Page 77 of Every Time We Touch

“Thanks.” I find my sister’s eyes and manage to relax again. This roller coaster of up-and-down emotions is starting to catch up with me. I’ll need another private rumba lesson with Clancy after this to get out of my head again.

“Do you really want to sell your app?” Heather asks. “It’s been your life for so long.”

I huff out a breath, then reach out my hand to Clancy. I need to feel her touch, even just for a few seconds. Without hesitation, she takes my hand in hers. My sister doesn’t bat an eyelid.

“I think it’s time.” I give Clancy’s hand a squeeze. “Maybe even exactly the right time.”

“We can housewife together,” Heather says, then looks at Clancy. “For decades, Jen’s most committed relationship was with her work calendar.”

“Before I was with Marcy, I was a self-partnered workaholic,” I confess to Clancy.

“After Marcy as well,” Heather adds.

“Yeah, but less so,” I say.

“Maybe.” Heather cuts her gaze to Clancy. “You should know,” she says, “that even though I came here with an open mind, I did have a speech prepared.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from Jen’s twin sister.” Clancy grins.

“Once a lawyer, always a lawyer,” I say.

Heather nods. “It was a pretty damn good speech.” She picks up her glass. “Even if I say so myself.”

“I’m so sorry to have missed it,” Clancy plays along.

Heather takes a sip. “I’ll repurpose it for Lauren.” She nods. “Argue for the opposition.” The smile on Heather’s face is the gregarious one I’ve known my whole life. And just like that, without fanfare, my two favorite people in the world seem to be okay with each other.

When I meet my dad and his friend Luke for an exploratory conversation over coffee, I’m much more nervous about seeing my dad than the potential sale of Fluxx. If this had happened before I’d met Clancy, my state of mind would be completely different. I’d be doing my usual hemming and hawing, going back and forth about what’s best for my company and for myself. But everything is different now. Of course, Fluxx still means a great deal to me, but it’s no longer the center of my universe. My head is too filled with all things Clancy—and trying to get all members of my family to forgive me for what I’ve done.

My dad’s all dressed up in a suit and tie, looking as polished as ever and easily ten years younger than his actual age. When he gets up to kiss me on the cheek, the first layer of my nerves melts away. It’s impossible to say whether he’s putting on an act for his buddy or whether he’s genuinely pleased to see me.

Either way, I’m over the moon that he’s here. Not that I need my father by my side to do a business deal, but his mere presence beside me after what has happened says so many things that, perhaps, words never can.

For the next half hour, Luke asks me the expected questions about subscription numbers, user retention, and future features of Fluxx. I answer them automatically. I’ve been talking about this company for so long I could probably do it in my sleep.

“You must be very proud of your daughter and what she’s built,” Luke says to my dad.

“I am,” Dad says, without hesitation. He doesn’t look at Luke when he says it. He looks at me.

I stare into my coffee because returning his gaze still feels impossible.

“I have to run,” Luke says. “But I’m very impressed and I hope we can keep talking, Jennifer.” He gets up and extends his hand.

I shake it. “Absolutely. Thank you and it was great to meet you.”

By way of goodbye, Luke slaps my dad on the shoulder, then walks off, leaving us alone at the table.

“That went well,” Dad says. “I think you can expect a number soon.” Whereas before, when Luke was still here, he managed to look me in the eye—and I was the one looking away—he seems to find it harder now. “Do you have a number in mind?”

“Dad,” I say. “Can we not talk business for a few minutes, please?”

He nods while twirling his coffee cup between his fingers. “Okay.”

“Thank you for being here,” I say.

“Look, Jen,” he starts. “When you came to see me, I said some things I shouldn’t have said.” He clears his throat. “Heather stopped by on Sunday and, well, you know your sister. There’s a reason she became a lawyer.” He even throws in a small smile.

“She has always been the more argumentative of the two of us.”