Cara ducked her head, pleased with her response. Anne was a no-nonsense woman, and even though she was unfailingly kind, she wouldn’t say something she didn’t believe.
“That’s really impressive, Car-Bear.” James smiled approvingly, and her chest swelled.
“Would you go back to college? Get another degree?” Luke asked. “As I recall, you weren’t especially interested in school the last time you were there.”
Cara smacked his arm across the table with the back of her hand. “That’s because Dad told me I had to study business. And to be honest, I don’t think I was mature enough at the time to take it seriously even if I had been in science classes. I needed to make the connection on my own. I’m not sure if school is the path I want to take or not. I haven’t decided.”
