“No, I don’t think so,” Megan said, frowning. “Oh, Heather, will it be too hard for you? We, none of us, thought of that.”
Heather stared at her. There was something in Megan’s voice that suggested she’d had something to do with this unexpected turn of events. “You’re behind this?”
“In a way,” Megan admitted. “Not me so much as Mick and Nell. Mick had the idea and Nell went to Porter.”
“Does Connor know that?”
She nodded. “Apparently, it didn’t take him but a split second to figure it out.”
“Then I’m surprised he didn’t run the other way,” Heather said.
“Frankly, so am I, but he hasn’t. I find that encouraging. Not only would this be a fresh start for Connor—perhaps change the way he looks at the world—but I believe it could finally turn things around for the two of you.”
Fighting off a quick burst of hope, Heather shook her head. “Connor’s core values aren’t going to change, no matter where he’s living, Megan.”
Megan sighed. “I hope you’re wrong about that.”
“I wish I were,” Heather said. “But I don’t think I am.”
And that meant if Connor made this move, she was going to be right back where she started, in the middle of a life that would never be everything she’d once hoped for.
* * *
Connor had found an old T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts in his closet to wear on Saturday morning. He planned to call Heather and make arrangements to pick up Mick for the weekend, then spend the day with his son fishing on the dock or hanging out at the house. The less he saw of Heather while he was pondering this move back home, the better. He didn’t want her presence to influence his decision one way or the other. The move had to be right for him. It would require some serious adjustments of his career ambitions that he wasn’t entirely sure he was prepared to make.
He’d just fixed himself a bowl of cereal and poured a cup of coffee when the kitchen door opened and Kevin came in, looking harried.
“Boy, was I glad to hear you’re in town,” his brother said. “I have a crisis.”
Connor regarded him with concern. Kevin was a former EMT and had been a medic in Iraq. He was usually unflappable. “What kind of crisis?”
“Have you heard about these speaking engagements Uncle Thomas has lined up all over the region?”
Connor shook his head. “But I assume he’s doing talks about preserving the bay.”
“Exactly. He did one for Shanna here last year, and it went so well, he enlisted her and Connie to put together a whole string of them. There’s one this afternoon over in Easton.”
“I’m still not hearing anything about a crisis.”
“They sell books at these events and sign people up for memberships in the foundation. There needs to be a couple of people to handle that. I’d told Shanna I’d stay here and run the store, but now Henry’s sick with some kind of stomach virus and this morning Davy threw up, too. I can’t watch them and the store, so she’s staying home with the boys, I’m taking over at the store and you’re going to pitch in by helping Connie at the event.”
“But I’d planned on spending the day with little Mick,” Connor protested.
“Take him along. He’ll have a great time. It’s outdoors and somebody’s bound to be selling hot dogs and stuff.” Kevin gave him an imploring look. “Please, bro. You’ve got to help me out. Otherwise we have to close the store and I have to watch the boys so Shanna can go. I do not do well with sick kids.”
“You’re a former EMT, for heaven’s sake,” Connor said.
“Not the same when it’s your kid throwing up and looking miserable,” Kevin told him. “You’ll see when you start spending more time with your son.” He grinned. “I hear it won’t be long before that happens.”
Connor frowned. “I see the O’Brien grapevine is working at warp speed these days. I haven’t said yes to Porter’s offer yet. I might not.”
“Of course you will,” Kevin predicted with confidence. “So, can I count on you today, bro? It’s about time you pitched in with a few family obligations.”
Connor gave him a mock scowl. “Watch it, or you could provide me with a reason to stay right where I am in Baltimore.”
Kevin shook his head, his expression serious. “You’re smarter than that. Not that you’ve shown much evidence of it recently, but we’re all betting on that changing.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” Connor sighed. “Okay, count me in. Tell me where I need to go and when I need to be there.”
“Connie has the information. You can ride over with her. The books are already packed in the trunk of her car.” Kevin hesitated, then said, “There’s one more thing.”
“Uh-oh,” Connor replied, regarding him warily. “What’s that?”
“Keep an eye on her and Uncle Thomas,” Kevin requested.
Connor stared at his brother in shock. “Connie and Uncle Thomas? You have to be kidding me!”
Kevin shrugged. “It’s not like there’s anything official going on. It’s just a vibe I got when I saw them together recently in Annapolis. But I’m a guy. What do I know?”
“I’d like to point out that I’m a guy, too. I may not be any better than you at assessing the situation.”
“You’re a lawyer. It’s part of your job to read people. And nobody knows these two particular people better than you do.”
“Jake knows his sister. What’s his take?” Connor tried to imagine what Jake’s reaction would be. Given the age difference between Connie and Thomas, it probably wouldn’t be good. “He might have quite a lot to say about this.”
“I’m not sure there’s anything for Jake to have a take on,” Kevin warned, “so don’t go spreading tales. I just want to hear your assessment after you’ve spent some time with them. I’ll let Connie know to pick you up—be ready to go in a half hour.
