I realized then that she’d said daughter, not daughters. I also realized it hadn’t been a mistake. “By the time I came along you were less interested in perfection? Or after my difficult entrance into the world, did I just seem hopeless?”

“No, by the time you were born I was more interested in you and less in myself.”

“I’m not sure what that means.”

“I didn’t need a project when you were born, Ryan. I just needed a daughter.”

We were poised on a precipice, but neither of us were ready to jump or retreat. I cleared my throat and moved back to her career. “So I come by my journalistic talents honestly.”

“You come by your interest honestly. I never got far enough to know if I had talent, but more important? I understand how much you’re sacrificing for Wendy. I have an idea of the pressure you’re under.”

I was touched. “I’m dealing okay.”

“Would it help if Dad and I take the girls this weekend so you can go back to Delray? He’s a little depressed. Holly and Noelle would cheer him up. We’ll watch The Polar Express, and I’ll have somebody set up our tree so the girls can decorate it. Then they can bring the leftover ornaments here to decorate yours when you come back. It’ll be good for all of us.”

My nieces were getting used to me, and we were establishing routines. But Mom’s offer opened another door, one I could explore on Friday night. If I dropped Holly and Noelle at my parents’ house after school, I could do a little detective work in the evening before I drove to Delray. Then I could head back to Seabank on Sunday afternoon and still be the one getting them ready for school on Monday morning.

When I didn’t answer immediately, my mother resorted to her voice of steel. “I think it’s a good idea.”

“It is. Thank you. That will be great. But just so you know? Your talents of persuasion have been passed on to your granddaughters.” I slung my arm over her shoulders and guided her out the door. “Before you leave, let’s swing by the garage so I can show you what the girls made me buy. Did you know that Santa’s a sucker for a tropical vacation?”

CHAPTER TWENTY

On Thursday morning I promised myself I would work on Out in the Cold after my jog with Teo. I had to make sure all my appointments were in place for the weekend, and that I had all the necessary information to meet with the most vital crew members. This plan left me enough time to do a few side trips before I met him at Confidence K-9s.

Today my nieces were ready right on time. This close to Christmas, school was more fun with plays, recitals, and arts and crafts projects. Sadly, our Christmas preparations had hit a snag. When I backed out of the garage with Bismarck beside me, Santa and respective tropical scenery were a puddle of vinyl on our front lawn. To circumvent tantrums, I promised both girls I would pump them up as soon as I got home.