“Subtle is boring.” Leslie bit into another strawberry.
As Alyssa set to work washing Frankie’s hair, she chatted to Leslie about the time she’d spent with her brother over the last few days. “I cringed the entire time I was in the office. It stresses me out to the limit to have a sink full of dirty dishes.” She shuddered. “How can a person stand to have takeout containers a few days old just sitting there?”
“Charlie has a one-track mind. Once he starts something, if he gets interrupted, it’s game over. He’ll just move on to something else.”
“He could write things down. Maybe even keep a to-do list.”
“It wouldn’t help. He’s dyslexic.”
“He’s dyslexic?” she sputtered.
Things suddenly made much more sense.If he’s dyslexic, that must be why he kept squinting at the computer and giving himself a headache on Monday night. He could’ve saved us both a lot of time if he’d just said something about it from the start.
“My brother is too proud to ask for help most of the time. I have to force his hand to let me help when I know he’s in over his head with paperwork.” Leslie frowned. “We’ve talked about delegating, but it’s in one ear and out the other. Uncle Jack says to let him be, but it really makes more work for both of us when I have to review it.”
Frankie’s eyes widened.
“Back up. Jack . . . is your uncle?”
“Yup. Our mom’s brother and the financial backer of the rink.” Leslie smacked her lips together.
“I would’ve thought your parents would want to run the rink.”
“It’s not their style. Mom and Dad don’t like to be settled in one place for too long. They made their fortune in real estate and took an early retirement to travel the world.”
Alyssa massaged Frankie’s head. She closed her eyes, processing all the information.
“My brother and I had other ideas. It’s always been my dream to run our own rink.”
“Hearing that makes me so happy. Few people are ever lucky enough to have their dreams come true.”
Like me.
“Yes and no. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. There’s a saying that you should never go into business with your friends and family for a reason.” Leslie’s voice was flat and emotionless. “Working with my brother and uncle as business partners has been stressful, and it’s put a strain on our relationship.”
“Leslie’s uncle is a blockhead,” Alyssa grumbled. “He named Charlie as skating director over her because he has an established name in the skating world. Supposedly, putting a recognizable face on the rink’s marketing materials helps bring in business.”
Frankie opened her eyes and wrinkled her nose. “I remember skating at the Grizzly Springs rink. There was hardly anyone outside of the skating-school students who could identify who the world’s top skaters were.”
“Exactly. Around here, people don’t care about having a big name. It’s about having good facilities and skating classes that are affordable to the community. The skating school is what pays the bills. My number-one goal is for us to make hockey and figure skating accessible to people of all ages and stages.”
Frankie loved hearing Leslie’s passion and was proud to play a small part in helping to fulfill her vision. She thought about the siblings again. Leslie was brilliant with the skating school. “Do your uncle and your brother know how you feel?”
“In a way.” Leslie drew small circles on her thigh. “I’ve tried to bring it up with Jack, but he just brushes me off.”
“Leslie is afraid to antagonize him. She needs a bigger budget to expand the hockey program,” Alyssa said.
“And Charlie?”
“As much as I complain about his ability to do the job, I’d never want to force him out of it. He’s had enough things taken from him.”
Alyssa repositioned Frankie’s chair and started to gently comb out her locks for a trim. “Les, you almost single-handedly run the rink,” the stylist said. “You do so many things that aren’t officially part of your job description. I wish you’d talk to your brother. He might surprise you.”
“I can’t.” Leslie shook her head vehemently. “At least not now. This weekend marks five years since the accident. I’m on standby to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. I know he’s not sleeping well. The last thing he needs is extra stress.”
“Oh no!” Frankie’s eyes fluttered. “The skating tests are this weekend!”
Leslie bolted upright. “What?”
