Having every minute accounted for reminded Regan of Girl Scout camp. Twenty years ago she and her buddy Sally had been admonished by their Scout leader for taking longer than the schedule permitted to collect kindling wood for the campfire stew. And when they returned to civilization Luke and Nora were pulled aside at the bus stop by the disgruntled troop leader who informed them of Regan’s poor twig-gathering skills, which threw off the schedule of all the girls and left no time to bug bomb the latrines before dark. And to think that Regan was one of the two in the troop who could boast record-setting sales of Girl Scout cookies. The other one was a pint-sized nudge who insisted it was unfair that Regan sell them to people who came to the funeral parlor for wakes. Regan had just gotten lucky that one of the ancient Sheas had died the week of the sale.

Down in the boardroom about a dozen people had gathered for the financial seminar and more were wandering in. As Veronica led the way to the front of the room, Luke turned around and gave Regan a quick wink.

“I think that nice-looking man is flirting with you,” Veronica whispered.

She doesn’t miss a thing, Regan thought as they grabbed two places in the front row. Luke was two seats behind and Regan could feel him smirking. Okay, Dad. Just you wait. You’ll see.

Hand in hand, Mario and Immaculata entered the forward door of the boardroom and waved a hello.

“So you’re here to figure how to spend your travelers’ checks too, huh?” Mario chuckled. “The missus and I won a few bucks in the casino last night and we thought we’d learn how to manage it.”

“All three dollars that’s left of it,” Immaculata beamed as she held up a shopping bag. “Mario bought me some new clothes upstairs in the promenade. I wanted to buy a few things for Concepcione and Mario the Third, but big Mario said no way, he wanted to spend it all on me.”

“Could everyone please take a seat?” A bespectacled young man with blond hair and a somber Brooks Brothers suit started to distribute folders to everyone as he introduced himself. “My name is Norman Bennett and I am a financial consultant and portfolio manager. I’ll be spending the next few days with you helping you set up your investment objectives.”

Veronica leaned over and with a stage whisper that could have been heard deep in the engine room declared, “He’s rather handsome, Regan. Maybe he’s available.”