Page 2 of Dreaming Without Heartache

“Sure.” She shrugs nonchalantly, walking down the steps without looking back. “I’ll be at Olivia’s studying after school until then.”

“Don’t be late,” I call out.

Kara opens the door and slides into the SUV. She stares blankly out the window, her eyes averted from mine as the woman driving waves her acknowledgment of me. I can’t see her, but I do see her raised hand as the vehicle drives away. I met her at the funeral, but it was brief. That day was a blur.

I take a deep breath and release it before heading back inside. Maisie’s watching videos on her phone while finishing up her food.

“Ready for me to brush your hair?”

Maisie looks up at me. “Can you do a french braid?”

“No. But I can do a regular one.”

“Nah.” She hops down from her stool at the counter. “Just a ponytail is fine.”

I follow her upstairs to her bathroom. She stands in front of the sink waiting for me. I brush her hair until it’s smooth and pull it back into a ponytail.

“You missed a bump.” Maisie points to the side of her hair.

“Uh-oh.” I make a silly face in the mirror, which pulls a giggle from her. I take out the hair tie and try again. Then again. Until I finally have it right. Her sandy-blond hair is thick and long just like Annie’s. “How does this look?”

“Good.” Maisie smiles, a dimple showing on one cheek. She looks so much like my sister. My heart squeezes with the thought.

I clear my throat and swallow down my emotions. “Let’s get you to school.”

* * *

“Howdy, partner,” Steven cheerfully greets me, as I walk into work.

I shake my head at his dorky joke. “That never gets old.”

Steven laughs. “I know, right.”

Steven and I decided to go into business together eight years ago. I was only a mere twenty-five years old, fresh out of college and headstrong, when we started this business from the ground up. We’ve been friends since middle school and always talked about owning a company together. And here we are now, proud owners of A&S Homes. We buy, renovate, and sell houses, as well as run multiple rental properties. Needless to say, we have done well for ourselves.

“Is everyone here?” I look down the hall.

“Waiting on Danny.” He shrugs.

“As usual.” I set my briefcase down on his desk and grab a cup of coffee from the Keurig near the entrance.

“Rough morning?” Steven asks.

I give him a wide-eyed look that he knows all too well. “I just don’t know what to do with Kara. It’s like she’s a different kid from the one I’ve known her whole life.”

“She’ll come around.” He stands and walks around the desk to prop on the edge. “You lost your sister, but she lost both her parents. Give her time.”

I sigh because I already know this. I’m hurting every single day. I know both girls are too. Twice as much.

“You’re right.” I sit in his chair and take a sip of warm coffee. “I’m trying. I just don’t know that I’m doing a good job.”

“You’re doing enough.” Steven walks behind me to massage my shoulders. “That’s why Annie and Bill left everything to you. They trusted and believed in you. That’s why we have this successful business. I trust you too.” He walks back around the chair to stand in front of me. “Now believe in yourself with these girls like you believed in this business.”

“If it were only that easy. These are little humans we’re talking about. I don’t want to fuck that up.”

The front door opens. “Sorry, guys.” Danny walks in. He’s the contractor A&S brings in to manage our projects. “We in the big room?” He points down the hall.

“Yes, sir.” Steven nods. “We’ll meet you in there.”