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Winona’s face scrunches up. “You’re not a third wheel. Do we make you feel like that?”
Declan’s got a mirrored look of concern on his face.
“No. No. You guys are great. Don’t worry. I’ve had a day. And I’m still waiting to hear back about the final answer on Porch Light.”
“That’s your charity project?” Declan asks, turning and walking inside.
We follow behind him. I glance down at the porch goose my sister got him last fall. She’s wearing a bikini and sunglasses, and the goose next to her is wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
“Did you dress the geese?” I ask Declan.
“I plead the fifth,” he says with a wink.
“He did!” Winona practically squeals. “Don’t they look amazing?”
I laugh, shaking my head at the image of Declan buying goose attire and dressing his ceramic porch decor. That’s love. I don’t know where my next thought comes from. Maybe it’s because I spent all afternoon with the worst man on earth. The contrast between him and Declan makes me think that I want a man who dresses porch geese for me.
“So,” Declan says as he pulls out prepared meals from his refrigerator. “Claudette made us an appetizer too, since there’s three of us.” He reads the wrapper. “We’ve got Wagyu beef carpaccio. It says to pour the dressing on before serving. And then we have butter-poached Maine lobster tail over a creamy saffron risotto for dinner.”
“I was going to cook that too,” I say. “So glad I didn’t go to the trouble.”
Declan laughs. “We’ve established that I’m spoiled.”
“You don’t act spoiled, so carry on,” I say. “Besides, you always spoil us in turn, so I’m good with it.”
He smiles and sets to work heating the already prepped meals for us. He sets the Wagyu beef on the island where Winona and I have taken up two of the stools.
“Tell me about Porch Light,” Declan asks. “Where are you in the process?”
“I’ve filled out all the forms, and I’ve gotten my nonprofit status and business license. Gone through the committee reviews. Now I’m waiting for final approval from the town council. My boss said I’m free to take time away from work here and there to do what’s needed. Fingers crossed, I’ll get the green light soon.”
“Can I help in any way?” he asks. “Not to pull the O’Connell card. I rarely do. But my family does have some pull with the city council.”
“No. Thank you, Declan, but I want this to happen on its own merit.”
“And it will,” he assures me. “I was just offering to speed up the process. Nothing under the table.”
I smile at my future brother-in-law. “I might call on the Thunder once this is underway. If it gets approved …” I can’t imagine all my planning ending up in a trash can somewhere. “I appreciate you offering to help, I do. I don't want a yes because my famous future brother-in-law called in favors.”
“I respect that,” Declan says. “And if you need anything, just let me know. I love this project, and I'll do whatever I can to support you.”
“And … one more thing,” I say, reluctantly.
I wish I didn’t have to say this, but I know my sister and Declan. They’ll be pushing for certain players to be included. I need to draw the lines early on to keep this project focused on the community. We don’t need showboating. And I need to retain control over how things go. The city council is counting on me to make this project what I say it will be.
I take a deep breath and say, “Everyone but Delaney can be involved down the road. No offense, but this project is special. I don't really want him within fifty yards of it.”
Winona and Declan exchange a look.
“You think I’m being unreasonable,” I say. It’s not even a question. It’s written all over their faces. “I get it. He’s your friend.”
“You two seem to buck up against one another,” Declan says.
Understatement of the century.
“I try,” I say. “And I’ll keep trying to be civil to him. But this project is my baby.”
I have the deepest urge to remind them both of how Marcus literally held his hand up to me like a traffic cop, minus the whistle, on two occasions. They know. They were there.
