Before I Knew (The Cabots #1)

by Jamie Beck

  She blinked, her eyes stinging. “Sorry.”

  Mrs. Morgan, sage as ever, simply said, “I understand.”

  Of course she did. The woman probably suffered through bittersweet memories every single day.

  “The Maverick Foundation.” Colby tested the name aloud. That name meant Mr. Morgan wouldn’t have to see his surname mingled with Mark’s. “Actually, I like that a lot. Let’s see what Alec thinks.”

  At that moment, her mom and Sara entered the restaurant, their faces registering surprise when they noticed Julie Morgan.

  “Julie! How lovely to see you here.” Colby’s mom gave Julie a vigorous hug. “Won’t this be wonderful—working together like the old days?”

  Mrs. Morgan must’ve been doing a mental eye roll because Colby’s mom’s volunteerism had been undertaken like many other things in her life. She began with a bang, but then petered out as her interest waned.

  “Yes, I’ve always enjoyed raising money for a good cause.” She turned to Colby just as Alec arrived with a tray of crudités. “What’s the foundation’s mission?”

  Alec sat down and answered. “We’ll review proposals from local nonprofits each year and then distribute the funds accordingly. That way we can help a lot of different causes instead of selecting one. Of course, we’ll make a donation to the Burnside Shelter this year.”

  “Reviewing proposals will require more work.” Sara pulled out a chair for Gentry, who finally joined the group.

  “Hey, all.” Gentry returned from the ladies’ room and sank onto the chair. “What’d I miss?”

  Colby’s mother straightened, adopting a pompous air. “Alec was just telling us that the foundation will be taking proposals from local nonprofits each year and then deciding where to donate its money.”

  Gentry barely acknowledged Colby’s mom with a nod before she turned to Sara. “What’s the foundation’s name?”

  Colby’s mother’s cheeks flushed from the snub, but she lifted her chin.

  “I don’t know,” Sara replied.

  “Mrs. Morgan suggested the Maverick Foundation.” Colby held her breath, wondering what Alec thought, even as the others murmured approval.

  Alec’s gaze drifted through the glass doors to the lake beyond. Had he been hit with a flashback, or did that name sting because he’d never once been invited to any of the maverick adventures? “Good name, Mom.”

  Colby released the breath she’d been holding when mother and son exchanged fond glances.

  “This group will be the executive team, and Alec, my former colleague Todd, and I will make up the board. Sara’s agreed to handle our finances, and Gentry will cover PR.” She then looked at her mom and Mrs. Morgan. “And I’d hoped you two would focus on silent-auction donations.”

  “Whatever you need, honey. You and Alec already have so much on your plates with this gorgeous place.” Her mom gestured around proudly, as if she’d had something to do with it. “Of course, maybe your sister should be involved with the silent auction. I’m sure all the local retailers know her by name.”

  Zing!

  Gentry’s gaze narrowed over a feline smile, showing a twisted kind of respect for the subtle barb.

  “Mom,” Colby warned.

  “What?” She shrugged, all sincerity and innocence. “She’ll have an easier time than I will convincing people to donate things, because they’ll care about keeping her business.”

  Her mom’s logic aside, Colby didn’t need power plays.

  “Leslie’s right, Sis. I have more pull in town than her despite her having lived here almost three times as long.” Gentry smiled sweetly, even as she thrust the sword. Her mom absorbed the blow with grace. “At a minimum, I should be able to get something expensive from Bend the Trend, Periwinkle’s, and Cheeky Chic. Dad can probably hit up Harrington Jewelers.”

  “Great, thanks.” Colby shot a quick glance at Alec, whose grin proved he found it all a bit amusing.

  Thankfully, Mrs. Morgan wasn’t interested in Mickey Mouse games and brought them back to business. “I assume we’ll host the fund-raiser here?”

  “Yes.” Colby turned to Alec, grateful to end her mom and Gentry’s pissing contest. “I’d like to do it before Feast Portland so we can capitalize on the momentum of the grand opening and go into the food festival with twice the buzz.”

  Colby watched everyone’s eyes widen.

  “That’s not much time,” Mrs. Morgan ventured. “I’m not sure what we can pull together in five weeks.”

  “Well, we have the venue. I’ll donate the cost of the food and service on a Tuesday night so it doesn’t interfere with normal operations, and Alec will come up with a special dinner menu that night. The big thing will be invitations, PR, and silent-auction donations.” Colby shrugged. It didn’t sound impossible to her. If anything, the challenge seemed exciting. After two years of living in limbo, she welcomed the buzz of being busy with two new enterprises.

  Mrs. Morgan replied, “Most donors will ask for program advertising, but programs take time to design and print. Papers have lead times for ads . . .”

  “Is it impossible?” Alec asked.

  “No, but far from ideal.” Mrs. Morgan clasped her hands on the table.

  “I have a friend who’s in graphic arts. She can turn around programs quickly,” Gentry said.

  “Let’s set modest goals and keep this first effort small,” Colby suggested. “We can learn from our mistakes and then plan something more lavish next year.”

  Gentry asked, “Am I allowed to use Mark’s and Joe’s story in order to drum up more interest, or is that a no-go?”

  “Mention that the foundation is being started in Joe’s and Mark’s honor, but don’t plaster their names everywhere. I don’t want to upset Mr. Morgan further.” Colby didn’t make direct eye contact with Mrs. Morgan, though she could see her peripherally.

  When Julie’s gaze dropped to her lap, Colby’s mother reached over and squeezed the woman’s forearm.

  Sara interjected, “Let’s come up with a mission statement, and then make a logistics plan to pull the event together.”

  The next thirty minutes consisted of Colby and Mrs. Morgan talking while everyone else took notes. With marching orders in hand, everyone began making polite goodbyes.

  “Sara, do you have a minute?” Colby asked.

  “Sure, but I’m driving your mom.”

  Colby dragged Sara to her office and closed the door, leaving Alec to entertain her mom, who’d easily keep her occupied for at least ten minutes. “You seemed upset last night. Is everything okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she quipped with uncommon impatience.

  “I don’t mean to pry,” Colby began gently, “but have you started hormone therapy again?”

  “No.” Sara sighed. “Not yet. We have an appointment today, and then we’ll decide.”

  Colby squeezed Sara’s shoulder. “What’s the doctor say?”

  “The same thing he always says.” Sara sat against Colby’s desk, her face a study in melancholy. “But this is it for me. I can’t go through a third round. If this fails, maybe it’s not meant to be.”

  “Motherhood?”

  The faraway look in Sara’s eyes suggested something more. “Never mind.”

  A chill rippled through Colby. “I hated seeing you and Hunter argue. Stress doesn’t help the situation.”

  “I know.” Sara stood to go. “Look, Colby, thanks for your concern, but I’d rather not talk about it now.”

  It was unlike Sara to be abrupt. Her demeanor made Colby uneasy, even if she couldn’t put her finger on precisely why. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” Sara flashed a shallow grin. “Let’s get back before your mom gets antsy.”

  Colby set aside her concern for now. “Or before she takes another swipe at Gentry.”

  “Quite a group you’ve assembled.” Sara raised her brows, then said teasingly, “Were you drunk when you chose us?”

  “Just stupidly optimistic
,” Colby chuckled.

  They wandered back into the dining room to find only her mother and Alec remaining.

  “Let’s all grab lunch,” her mom suggested.

  “Mom, it’s two thirty. Didn’t you eat before you came?”

  She waved dismissively. “Coffee and dessert, then.”

  “I’ve got a to-do list as long as my arm, and now so do you,” Colby said.

  “Come, let’s leave these two alone.” Sara tugged at her mother-in-law’s arm.

  “Leslie, hang on. I have something for you.” Alec jogged back to the kitchen and returned with a to-go box. “Enjoy.”

  Her mom opened the lid to reveal four gorgeous miniature glossy cakes topped with fresh strawberry slices and some kind of coulis. “What are they?”

  “Chocolate mango cheesecakes.” Alec smiled. “Our pastry chef’s been experimenting.”

  “You’re a prince!” Her mother beamed.

  “None for me?” Sara teased.

  “You don’t like sweets,” Alec replied.

  “I know.” She winked at Alec and dragged Colby’s mom out the door. “Come on, Leslie, let’s go.”

  “You holding up okay?” Alec slung his arm over Colby’s shoulder once they were alone.

  “Better than okay.” She twirled to snuggle against his chest.

  He kissed the top of her head. “The Maverick Foundation.”

  “That pleased your mom. Maybe it will make your dad happy, too.”

  “Don’t count on it.” He grimaced. “Do you really want to stay here and work?”

  She craned her neck and kissed him. “Maybe we could work from your place after a little break?”

  “Good plan.” He smiled, looking unbearably handsome standing in the soft light streaming through the glass doors.

  An exhilarating rush of gratitude swept through her, pulling her past the tragic memories, past her brother’s warnings and Alec’s father’s reaction, out to where she stood, alone, vulnerable, and falling in love with one of her oldest friends. And for the first time in years, she didn’t feel like hiding.

  “Follow me.” She clasped his hand and prayed her leap of faith wouldn’t end in heartache.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Thanks for meeting me for lunch.” Hunter kissed Colby’s cheek and sat across from her at Gab-n-Eat, their favorite greasy spoon. Nothing ever changed here: not the ripped vinyl seat cushions, chipped Formica tabletops, or funky mix of sausage, onion, and bacon aromas.

  Of course, Hunter looked out of place—in his crisp bespoke shirt and Patek Philippe watch—but both she and he had laid claim to this booth eons ago, when they would sneak in to compensate for their mother’s bland cooking.

  “I never pass on a chance to clog my arteries.” She sipped the diet soda she’d ordered before Hunter arrived, and wondered if Alec would ever cross this diner’s threshold. She smothered a smile as she imagined his horrified response to the gargantuan portions. “So what’s up? You rarely have time to meet me midweek.”

  “Two things.” He clasped his hands together on the table, officious as always. “First, I’m sorry for reacting so badly to your news last week. I love you and Alec. You just caught me off guard. I still think you’ve created a tricky situation for yourselves at the restaurant, but from a purely personal perspective, I hope it works out.”

  “Thanks.” Colby couldn’t resist teasing. “Now tell the truth. Did Sara put you up to that apology?”

  “No.” He didn’t crack a smile. Too bad, because his stony face could really benefit from a few more smiles. Maybe she should start sending him funny videos. “Sara’s got only one focus these days, and that’s a whole other issue. One I don’t have patience for now that Jenna’s talking Dad into selling the company.”

  “What?” Colby leaned forward, stunned. So stunned, she temporarily lost interest in Sara. “Why would Dad ever consider selling CTC?”

  “Jenna’s heard a rumor that Pure Foods might be interested in buying CTC.” Hunter shook his head. “Honestly, I laughed at first, never imagining Dad might consider selling. But Jenna’s got his ear, and even if Pure Foods doesn’t make a play, she seems to want to go hunting for a buyer.”

  The waitress, Donna, interrupted them. Her grease-stained apron looked almost as ragged as she did. They ordered their usual bacon cheeseburgers with a side of onion rings. “Have you spoken to Dad?”

  “Not yet. That’s probably a good thing, though, ’cause I’m pissed as hell. I’ve given the last eleven years of my life to that place, believing I’d be running it all in the future. It’s our damn legacy. Now Jenna’s pushing him to sell out? How many more purses, cars, and kitchens does that witch need?”

  “Hunter, lower your voice.” She glanced over her shoulder to see if any of Jenna’s friends were present. A dumb reflex, because Jenna’s friends wouldn’t eat here.

  “I’m serious, Colby. If we sell CTC, you’ll be sitting pretty, with enough money to buy out of the restaurant and go on as you wish. But that business is my future. My kids’ future.” He paused then, as if the significance of those words had slapped him on the cheek. Colby’s heart ached in response to his and Sara’s baby blues. Hunter shook his head to reclaim his train of thought. “I’m not saying Jenna hasn’t been a part of CTC’s growth, but what the hell? Dad always promised me we would run it together. It would be ours.”

  Now Sara’s mood the other night made more sense. Hunter had probably been a bear lately, not that she blamed him. Her father had promised him that future. She’d heard it over and over from the age of ten. Hunter had also forgone Wall Street job offers, relying on that promise.

  No wonder he was freaking out. All this stress over a rumor, proving the wisdom of her decision to withhold Gentry’s gossip about the reviewer from Alec.

  She grabbed her brother’s hands and squeezed them reassuringly. “Dad can’t unilaterally sell it. We all own shares.”

  “He’s the tiebreaker.” Hunter pulled his hands away and raked one through his hair. “Thanks to Dad’s estate planner, you, Gentry, Jenna, and I all own a majority of the stock in equal shares, but Dad retains that swing vote.”

  “Don’t be so sure that Gentry will vote with Jenna. There’s a lot of animosity there.” Even as she said it, she regretted it. While she had no love lost for Jenna, she didn’t want Gentry to become a pawn in Hunter’s chess match.

  “Oh, come on. Gentry would love a big fat check.” Hunter rolled his eyes. “She’s not interested in working there or taking pride in its growth. Trust me, she’ll sell out in a heartbeat.”

  “I’ve seen another side to her lately. Underneath all that attitude she’s yearning for a place in this family. If you go to her and honestly tell her what you’ve told me, she might not cash out. Then we can block a sale.”

  “So I can count on you to stand with me if it comes to that?” The intensity of his gaze could be so unnerving she’d hate to be on the opposing side.

  “Of course. I know how important this is to you. I don’t want to work there, but maybe someday my future kids would want to.” She managed to smile, even as the very notion of her future kids sort of rocked her. “You can count on me.”

  “Even if it means going up against Dad?” He cocked his head, assessing her ability to stomach conflict so keenly it might as well have been a strip search.

  “Yes.” She’d never not back Hunter, the one and only member of her family who’d never abandoned, manipulated, or disappointed her. They might not always see eye to eye, but he always had her back.

  “Thanks.” Hunter sighed and stretched deeper into the booth, loosening his collar before sucking down some ginger ale. “So how’s this foundation going? I couldn’t believe you involved Mom.”

  “It’s only been ten days, but so far, so good.” Colby knocked on the wood frame of the booth. “Mom and Mrs. Morgan have already received auction donations from several local retailers. Gentry’s on top of outreach. Alec planned a nice menu. Sara has everythi
ng set up on QuickBooks. And I’m sending out the invitations.”

  “Mom and Gentry.” Hunter shook his head. “I can’t imagine either of them carrying their weight.”

  “I don’t know about Mom, because Mrs. Morgan would never speak ill of her, but Gentry might surprise you. She’s actually pretty good at this PR stuff. She lives on social media, and she’s funny and fresh. Honestly, I think she’s got a ton of potential, if she could lose the chip on her shoulder.”

  “What’s the deal with that? Who has an easier life than her?” He bugged his eyes. “I don’t get all the anger.”

  “I know you think Mom is clingy, but at least she was present for big and small milestones, and took us on fun adventures. Gentry had nannies. Maybe Gentry envied our ‘normal’ life.”

  “In high school, my summers were spent working at CTC. Hers consisted of pool parties and shopping sprees.” He grimaced. “I doubt she’s envious.”

  “We had each other, but she was more or less an only child over there. I think she’s jealous of our relationship.” She forced Hunter to acknowledge her point. “You and I need to do better by our sister. I worry that her life could run off track. We need to keep her busy and involved.”

  For the second time, he stared at her, his brain working overtime.

  “Colby.” He sighed. “I know no matter how often I say otherwise, you’ll always feel like you failed Mark. But you can’t save people. People have to save themselves. Mark, Gentry, whomever. Don’t run yourself ragged trying to prevent people from making bad choices.”

  Hunter’s words bothered her, but before she could respond, their burgers came. The mammoth sandwich and heaping pile of breaded onion rings almost made her troubles disappear. Alec’s food may be beautiful and complex, but for Colby, little could beat diner food. Her mouth watered in anticipation of that first bite.

  As if reading her mind, Hunter snickered. “I know. Alec and Sara would be horrified, but this is the bomb.”

  Now that they’d moved away from discussing the CTC situation, Colby decided to probe about Sara.

  “So tell me, how can I help with Sara?”