Finding Family Read online

  Sheena sniffled. “A couple of months now, and you know how hard it is to find any lumps on me.”

  “Hmmm,” Dr. Romano said, feeling the glands in her neck and under her arms. She checked her eyes and her throat and glanced at her with concern. “Let’s do an exam and see what we’re dealing with.”

  Sheena did as the doctor asked and stretched out atop the examination table.

  Dr. Romano said, “I’m checking everything. Put your feet in the stirrups and just relax.”

  “Wait! Aren’t you going to check my breasts?”

  “Later,” said Dr. Romano, studying her. “First things first.”

  In the awkward time during which she performed an internal exam, Dr. Romano said, “So, Florida is treating you well?”

  Sheena smiled. “Yes, my husband has bought into a business there, and it’s great having him home on a more regular schedule.” After she said the words, Sheena sat up with a start. “Oh my God! Do you think ...”

  Dr. Romano beamed at her. “Yes, I do. Sheena Morelli, you’re pregnant!”

  Sheena shook her head so hard her auburn hair swung back and forth above her shoulders. “I can’t be! My tubes were tied several years ago. The doctor promised me I’d have no more children. We didn’t want more ...”

  She stopped talking when Dr. Romano continued to smile at her. “It can happen. After five years following a tubal ligation, the odds become a little greater. For someone in your age group, there’s a one percent chance it could happen. That sounds like a real low risk, but it happens to more women than you’d think.”

  Sheena hid her face in her hands. She didn’t want another baby. She wanted to be free to be with Tony, work at the hotel, and, maybe, do some traveling. She lifted her head and caught the doctor staring at her.

  “Give yourself time to get used to the idea. I know what a shock it is,” Dr. Romano said sympathetically. “But at your age, with almost-grown children, it could be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy special time with a new baby. You’re in good health, Sheena. We’ll do blood tests and any others to make sure of it, but everything looks good, and your blood pressure and oxygen levels are fine.”

  “Every time I felt sick, every time I felt sore, I told myself it couldn’t happen to me,” said Sheena. “I should have known. Tony and I ... well, we won’t go there.”

  “How’s he going to take it?” Dr. Romano asked.

  Sheena shook her head. “I don’t know. I really don’t.”

  ###

  Sheena left Dr. Romano’s office in a quandary. She couldn’t say anything to anybody until she and Tony had worked out a solution. She hadn’t told the doctor the truth. Tony wouldn’t like the idea of a new baby at all. He’d often told her how excited he was to have some time alone with her after Michael and Meaghan had left the house. And the kids? They’d probably hate the idea of a much younger sibling they might or might not have to babysit.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. Her stomach spun in a circle of awareness. A baby growing inside her?

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  REGAN

  Regan stopped and stared at the building in the distance. Her years at the Catholic high school had been disappointing, but now she saw the school in a different light. She’d managed to graduate, get a job, and survive on her own because teachers there had cared for her.

  She stood outside the school, empty now with kids still on Christmas break. At the sound of footsteps behind her, Regan turned.

  A woman dressed in a black outer coat and wearing a gray scarf approached her. “Is that you, Regan Sullivan?” As the woman came closer, a smile crossed her plain face. “Hello, Regan! How are you?”

  Regan smiled at Sister Joan Marie, a teacher who’d been a favorite of the kids. “I’ve had a little accident, but I’m fine. I just wanted to look at my old school. So much has happened to me since I left here.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Sister Joan Marie said. “We can go somewhere and have coffee. If you don’t mind the walk, the bakery is only a block or so away.”

  Regan smiled. “Yes, I’d like that. My treat.”

  As they walked along, Sister Joan Marie chatted about the unusually cold weather they’d been having. Listening to her, Regan realized it was Sister’s ability simply to be herself with her students that made her so popular.

  The warm air inside the bakery washed over Regan’s cold cheeks. She found a table by a window and waited for her teacher to join her. As a student, she would never have imagined sharing a cup of coffee with one of her teachers. Now, after meeting so many different people in her job in New York and at the Salty Key Inn, she found it an enjoyable experience.

  Sister Joan Marie sat across the table from Regan and smiled at her. “It’s so nice, Regan, for me to have this chance to find out more about you. I knew, of course, your mother passed, but until recently, I hadn’t heard much about you Sullivan girls. Tell me, how are you? You look tanned and healthy.”

  A waitress came over to them. “Hello, Sister. Would you like your favorite—coffee and an egg salad sandwich?”

  Sister hesitated, looked at Regan, and bobbed her head. “That would be lovely.”

  Regan smiled at the waitress. “And I’ll have the same.”

  The waitress poured their coffees. “I’ll be right back with the sandwiches.”

  While they waited for their lunches to be delivered, Regan asked quietly, “How are you, Sister? Are you still teaching English?”

  “Yes,” said the nun, “but it’s not the same. The magic of words has been overtaken by computers, smartphones, tablets, and things that ‘do’ instead of making someone pause. It’s a shame, but many students today don’t like to read.”

  “I can see the attraction to action things, but I agree it’s a shame. I wish I enjoyed reading more, but as you know, reading and writing have always been a bit of a struggle for me.”

  Sister Joan Marie gave her a tender look. “But you never stopped trying. What are you doing now?”

  “My sisters and I own a hotel in Florida,” Regan said with a surge of pride.

  “Yes, I heard something about that,” Sister Joan Marie said. “What do you girls do there?

  “I’ve been working with a talented interior designer decorating the guest rooms as we upgrade them. And I’ve discovered I’m very good at that.” Regan felt tears sting her eyes and did not attempt to brush them away. “It’s been a blessing finally to find something at which I excel.”

  Sister Joan Marie’s lips spread into a wide smile that lit her blue eyes. “I remember your artwork. How nice that you’ve found a niche with it! God works in mysterious ways, don’t you agree?”

  “Yes, and in addition to my work, I’ve found the man of my dreams.” Regan held out her left hand so Sister Joan Marie could see the sparkling diamond residing on her ring finger.

  “Another reason to thank the Lord,” said Sister.

  Yes,” agreed Regan, seeing her life in a different way. Maybe it was all part of a bigger plan. If so, she still had a lot to learn.

  Their sandwiches came, and Regan ate in comfortable silence with her former teacher.

  Sister Joan Marie broke into the quiet. “I’m so happy you thought to come see the school. As teachers, we live for moments like this—hearing of the success of our students and finding satisfaction in knowing we just might have contributed in some way.”

  “Oh, yes,” Regan said earnestly. “You were one of the teachers who tried to help me. I’ll always be grateful to you.”

  The waitress approached as they finished their meal. “Will there be anything else?”

  Regan and Sister Joan Marie looked at one another and shook their heads.

  “But I’ll take the bill,” Regan said.

  “Thank you so much,” said Sister.

  “My pleasure.” Regan stood, put on her heavy coat, and paid the bill at the cash register.

  “I’m going to do an errand,” said Sister Joan Marie. “Thank you a
gain for lunch and filling me in on your doings. I appreciate it so much.”

  Regan hugged her. “Thank you for everything.”

  As Regan walked away, she wondered if she’d ever see the nun again. Sister Joan Marie’s eyes were alert, but the wrinkles on her face and her slow movements indicated her age. Regan couldn’t stop the smile that curved her lips. Back in high school, she, like the other students, had thought of the nun as ancient. But seeing her now, Regan appreciated her more than ever. And if she never saw or heard from her again, it was enough to know they’d had this time together.

  Regan checked her watch, wondering what her sisters were doing. They’d both been secretive about their time. Regan headed back into town. Soon, she’d find out their future.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  SHEENA

  Sheena sat with her sisters in a small conference room at the Boston office of Lowell, Peabody and Wilson, feeling as if she was repeating the scene of a year ago. Then she and her two sisters had wondered why Archibald Wilson wanted to meet with them. Now they knew exactly why, and it scared her to death. If for some reason, it was decided she, Darcy, and Regan had failed to meet the challenge as their uncle wanted, Sheena and her family could very well be without a home and she without a job.

  At the thought, Sheena silently shook her head. No, they would have a home; it just might not be the one she’d envisioned. And her job? Did it matter? How could she work with a newborn? She sighed. She’d been such a fool. All the symptoms had been present, but she’d ignored them, certain it couldn’t happen to her. Yet, she and Tony had had more sex in the past few months than they’d had in years. Enough, apparently, to rupture the 99% safety net.

  Sheena snapped to attention as Archibald Wilson walked into the room carrying a notebook and a manila folder in which she could see several papers.

  Archibald stood a moment and gazed at each of them silently before taking a seat at the table.

  Sheena glanced at her sisters. They looked as nervous as she felt.

  Archibald cleared his throat. “A year can bring many changes—some good, others not. I hope this year has done for you what Gavin Sullivan wanted for his beloved nieces. He wanted you to come together as a family, to learn to live together, and, hopefully, to like each other in a way that hadn’t happened before.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Darcy. “All of this is true for me.”

  “Me, too,” Regan said. “I love my sisters.”

  Archibald looked at Sheena.

  Sheena bobbed her head “And for me. If we could survive one old-fashioned bathroom together, we could learn to get along anywhere. Very clever of Uncle Gavin.”

  Archibald laughed. “Yes, your uncle was extremely innovative, which is why he was so successful.”

  “So, did we meet his goal?” asked Darcy, outspoken as always.

  Archibald held up a hand. “Let’s go through this step by step.” He opened the notebook. “I’ve had one of my assistants track changes in expenses and income for the property.”

  Sheena swallowed hard. She knew the numbers better than her sisters, and they were a little shaky.

  “In your favor, you made improvements to and were able to sell as hotel rooms twenty of the forty units in the Egret Building. The twenty rooms on the top floor are renovated and ready to receive furnishings and finishing touches. However, you’ve not been able to do any work on the eight suites, except what you could manage in order to live there.”

  The silence in the room was deafening.

  “But what about the restaurant?” said Regan.

  Archibald smiled. “That’s very well done, and the income for the two weeks or so it has been open is very impressive. And plans for the future are creative and well thought out.”

  “Don’t forget the waterfront area,” said Sheena.

  “And the pool and the registration office,” Regan added.

  “That’s in here, too.” Archibald studied Sheena. “The financials you kept for the past year and the financial projections for this new year are impressive. That work has won you a lot of points.”

  “Thank you,” said Sheena, wondering where this was going to lead.

  “I’m proud to say, according to his wishes, the three of you have met the challenge Gavin offered you.”

  Darcy and Regan jumped to their feet and rushed to Sheena. Pulling her up out of her chair, they danced around her.

  Laughing, Sheena joined in.

  When things quieted, Archibald cleared his throat. “There is one more part of the challenge I have yet to tell you. First, let me explain what winning the challenge may mean to you.”

  Sheena and her sisters quickly took seats.

  “At this time,” Archibald continued, “Gavin’s estate is worth two million, eight hundred-ninety-two thousand dollars and thirty cents. Of course, the two-hundred-fifty-thousand dollars you borrowed for completing Gavin’s restaurant will have to be repaid from this amount.”

  “Oh my Gawd!” said Darcy. “We’re millionaires!”

  “I can’t believe it!” Regan cried. “All that money!”

  Sheena watched Archibald carefully. He hadn’t said it, but she heard a “but” in the statement. “And the final part of the challenge?” she asked, her mind still whirling with the idea of having so much money.

  “It depends on your plans,” said Archibald. “That’s all I’m allowed to say.” He rose. “By ten o’clock tomorrow morning, you must present me with plans for the hotel’s future.”

  “What kind of plans?” asked Darcy, scowling.

  “I’ve said all I can say,” Archibald responded mysteriously. “I’ll leave you alone. As before, help yourself to the coffee, cookies, and soft drinks we’ve set out for you. Good luck, ladies. I, too, am very proud of all you’ve accomplished.”

  He left the room.

  “What do you think he meant, Sheena?” asked Darcy. “Does he want to know how we plan to spend our money? I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m going to buy a fancy car, take a few trips, and work on writing a novel.”

  “I’m going to buy a house on the beach for Brian and me,” said Regan. “What about you, Sheena?”

  Sheena let out a long breath. “I’m not sure what the last part of the challenge means, but I’m guessing it has to do with the hotel.”

  “We’re doing all right with it. Sure, it’s slow, but it’s getting better,” said Darcy.

  “Think about it,” said Sheena. “Do you think Uncle Gavin left us this money to spend on us? I think he wanted a good part of it to go to the hotel.”

  “But that’s not fair,” protested Regan. “He shouldn’t give us money just to make us spend it on the hotel.”

  Darcy stared at Sheena. “Everyone says you’re like him, Sheena. Tell us what you think we should do? If we make a mistake now, we might not get any money at all.”

  “That’s what I’m thinking. Let’s work the numbers a bit. We need to come up with a plan. Uncle Gavin was very shrewd, but he was also very conservative. I think if we each put in 55% of the money allocated to us, it would prove our loyalty to the hotel.”

  “Fifty-five percent? That’s a lot,” said Darcy, punching numbers into her smartphone. “That’s almost half a million dollars each.”

  “Fifty-five percent of what we would never have had on our own is more than fair,” countered Sheena. “I think he’d want us to be grateful for what we have. That’s why he put us in that small, inconvenient house.”

  “That makes sense,” said Regan. “From what I’ve heard from Gavin’s people, Uncle Gavin was generous but very careful with his money.”

  “Let’s go over the numbers,” said Sheena, feeling more confident about Gavin’s intentions. “Let’s say we each put in five hundred thousand dollars. That will give us each close to four hundred thousand dollars for our personal use and give us a million and a half dollars to continue upgrades and renovations at the hotel and provide good working capital.”

  “Wow
!” said Darcy, leaning back in her chair, and staring up at the ceiling. “That would do wonders for the hotel.”

  “Yeah, we could complete the rooms in the Egret Building the right way and redo all the units in the Sandpiper Suites Building,” said Regan. “I could make them real nice.”

  Sheena held up her hand. “Nice, but not too pricey. It sounds like a lot of money, but it isn’t when you’re doing gut renovations. Air conditioners need replacement, the roof of the main building should be redone, and there are a lot of other considerations.”

  “Yeah,” said Regan. “We want to complete the waterfront, build a gazebo by the bay and construct a bohio-style hut for an outdoor bar by the pool.”

  Darcy smiled at Sheena. “Maybe we could hire Casey to work with you on managing the hotel. I know that’s what you want to do, especially now that your kids are all but grown.”

  Sheena blinked several times, but couldn’t stop the tears behind her eyelids from rolling down her cheeks.

  “What’s wrong,” asked Regan, wide-eyed. She rushed over to Sheena and wrapped her arms around her. “We’ve been so worried about you. Are you sick?”

  Sheena lifted a tear-streaked face. “I have been. I’m pregnant.”

  The shocked expressions on her sisters’ faces said it all.

  “Please don’t mention it to anyone else,” Sheena said, breaking into the stunned silence. “Tony and the kids don’t know, and I’m still trying to cope with the idea.”

  “Oh my Gawd! I can’t believe it! How could it happen? I thought you had your tubes tied,” said Darcy.

  “There’s a one percent chance of it happening. I guess I’m one of those lucky ones.” The whole idea made Sheena miserable. “The funny thing is, I was so sure it couldn’t happen to me, I thought I might have breast cancer like Mom.”

  “And you didn’t say anything to us about it? That doesn’t sound like close sisters,” said Regan. “We could’ve given you moral support or something.”

  Sheena lowered her head and sighed. “I didn’t want to worry you. I knew how much you were counting on winning the challenge and moving on with your lives. And besides, I just got confirmation a couple of hours ago from my doctor here in Boston.”