I let the words sit between us for a few seconds while waiting for our mother to notice that I’ve arrived.
“Look at you, you’re actuallytryingto crack a joke,” I mutter to my brother, but my eyes are still fixed on her, waiting to see when she finally notices me sitting here with him.
Across the table, Mom finally turns this way, catching that I’m here.
“Dom! Sweetheart. I’m so glad you made it.”
I give her a small nod, letting a smile settle in. “Wouldn’t miss it, Momma. Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
She lights up at that, then turns right back toward Cora and Irene, picking up their conversation like it never stopped.
Before I can say anythingelse, the sound of footsteps creeps closer to our table.
Then a voice follows.
“Thanks for waiting on me.. I was finalizing some numbers for theJ. James Commercial Developmentproject. Major pain in the ass.”
She slides into the seat across from us, but right beside Tom.
My eyes drag over her without meaning to linger.. but they do anyway.
She reaches up, fingers threading through those brown waves, flicking them back over her shoulder in one smooth motion.
I watch every movement closely.
The way her wrist turns.
The way her hair falls back into place.
The small breath she lets out afterward.
My tongue presses lightly against the inside of my cheek, holding something back; something that wants to surface.
Elias shifts beside me, barely noticeable to anyone else. But not to me.
My gaze drifts back to her again, but then beside her, Tom leans forward, folding his hands together. I force my attention back to him before it lingers too long.
“Actually,” he says, “you’re right on time.”
His tone shifts, just enough to signal something bigger is coming.
“I invited you all here tonight for a reason..”
He lets the words hang in the air for a second before continuing.
“I’ve finally come to a decision,” he mutters. “One I’vebeen sitting on.. thinking through, for quite some time.”
He looks around at everyone and then says, “I’m retiring.”
That gets everyone’s attention. Including mine.
I lean forward slightly now, resting my forearms on the table, fingers lacing together loosely.
Elias goes still beside me.
Across from us, Victoria straightens, her focus snapping fully into place.
“And I want to pass the company down,” Tom continues. “To you.”
