“Dad insisted. His wedding gift was a week’s trip
to Kauai. ”
“And you want me to baby-sit?”
Claire smiled. “It would mean a lot to me. Ali needs to know you better. ”
Meghann released a fluttery breath. She looked nervous. “You’d trust me?”
“Of course. ”
Meg sat back. A tremulous smile curved her lips. “Okay. ”
Claire grinned. “No taking her to the shooting range or teaching her to bungee-jump. ”
“So, skydiving lessons are out. Can I take her for a pony ride?”
They were still laughing when Dad pushed through the door and came into the living room. He was already dressed for the rehearsal in black pants—freshly ironed—and a pale blue denim shirt with a River’s Edge logo on the pocket. His brown hair had been recently cut and was combed back from his forehead. If Claire didn’t know better, she’d think he’d moussed it.
“Hey, Dad. You look great. ”
“Thanks. ” He flashed an uncomfortable smile at her sister. “Meg. ”
“Sam,” Meg said stiffly as she got to her feet. “I need to get dressed. Good-bye. ”
When Meghann had disappeared upstairs, Sam sighed and shook his head. “I feel about two feet tall when she looks at me. ”
“I know the feeling. What’s going on, Dad? I need to get dressed. ” She looked past him. “I thought you were playing checkers with Ali?”
“Bobby is trying to French-braid her hair. ”
Claire laughed at that and started for the stairs. “I’ll redo it before we leave. You want to pick me up in forty-five minutes?”
“I need to talk to you first. Just for a minute. I didn’t know if I should talk to Bobby at the same time—”
She smiled. “I hope this isn’t my long-overdue sex talk. ”
“I talked to you about sex. ”
“Don’t do it is not a talk. ”
“Wiseass. ” He nodded toward the couch. “Sit down. And don’t give me any lip. This’ll just take a second. ”
He sat down on the coffee table. “Margaritas, already?” he said, glancing at Meg’s glass.
“I was a little nervous. ”
“It makes me think of when I married your mama. ”
“Let me guess, she was power-drinking all day. ”
“We both were. ” He smiled, but it was a little sad, that smile, and it excluded Claire somehow.
After a short pause, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small black box, and opened it.
Inside was a marquise-cut yellow diamond set on a wide platinum band. “It’s your grandma Myrtle’s diamond. She wanted you to have it. ”
The ring sparked a dozen sweet memories. Whenever her grandmother had dealt a hand of cards, this diamond had splashed tiny colored reflections on the walls.