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He laughs but shakes his head. “If that were true, you’d have been on at least one second date in the last year,” he jokes.

IwishI’d found any of the women I’ve been out with inspiring enough to want a second date.

“Why are you out here? You okay?” Eloise asks, her eyes concerned.

I smile and force myself to relax. “I just hate parties.”

They flash twin smiles of sympathy. “Us too. We love you, man, and we came to show our support, but there’s only so much socializing we can handle. Mind if we take off?”

“Only because I can’t go with you. My dad would never let me hear the end of it.”

He winces and groans. “Sorry, man. I was supposed to say as soon as I saw you that your dad is looking for you.”

“Shit.” I throw back the rest of my drink, and he pats me on the shoulder before they walk around the terrace toward the stairs. The last thing I want is a replay of our argument earlier.

When I decided to launch The Balanced Scale Fund in my third year at U of H, I used my personal funds as seed money. My father helped me organize and launch it. When it came time to find someone to administer it, I asked him to consider the position.

If he hadn’t spent his life managing my career, he would have been a very successful executive somewhere. There was no one I trusted more to take care of the money and execute my vision.

The rest of the board agreed, and I was grateful for his leadership. But when his first decision as the Fund’s managing partner was to relocate the headquarters of the Fund to Houston, I pushed back.

I didn’t want my two perfectly separate worlds to collide. When he presented the numbers to the entire board and everything from the cost of office space to the cost of human capital was so much cheaper than our headquarters in LA, I couldn’t continue to oppose the idea without appearing unreasonable and raising eyebrows. So I voted with the rest of the board in favor of the move.

My worry was in vain. My mother lives in North Houston, and my father bought a house a few blocks from mine in Rivers Wilde, which is in the southwest of the city’s fifty-mile sprawl.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to keep him from knowing she is there. But I hate lying to my father. And I hate how isolated she is from the rest of the family. Her sister, our Aunt Mimosa, has effectively taken her place, and it’s like she doesn’t even exist to the rest of them. They have their reasons for doubting her. Weall do. But if they could see how much she’s changed, they might change their minds.

Inviting her to my graduation ceremony this morning was a passive-aggressive confession. And boy, it did not go at all how I hoped.

“There you are.” This time, the voice behind me doesn’t put a smile on my face. My sister, Layel, is older than me by two years, and we’ve always been close. When I reconnected with our mother, I told her. She made it clear she had no interest in a reunion herself, but she kept my secret.

She missed the fireworks between my father and me, but I know exactly where she stands on issues concerning my mother. I’m sure she’s looking for me on his behalf, too.

I turn around with a frown in place, ready to preempt her. “I know, he’s—” I stop short and turn my frown into a smile because my nine-year-old niece is with her, and sheonlygets smiles from me. “Hey, Hannah.”

“Hey, Uncle ‘Mar.” She dashes ahead of her mom and hugs my waist. “Congratulations.” She grins up at me.

I pat her head. “Thank you, half pint.” I look up at my sister, and my expression cools. “I know Dad is looking for me, so save your breath.”

“That’s not why I’m here.” Instead of rolling her eyes like she normally does, she gives me a too-friendly smile that usually proceeds a big ask.

“What do you want?”

“To talk to you. I’ve decided that the kids and I should move to Houston to be with Dad.”

“Are you serious?” She swore she’d never leave Los Angeles, and when I left, said she’d be waiting for me when I finally came to my senses and moved back. “Why now?”

“I love it here. Ethan is starting high school, and Hannah’s about to start middle school, so hopefully it will be a natural transition for both of them.”

I nod. “Well, congrats. And it’ll be nice to have you here.” But I know she didn’t seek me out to tell me that. “So what do you need from me?”

She clears her throat and smooths a hand down the skirt of her dress. “I found the perfect house.” She grins.

“You did?” Hannah and I ask at the same time.

She beams and clasps her hands under her chin. “Yes, it’s right next door to yours.”

I frown. “I didn’t know it was for sale.”