Page 11 of Share with Me

She wondered how she could broach that subject with Dad, how he was going to take it, and what it would do to her brother, Dillon. Would it add more work to his already stressful load as CEO of Brooks Investments if she bailed out and worked for Brooks Renovations instead?

Would it have been easier had Parker been alive? Her two brothers had been very close and had managed the family businesses together. Now Dillon was alone, and as his sister, she must put in her fair share of work since they didn’t expect Zoe to have a mind for business though she’d often surprised them with her acuity.

Aunt Ella was now taking her own pulse and feeling her own forehead. On the other side of Aunt Ella, the other elderly lady looked concerned.

“Are you all right, Ella?” Her voice was soft-spoken.

They’d been briefly introduced. Yun McMillan had lived all her life on St. Simon’s Island, yet Brinley had never seen her in town. She thought it was nice of Zoe to invite Quincy’s family to her birthday party.

“Looks like I’m fine,” Aunt Ella declared.

“Glad to hear that,” Yun said. “Don’t want you to be sick and miss the Christmas luncheon on Saturday.”

“My grand-niece here is taking me to it.”

“Is she?” Yun dug into her vintage purse with intricate beadwork on it, fished out some sort of postcard, and passed it on to Brinley with a freckled hand protruding out of a frayed sleeve.

Couldn’t she have found a newer dress?

“It’s at Seaside Chapel.” Yun retracted her hand.

Brinley looked at the postcard. The date and time were printed on it together with a Bible verse.Does Aunt Ella know what she’s getting into?

“Do you know where the church is?” Yun asked. “By Massengale Park near East Beach.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve attended beach weddings there a couple of times.”

“Our church is known for that.”

How many of those marriages lasted?“In fact, my brother Parker married his wife there. And his funeral was also at Seaside.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Yun’s voice sounded genuine.

“Life and death.” Brinley sat back. “Part of what we have to deal with, right?”

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