Margie nodded. “Got it. Not a peep. I won’t even tell Hank.”
“Well, I assumed that you would tell him.”
Margie let out a sigh. “Okay, good, because that would’ve been the hardest.”
They started laughing again, Claire with a lingering burst of giggles. When she calmed down, she said, “It’s a relief to tell someone. Uncle Robert even made me promise not to tell the girls.”
“Why?”
“It was just that…well, after seeing what the money did to his kids, he was afraid. He said it can be hard for young people to form a life when there’s so much money in the picture. Not always, of course, but he was worried. He said, ‘It already ruined my family. Don’t let it do the same to yours.’”
“Sheesh,” Margie said. “That Uncle Robert was kind of a drama queen. But I can understand where he’s coming from, I suppose.”
She nodded. “I did tell them that he’d left us some money, and that I would be able to pay off their school loans. They didn’t ask too many questions. They knew that their cousins were angry.”
“I see.”
“Lucy is suspicious. You know how she is.”
“Oh, yes.” Margie suppressed a smile. Lucy had always been an introspective, insightful sort of girl. Margie wasn’t surprised that she caught on to it. “What did you tell her?”
“As little as possible. But I did tell her that Uncle Robert wanted me to start over if I wanted to.”
“Are you thinking of going back to law school?”
Claire shook her head. “No. Which is odd. All those years, after I dropped out to take care of the girls, I thought that one day I’d go back. Then it became this sad dream of mine, always out of reach. I felt like I’d lost the chance all those years ago.”
“Because you did.”
“I don’t regret it,” Claire added. “I’d do anything for the girls.”
“I know!” Margie said. There was no doubt about her devotion to them.
“But now that I actually have the money, and the time – it’s odd. I’ve had to admit to myself that it’s not what I want anymore. It’s a strange feeling, realizing a dream is no longer a dream. It’s just a life that could have been, one that I no longer miss.”
Margie nodded. “I can only imagine.”
“And now,” Claire smiled, “I can’t get this place out of my head. It’s so beautiful. I love the barn that you’ve created, and I’d love to have something like this myself. Not a wedding venue, of course. I wouldn’t want to compete with you.”
Margie laughed. “I wouldn’t mind if you did. There are plenty of weddings to go around.”
“I just don’t want to sit around all day doing nothing. I need to do something. I need tomakesomething. I just don’t know what.”
There was a knock at the front door. Margie called out for Mike to let himself in.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find you something,” said Margie with a wink.
“Thanks, Margie. I always know that I can count on you.”
Margie felt herself tear up a bit. She grabbed Claire in a tight hug and released her just as Mike walked in.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
Margie wiped away a tear. “Everything’s just fine! Great, actually.”
Really great. If she couldn’t set Claire up with her brother, the least she could do was help her start a new life. Claire had come to the right place.
