I hurry toward them. “I’m so sorry, Jackie. I didn’t know—”

Karma looks up from her phone, her resting bitch face on point. “You didn’t know what? That reporters would be camped out on Mom’s front lawn trying to get my kids to talk to them?” Her tone is cutting. “Nice, Whit. Real nice.”

“Karma, not now,” Jackie says.

My cousin jerks her head to the right and glares at my aunt. “Then when, Mom? Because I had to pull my kids out of school because of her.”

“It’s not Whitney’s fault. I’m afraid that if there’s blame to be laid anywhere, it’s squarely on my family.”

Heat radiates off Lincoln’s body as he steps up behind me. It takes a few moments for my brain to recognize that he’s standing up for me.

But Karma can’t be so easily placated. “There’s a lot of things we could blame your family for today.”

“Karma!” My aunt snaps out her name, but Karma’s face is still screwed up with anger.

“Then again, if Whitney doesn’t care that her parents are dead, why should we?”

Grief slices at me, which is certainly her goal. She just had to bring that up.

Another voice joins the fray before I can reply.

“I think we all have reasons to be sad today. I’m sorry our family histories are connected with tragedy.” McKinley Riscoff’s soft tone is filled with strength and carries the slightest hint of rebuke aimed at Karma.

“I need a nap. I’m tired.” Karma grabs each of her daughters by the hand and disappears inside the suite.

We all stand in awkward silence for a moment before Lincoln’s hand brushes mine as he steps beside me and looks from me to my aunt.

“I think we can agree that we all wish many things involving both our families would’ve happened differently. And most recently, we need to apologize for our mother’s behavior. She was out of line.” He glances at McKinley.

“I have a written apology from her to you, Ms. Gable.” McKinley pulls a small envelope out of her suit jacket pocket.

Aunt Jackie’s eyebrows shoot up, and I’m sure my face mirrors hers. “Did you hold her at gunpoint?”

McKinley’s laugh cuts through the tension in the air. I swear, I can almost feel Lincoln relax a few degrees beside me.

No. I shouldn’t be so in tune with his reactions. I don’t care about him anymore. Although I remind myself of the facts, my brain and body seem to have stopped communicating.

Jackie opens the note and scans the contents. “Well, those are words I never expected to read.”

“I hope you’ll accept my offer to return. We would really like to have you come back and work here.”

Jackie stiffens, and she’s quiet for a moment. “I would like to say no. More than anything.” She pauses and swallows. “But that’s my pride speaking, and surely it cost your mother even more of hers to write this note.”