Family Ties. Bonnie K. Winn

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      The drive to Houston the following day seemed longer than Flynn remembered. But perhaps that was because Cindy was at his side. He took another glance at her bright red dress, saucy hat and delicate high-heeled sandals. Hardly the outfit he’d expected her to choose for a board meeting. But then, when had Cindy ever done the expected? “You sure that Katherine will be all right taking care of the girls today?”

      Cindy didn’t disguise her sigh. “She knows it’s for a good reason. Her calendar is clear, and to quote her, ‘How can I possibly repay you for baby-sitting my children dozens and dozens of times?’ It’s not as though we have a meeting every day, or even every week. It’s only once a month.”

      Flynn thought about the shares he’d inherited from Julia—half the stock in their family oil business. Ironically, it made he and Cindy unlikely partners, even though he’d ignored his inheritance until now. There had been no time—and it had been too painful a reminder. But Cindy had been insistent about attending the meeting. “Do we have to do much today?”

      She shook her head. “Nope. The management staff has been in place for years, they know exactly what they’re doing and we’re just there to listen and vote if necessary.”

      He looked at her curiously. “I would think you’d care more about your family’s business.”

      “Did you ever feel that way about Julia’s participation?”

      Nonplussed, he hesitated. “Well, no. But she—I mean you—”

      “What you mean is that Julia had a purpose in her life that you don’t see in mine, therefore she was excused. It happens that I chose to focus my life in a different direction.”

      One of fun and frolic. Just as she had when he’d met her. All motion and energy, but no substance. A flibbertigibbet, his late grandmother would have called her. “It’s not up to me to judge your decisions.”

      Her eyes clouded. “No. But that doesn’t stop you, does it?”

      He held up one hand. “How about a truce for today? We can enjoy the big city—have lunch at a five-star restaurant without worrying that we’ll be wearing half of it courtesy of the triplets.”

      She relented. “I suppose you’re right. I usually do a little shopping while I’m in the city, too.”

      Flynn grimaced.

      Cindy’s laughter filled the closed space of the car. “Typical male reaction. I thought we could at least pick up something for the girls.”

      It was his turn to relent. “I suppose so.”

      Reaching downtown Houston, Flynn concentrated on the traffic-filled streets. “Gets worse every day.”

      “I don’t know. I find all the people invigorating.”

      Despite the distraction of tall buildings and hordes of pedestrians, he turned to stare at her. “Yet you moved to Rosewood?”

      “Mmm,” she murmured.

      And she didn’t reveal much more as they parked, then attended the meeting. It was only afterward that she brightened again, suggesting they go to the Galleria for their shopping excursion.

      FAO Schwarz was a child’s fantasy. And Cindy seemed much like a child herself as she oohed and ahhed over the treasures the store contained. She agonized over the selection of three unique stuffed toys.

      “Don’t you want them to match?” Flynn asked.

      She shook her head. “I’ve never taken to the notion that twins and triplets should be treated as a unit. It’s fun to dress them identically at times, but they have to know they’re individuals, with different tastes, dreams.” Cindy reached for a stuffed bunny, still unable to decide.

      “Aren’t you going to get one for yourself?” he couldn’t resist asking, seeing how absorbed she was in the task.

      An unexpected tinge of color warmed her cheeks. “I do have a weakness for them, but I’ll resist this once.”

      Funny, he thought she would indulge her least whim. Maybe she was having an off day.

      But the thought had barely faded when she started looking at more toys.

      “Actually, I don’t want to spoil the girls,” he told her. “It’s great that you want to be generous, but I think we’ve gotten enough things for them.”

      She picked up the stuffed bunny she’d discarded a few moments earlier. “These aren’t for the girls.”

      Once a playgirl, always a playgirl. Flynn was amazed that a woman of Cindy’s age would want the bunny. But then her indulgences weren’t his concern. Still, he felt a flash of remembered disappointment. One that was reminiscent of their first meeting. He’d seen the promise in her eyes, and had felt the disappointment of learning she was as scattered as Julia was collected.

      With their purchases tucked safely in the trunk, Cindy talked him into an exotic restaurant that boasted only the unusual. She had promised to forgo granola and vegetarian fare, but he wasn’t sure this was much better.

      “So, what do you think?” she asked, excitement deepening the green of her eyes.

      “Let me put it this way. I don’t recall ever finding myself torn between ostrich and buffalo as my only possible entrée choices.”

      Her face, bright and mischievous, only sparkled more. “Great, isn’t it? I mean any place can offer steak or fish.”

      Flynn had a sudden longing for just that banality. “So they could.” СКАЧАТЬ