Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
A smile in his dark eyes, Dane said, “Cammie and I thought we’d combine the trip into the city with a show tomorrow night that we both want to see.”
Below the table, Gabby nudged her, and Ava knew exactly what her sister was thinking. Neither of them had thought Dane would admit he was in love with Cammie, even though the entire family had known it right from the beginning. Well, except Troy, who’d had the temerity to ask Cammie out. Dane had tried to explain away his histrionics as Troy trying to poach one of his employees. But everyone knew he never would have gone nuts like that if Troy had tried to poach Fernsby. Not that any of them would dream of poaching Fernsby. The man was simply unpoachable.
She and Gabby shared a smile. It was so good to see their big brother finally happy.
He’d built his business from one small resort in Napa to a multinational corporation that was the leading name in luxury resorts. And Cammie had been right there, backing him all the way. Now they were embarking on their most ambitious resort yet—one for people with special needs, which would combine resort quality with therapy, team sports, and camaraderie.
After a swig, Troy set his beer bottle on the table. “Sorry to say I’ve only got a couple of hours. I have to fly out again tonight for a conference tomorrow.”
A gold-medal Olympic diver and owner of a billion-dollar sports equipment empire, Troy was a regular keynote speaker, telling young athletes of his own journey, of his parents’ deaths, and how his siblings never let him give up his Olympic dreams. He inspired young people to go for their aspirations, to strive to be their best, to never give up. Her brother’s heart was as big as the number of trophies and medals he’d won.
Ava blew him a kiss. “Then it’s even more sweet that you’re here tonight.”
He grimaced at the word sweet, and Clay took the heat off him by saying, “I’ve got a flight out tomorrow morning. Meeting a new prospect in New York.” His eyes gleamed at the potential.
While both her brothers were based in the San Francisco Bay Area, they did their work all over the country. Clay, their tech wizard, had started a new internet platform for artists, from painting to woodworking to metalwork to music to writing. He searched for new talent and brought them onto his platform, a safe place for artists where no one would rip them or their work apart. Right now, it was by invitation only. Clay toured the country interviewing potential candidates, and his platform was growing exponentially. Ava secretly wondered if it would soon outpace the giant video platforms out there right now.
“And thanks to you too.” Ava squeezed Gabby’s knee.
Her sister had torn herself away from her vegan café and bakery. Gabby, only thirty and herself a vegan, had franchises all over the country, but she chose the Carmel bakery to test new recipes before distributing them to her franchises.
Eighteen years ago, when their parents passed away, who would have thought that they would all accomplish the amazing things they had? Ava knew in her heart it was due to their loyalty to each other, their willingness to help. And she needed their help now.
The tapas plates began to arrive—spicy roasted potatoes, bite-sized empanadas, some made with veggie ingredients and gluten-free, plant-based crusts for Gabby. But Ava adored the coconut shrimp, the spices piquant on her tongue.
She laid aside a shrimp tail and held up her hand for their attention. “After I say this, you’ll think I brought you here just for my own benefit. But I have a problem that only came up today, and I need to talk it over with you guys.”
Dane’s eyes flashed with interest, and he leaned forward, elbows on the table. The entire family followed suit. This was what they loved to do, even when they were younger. Just as they’d kicked around the soccer ball with Gabby when she’d joined her middle school soccer team—they were still known to indulge in a cutthroat game or two even now—these days they enjoyed kicking around ideas.
“It’s my catering at the five Bay Area care homes.”
“But the catering was great down in San Juan Bautista,” Cammie said.
The facility provided care at all levels, from independent living to assisted living to memory care, and Cammie had stayed there a few months ago while taking care of her uncle Lochlan who, sadly, had recently passed away from Alzheimer’s. Cammie had been the only one who could keep her uncle calm, despite Ava’s excellent staff.
“I liked to take Uncle Lochlan into the dining room as often as possible,” she said. “Even if he wasn’t aware of much.”
Ava nodded sadly. “It’s not the food. The company we were using has been under new management for the last few months. And things have taken a nosedive.” She related what had happened to Mrs. Greeley and the reports of bad behavior by the catering staff at other care homes.