Catatonic or in shock from the delivery guy moving the box around this way and that; either way, the turtle was having the same kind of week she was having. Marie gently set the box on the coffee table and decided it would take a turtle-care book to tell her what she was supposed to do next. Since Oscar didn’t look like he’d be a climber, she thought it best to let him sleep.
She returned to the studio, but this time she caught herself humming as she picked up the brush to resume her preparation work for a canvas.
“Marie?”
“Back in the studio, Tracey.”
She grabbed a rag to quickly wipe her hands. She met her sister just inside the living room, the guy behind her taking a couple blinks before she realized it was Marsh with a good start on a beard.
She was swept into a hug by her sister. “A name for Dad, a new cousin, money, you gave a news conference… I only left you alone for like four days and everything happens.”
Marie laughed as she returned the hug. “Sorry about that.”
Tracey leaned back and studied her face. “You look… happy.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t be?”
“I figured you would be mad at Mom.”
Having a clinical psychologist as a sister had its disadvantages. “I am, but it’s a hard emotion to settle. So I’m just thinking about other things first.”
“That works. Since it’s now paid for, I’m staying in school for my PhD. What’s your first money thought?”
“Buying Oscar turtle food.”
Tracey blinked.
“I’ll explain that later,” Marie offered.
“Yes, I think you should. What’s he like, our new cousin?” Tracey asked, moving to slip off her scarf and jacket.
“Nice, kind, a gentleman but I think touched, just a smidgen, with a bit of rogue.”
Tracey glanced up from pulling off her boots, her grin quick. “Single child, responsible son, with humor and that ‘going to do what he thinks best’ habit already woven into the DNA?”
Marie laughed. “That was my first, second, and third impressions.”
“I’m already going to love him.”
Marie turned to their guest. “Marsh, can I get you some coffee? You can stay awhile?” He had yet to remove his jacket, and she wasn’t sure how to read how things had gone for them this week.
“I told Connor I’d track him down at three. I would love that coffee.” His voice was near a baritone, and with the beard starting he looked a lot more rough than usual. She’d always thought he’d looked like a particularly dangerous man and today was giving even more of that impression. That he had a soft heart under all those layers was a simple fact Tracey had known from the earliest days.
Marie moved around the kitchen counter to start the coffee. “I gather the skiing was a good time?”
Marsh laid his jacket over a chair. “The snow was perfect; a nice powder. Tracey only took a few dramatic spills, thankfully. Your sister was trying to give me a heart attack a few times and laughing as she did it.”
Marie smiled, remembering past trips with her sister. “I can believe it.”
“I’m getting much better on skis,” Tracey defended. She stepped back and into Marsh, who seemed to have grown accustomed to the habit, for he’d braced his feet apart. Tracey leaned against him while his arms settled comfortably around her. Marsh had a good six inches and nine years on her sister, but the two looked more like a couple every time Marie saw them together. She checked Tracey’s ring finger just to make sure she wasn’t wearing an engagement ring; her sister’s happiness had a different quality to it now. “How did you two get past the reporters downstairs?”
“I called Bryce when we were getting close, and he arranged a delivery van to move in a large display board into the side entrance of the gallery. That blocked the sidewalk so we could walk up and into the gallery without being reached by the reporters,” Marsh replied. “You look tired, Marie. I’m sorry we were so far away when this news came.”
“I admit it’s been a long couple days.” She smiled at him. “I’m surviving. I met your partner.”
“Connor told me. I hope he was on his best behavior.”
She looked up and saw a distinct twinkle in the guy’s eyes. “He’s not quite the gentleman you are, but he tried,” Marie replied, smiling softly. “His grandfather likes me too.”
“Peter was by… that explains a few things.” He nodded toward the hall. “I noticed the new doors.”
“New doors, windows, locks, it was an incredibly long list. Tracey, before I forget. There’re new keys to everything. I left yours on your dresser.”
“Thanks. I promised Marsh I’d show him that new landscape we got in; can you give us ten minutes?”
“Sure.”
Tracey tugged his hands. “A few minutes of art, then coffee, and you’ll still make it on time to meet Connor.”
Marsh smiled. “Marie, she’s starting to harass me about the fact I like to be on time. I don’t think my trait is rubbing off on her like you had hoped.”
Marie laughed. “I noticed.” The phone ringing interrupted. “Tell Bryce he’s welcome to come have some coffee too.” She went to answer the summons.
Connor shoved aside his gym bag and extra tennis shoes to make room at the bottom of his closet for snow boots and ski gear. Marsh renting equipment when Connor had a closetful hadn’t made sense. He pushed the closet door closed and it stayed closed, and Connor decided it was neat enough to do. His partner was in an odd mood. Connor had picked up on it within minutes of his arrival. And he wasn’t certain what to do about it.
Marsh was out on the small balcony looking over the traffic the next street over and the parking lot below; the apartment wasn’t known for its view. He held a mug of steaming coffee in his hands rather than the cigarette Connor had wondered if he’d see. His partner had busted smoking two years ago, but on stressful days it would show again if life turned bad enough.
“So what’s your read on their new cousin?” Marsh asked.
Connor leaned against the brick of the building, the day cold without a jacket. “I’ve known Daniel a long time; he’s a straight shooter.”
“He’s going to be carrying a lot of influence over the two of them in the next few years. Not only the money, but everything they now relearn about their pasts.”
“He’s doing his best to protect them from trouble rather than walk them into more of it.”
“Maybe.”
Connor studied his partner. “What’s got you so out of sorts?”
“Tracey didn’t particularly take the news about her dad well. She’s put on a pretty bright exterior for Marie, but it’s not been taken as good news.”
“I’m sorry to hear it.”
“Yeah.” Marsh studied the bottom of his mug and straightened. “They’re spending tomorrow with Daniel.”
“Marie mentioned it,” Connor replied.
“Richer than two oil-well cats, and before I gave her the ring.”
So that was the problem… Connor wished there was an answer. “You can’t turn back time.”
“So we’ll spend the rest of our lives defending the charge I married her for her money.”
“You could not ask her.”
“I might as well slit my own throat.” Marsh smiled grimly. “Don’t fall in love, Connor. It’s not worth it. And what is the deal with that turtle?”
“I’m moving; I couldn’t exactly put it in storage.”
“You’ve had that thing since you were a rookie. You just don’t give away your only pet and not have people worry about you.”
“It was a turtle, Marsh, not a dog. And I figure if she didn’t want it the worst that would happen is that I’d have him back. The last thing I needed was to end up with
“A turtle. You couldn’t think of something like roses?”
Connor took the point but bit back a smile. “Marsh, she’s already got all the roses you can dream of, trust me
