“They’re all our family.” My boss, Shaw, had met Damien in…interesting circumstances. Damien had brought his twin daughters into the relationship. Along for the ride was his sister-in-law, Yvonne. Damien hadn’t coped with the death of his wife very well—because who would? In the end, he’d accepted his sister-in-law’s help.
“How does Yvonne have all this money?”
Adele shrugged. “The life insurance money from the twins’ mom’s death is going to pay for their schooling. Yvonne…I dunno. She’s had really important jobs and done really amazing things. Apparently, she’d just been saving that money. Now she wants me to have it.”
I cleared my throat again. “I’ll need to have a chat with her. I guess you need to start filling out these applications shortly?”
She bit her lower lip.
“Ah, you’ve already filled them out. You just wanted to prepare me if these institutions come back with acceptances.”
She hopped out of her seat, pecked a kiss on my cheek, and headed upstairs to her room.
I slowly began to collect all the brochures, ensuring the one for the University of Waterloo was on top.Should’ve agreed to theater school.In the next heartbeat, the idea of my daughter becoming an optometrist warmed my heart. What I needed to do was contact Yvonne. Her offer was way too generous. I looked around the house I’d finished paying for just two years ago. My mother’s unexpected passing had left a life insurance policy that paid the mortgage and put a small amount aside for Adele’s schooling. I didn’t regret not having made the mortgage payments for this time, but should I have put all the money into an account for Adele? I just didn’t know.
A knock sounded at my door.
I frowned.
Adele thundered down the stairs. “Uncle Damien’s here.”
“Uh, okay.”
At the foot of the stairs, she turned to stare. “You’re going to the Christmas Market with him while I’m going to see the movie with Sedona and Paget.” She held out her hands.
I dug in my pocket and pulled out my keys.
She kissed me on the cheek, then headed to the front door. She swung it open with a huge grin. “Hi, Uncle Damien.”
“Hello, kiddo. Drive safe, okay?”
Through the open doorway, I spotted his daughters leaning against my car. To my relief, his was parked next to it.
As Adele bounced down the driveway, Damien stepped into the hallway and shut the door. “You’re just glad I didn’t bring the motorcycle.”
“Would’ve been tough to ride with two grown daughters on the back.” I snagged my jacket. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“What’s up?”
“Adele is talking universities, and I’m seeing dollar signs.”
Damien nodded. “I have some saved for the girls. Plus, there’s the life insurance from their mom’s policy. Shaw, of course, has already made it clear he’ll pay whatever.”
I nudged Damien as we headed out the door. “Guess it’s good to be married to some rich guy.”
His blue eyes sparkled in the bright December daylight. “Would’ve chosen him if he had nothing. Him saving my life kind of sealed the deal, though.”
So much said and unsaid. Their story was far more complicated than just Shaw saving Damien after he was swept away by a rockslide and nearly thrown down the embankment and into the Fraser River.
No, Shaw had helped Damien cope with his grief and, in the end, assisted him in finding the strength to reunite with his daughters.
Daughters who easily accepted Shaw, and his dog Rufus, into their lives. Everyone was ready for a fresh start, and Mission City had offered that to them.
Including Yvonne.
I hopped into Damien’s SUV.
He got in as well and hit the heater. “I can’t believe how cold it is out there.”
