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“I love that story.”

“I guess it could be considered endearing. What about you? Why Brooklyn?”

“My grandmother came here in 1934 from Italy—my mom’s mother,” Brooklyn explains. “My mom’s name is Liberty. After the Statue. My grandparents lived in Brooklyn when she was born. She doesn’t remember it, though. It’s funny that I landed there—for now, anyway. I think my mom believes my name was some kind of prophecy. I want to point out that she named my sister Chastity.”

I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. Brooklyn winks. I think I may need to mess up my files again, maybe add a few pieces of unnecessary software to the mix. I know one thing for certain, I don’t want our time together to end, not any time soon. “God, I hope our names aren’t omens.”

“Why? No desire to be president?”

“Not really. And I’m allergic to peanuts.”

It’s Brooklyn’s turn to laugh. “I like peanuts.”

I stare at her. Time for another glass of wine. Brooklyn offers me a smile and another wink. Am I that transparent? Probably. I don’t care. I’m sure I can create a little more chaos for Brooklyn to sort through. I top off each of our glasses and raise my glass in a toast. “Here’s to omens.”

“Only the good ones,” she says.

“Only the good ones.”

CHAPTER FOUR

NOVEMBER 15th

It’s been a while since both my nephews have been home. I admit I miss the days when they were small, Philip toddling behind Jeremy, and Jeremy leading his little brother into mischief. These days, everyone seems to wander off into separate rooms until they’re called for dinner. Jeremy avoids his father, and Phillip’s concentration is on his girlfriend. As I suspected, Jeremy asked if he could spend a week at my house. I’m happy to host him. I know my sister will be disappointed.

“He asked you already, didn’t he?” Janet asks.

“He did.”

She sighs.

“Jan, I can tell him no.”

“No, you can’t. We both know it’s best—for him,” she says. “He was home less than two hours and Tim started grilling him about his plans.”

“I heard.”

“I don’t know why he can’t leave Jeremy alone.”

I offer my assessment. “Probably because he doesn’t understand why Jeremy isn’t more like him.”

“Maybe. It doesn’t matter. Jeremy is a grown man. He doesn’t depend on us for his welfare, financially or otherwise. Tim needs to respect that.”

I feel horrible. I haven’t sensed deep stress between Jan and Tim in years. Frustration pours off my sister in waves. “Have you told him that?”

“I’ve tried. He says the same thing he always says.”

“Which is?”

“Jeremy has no direction,” she replies.

“He has direction. It’s just not the direction Tim wants him to take.”

“I know,” Janet admits. “I worry he’ll push too far one day.”

“Jeremy isn’t going to abandon you.” I am confident of that reality. Jeremey adores his mother.

“Maybe he won’t abandon me. He doesn’t want to be here, Carter. This is his home.”