“Okay, we can get started,” Sadie announced, standing and positioning the laptop so everyone could see the presentation.
“There’s scones,” Haylee said to Marc, pointing at the table.
Marc ignored them and plopped in an old rolling chair. The dust from years of living in the back of the store erupted around him but he didn’t seem to notice as he folded his arms and looked at her as though she was wasting his time.
“Thank you all for coming—”
“Wait.Youcalled this meeting?” Marc interrupted, looking at Sadie as though he was both shocked and disgusted. And about one point seven seconds from bolting.
“Yes.” She stared him down, daring him to get up from that chair. She wasn’t sure if he was extra irritated with her lately because she was actually doing a halfway decent job at the clinic or because he was worried she’d ruin Conner. He probably thought she was going to chase him out of Sunset Ridge. Which was just ridiculous. If anyone would end up leaving, it would be her. It was always her. “As I was saying, thank you for coming. I know it was last minute and not necessarily convenient timing—”
“Get on with it.”
“Marc, knock it off,” Laurel said, whapping him against the back of the head hard enough that it echoed. He leaned forward in his seat and glared at her, but didn’t retaliate. He might be the oldest of them all, but Laurel was the oldest sister and wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe when he was being unreasonable. Thank goodness for her sisters and their unspoken referee status.
“I know we’re not supposed to know about Dad wanting to sell the store”—Sadie pressed on like she had in so many meetings with unruly, immature people not paying attention. This wasn’t her first rodeo—“But I thought if we could help turn things around, we could convince him to keep it a little longer. At least for a few years until we can decide whether we want to take it over.”
“Who?” Marc asked.
“The five of us.”
“I don’t want this store,” he said smugly. “I have my own business.”
“I didn’t mean we needed to sort that out tonight. I just want to share my marketing plan for the present—”
“I don’t have time for this.”
Sadie pursed her lips hard enough to preventOld Sadie’swords from making an escape. Oh, how she wanted to tell him off right now. Let me know himexactlywhat she thought of his unnecessary pompous, smug attitude. If it weren’t for catching a glimpse of Cody’s face, she might not have succeeded with taking a deep breath. After a mental count to five, she refocused on the presentation and pressed on. “I did extensive research on what products are in highest demand at each time of the year. I noticed we haven’t been capitalizing on those at all. We could do theme related sales and promotions for each of them to draw in more customers. For example—”
“Dad’s never going to go for this.” Marc stood so quickly he sent the rolling chair flying backward. It crashed against an old metal desk. “Give it up, Sadie. All your meddling’s going to do is make things worse. That’s all it ever does.” He stomped toward the door but stopped before he pushed it open. “And leave Conner alone. I’m not going to tell you again.”
Sadie glared at him hard as her heart pounded. Faintly, she heard the gentle warning in Cody’s voice as he attempted to reach her. But he was in Seattle or Long Beach. Too far away to stop her. She was sick and tired of Marc treating her like she was some delinquent who was destined to screw up everything. Sadie saw red. “What is yourproblemwith me?” she spat at him.
Marc had the audacity to smirk, as if he’d been expecting this moment all along. A moment his constant jabs and snide comments had set the stage for. He seemed proud of himself, and that really set her off.
“You are an unbelievable jerk! I’m a big enough person to admit I was a crappy sister. I don’t deny it. But I’ve been working so hard this past year. I’ve gone so far out of my way—”
“That’s just it, Sadie. One year doesn’t make up for all the disasters you’ve caused. It doesn’t prove that you won’t go right back to your old habits on a dime.” He folded his arms over his chest again, the smug expression making her wish she’d invested her time in kickboxing or karate instead of yoga so she could wipe that look right off his face. “Kind of like you’re doing right now.”
“Marc, that’s not fair,” Laurel said sternly.
But the other siblings were in a losing battle. This was now between the two of them.
“No. This is bigger than that.” Sadie glared at him hard, proving she wasn’t going to back down until he finally broke caved and told her what crazy terrible thing she’d done to ruin their relationship so firmly. Because with the way he was acting, there was definitely something specific he was holding a grudge over. “What is it, Marc? What did I do that made you hate me?”
“He doesn’t hate—”
“You really don’t know?” Marc cut off Haylee as if she weren’t even in the room. He marched up to within an inch of Sadie and peered down. Anger flared in his eyes. “You really don’t remember ruining my one chance at happiness?”
Sadie flinched as if she’d been slapped. Marc hadn’t moved a muscle, but his words packed such a surprising punch that she nearly tripped over her own feet. “What are you talking about?”
“Rebecca.”
The room went eerily quiet.
No one had heard Marc speak her name in more than three years. Not since the day she left town without any plans to return. The day she left Marc. Sadie should’ve realized it was the reason he was permanently grumpy. But he’d gone and screwed that up all by himself. “Are you really blaming me for the mess you caused with her?”
“I’m blaming you because the one time I needed you to help save my relationship, you bailed. You couldn’t be bothered to stick around like you promised. You let her leave when I asked you to stop her. To stall her until I could get there to fix things. It was the most important favor I ever asked of you, and you flaked like you do with everything else. Because you weren’t there. Instead, where did I find you? Back at Mom and Dad’s packing your bags.”
