Spark (Steel Brothers Saga 19)

Though what’s weird about it is beyond me. Rory and I are both living at home now, working with our own mother to help the family business. What’s so different about what Donny’s doing?

“They’ve always been close, from what I hear,” Rory says.

“Just exactly what do you hear about Donny Steel?”

“Nothing. Just, it’s pretty well known he’s the closest to Jade of all his siblings.”

“Closer than the girls?”

She nods. “Just what I hear. Town gossip. You know.”

“What else do you hear in town?”

“You know me,” Rory says. “I’m not a gossip hound. It goes in one ear and out the other.”

I nod. Rory may not be a gossip hound, but her partner, Raine, is. She owns the hair salon in town, and she hears everything.

“Spill it,” I say.

“Spill what?”

“Everything. Anything. Surely Raine brings home all the scoop on the Steels.”

“There are about a million Steels, Cal.”

“I’m interested in one in particular.”

“Mostly she talks about Ashley’s mother moving here. Apparently she’s also a stylist and will probably open a competing salon, and that concerns Raine.”

“Why? Raine’s the one with the established clientele. She’ll do fine.”

“Sure, but she doesn’t have Steel money behind her, and this Willow White will.”

“Willow’s Dale Steel’s mother-in-law. That hardly means she has Steel money behind her.”

“The Steels take care of their own.”

“They’re actually taking pretty good care of us at the moment.” I can’t help a snotty tone. I hate that we need taking care of right now. The Steel Foundation exists to help. Still…

“Yeah, it sticks in my craw too,” Rory agrees. “But we’re lucky to be getting the help from their foundation. Otherwise Mom and Dad would have to declare bankruptcy for sure.”

“Would they? Really?”

“Yeah. Jesse and I were talking. They have contracts they can’t fulfill and debt they can’t pay if the winery isn’t working.”

“Why haven’t they told me this?”

“Probably because they don’t want you to feel worse than you already do about law school.”

“Still, though…” My mind races. “Didn’t their contracts have a force majeure clause?”

“Huh?”

“Act of God. The fire is a force majeure or act of God. It’s basic contract law.”

“You haven’t been to law school yet, Cal.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two. It’s been my passion since undergrad.”

“I guess their contracts didn’t have that clause, then. Or if they did, it didn’t apply for some reason.”

Mental note: Make sure I look over every contract my parents sign from now on.

“I suppose it’s a good thing none of us are expecting to take over the business,” Rory continues. “I have my students in town, and Jess has the band. You’ve got law school.”

“If it ever happens.” I sigh.

“It will. And then Mads is interested in history. I see her as a spectacled professor someday.”

“Here’s the problem,” I say. “I’m the one who’s been on the winery payroll for the last four years. I’m the one who’s been saving up for school. I’m the one who won’t be getting a freaking paycheck now and who has to live at home. I’m the one whose grad school money has to go toward the family.”

“Find something in town,” Rory says. “Surely there’s something you can do. Don’t they need an investigator at the city attorney’s office? Something like that. You could stay with Raine and me until you find a place.”

“I’m not sure Raine would appreciate that.”

“Raine can get over it, then.”

I eye my sister. “Don’t tell me there’s trouble in paradise.”

She inhales. Takes the last sip of her beer. “We’re okay. Let’s just say it wasn’t a hugely difficult decision to move back home for a while or to tell her to go ahead and visit family in Denver.”

“Ror, what’s going on?”

“She and I just seem to have different priorities lately. Plus, it’s always bothered her that I’m bisexual. I told her that when I’m in a relationship I’m all in, but she can’t seem to get over my attraction to men.”

“I guess being bi comes with its own issues,” I say.

“You don’t know the half of it. Each side wants me to pick a team, but it doesn’t work that way. I’m attracted to a person, not to their gender.”

I nod. I can’t claim to understand my sister’s orientation, as I’m straight as an arrow, but I do sympathize. She’s dated both men and women. Raine is the first person she’s lived with, so I figured it was serious. I had no idea they were having problems.

“Suffice it to say,” Rory continues, “you’re welcome at our place. I’d do the same for Raine’s brother if he needed it.”

I nod. “Thank you. It’s tempting, but I have to actually be employed first.”

“Didn’t I just mention the city attorney’s office? Surely they need someone to do investigations.”

“They have one.”

“Maybe they need another.”

“And how would they pay another?”

“I don’t know. Snow Creek seems to have the resources to pay two city attorneys. Why not two investigators? Your criminal justice degree makes you more than qualified.”