Page 81 of She's a Big Deal

“Fine,” he grumbled with a shrug. “My doctors tell me I’m doing well. Just seventy-seven years old.”

“Ah… Yes.”

“So. Reece, uh?”

Grace gave a shrug of her own and just matched his style of conversation. “Yeah. Reece.”

He smiled faintly as she sipped her drink. “How long have you known?”

“Not long. I forced him to talk to me about the rest, and he opened up about being gay too. I don’t know if he told you, but I’ve offered him a job in Miami.”

“No, he didn’t. Working for you?”

“Yes. I think he needs to clear his mind, find his own way.”

“Without Jeremy to hound him, you mean?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

“Right. I agree with you.”

“Really?” She could not hide her amazement, and a touch of healthy suspicion as well.

“Yes.” He chuckled. “I think you’ll find age and perspective go hand in hand.” When she just pressed her lips together and said nothing, he sighed. “At least for me, it seems. Reece will be welcome back here anytime he wants.”

“You should tell him that yourself.”

“I will. Does it make you bitter?”

“What?”

“That I will accept him as he is, when I rejected you?”

She shrugged. “It makes me grateful that you learned.”

“I approve of what you are doing for the resort as well. You always had more business sense than all the rest of your siblings put together.”

He asked about her own company and complimented her on the Excelsior deal. She found she didn’t have much to say to him in return, an obvious consequence of their lack of contact over the years. It was a bit sad, but she could not find it in her to feel sorry. He did not apologize, or tell her that he wished he’d done things differently. Not that she expected or needed that. But he thanked her again for having the intelligence and wisdom to get in touch, as he put it.

“It meant a lot to Charlie,” she said.

“Yes. I know.”

He turned to the window, and she supposed that was the end of it. Charlie’s warmth, in contrast, was like a blast of pure sunshine.

“Thank you, darling. Thank you so, so much!” She enfolded her in a tight, smiling embrace.

“Sorry Jeremy stormed out, but…”

“Nothing you could do about that,” her aunt assured. “And it wouldn’t be a real family lunch without a little show of temper from a childish kid.”

Grace laughed and snorted at that. “Yes. That’s one way to describe him.”

“I talked to Reece and told him I am fully behind him.”

“He’ll treasure that. Thanks, Charlie.”

“Of course! Now, I’m going to sit and chat with my brother for a while. If you want to take Olivia home, I’ll catch a ride back with Chloe later.”

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