Page 8 of Family Affair

“Coco, please.”

She stopped and turned around. In the shadows Dan looked large, dwarfing her smaller frame.

“I, ah… I’m sorry for the things I said to you tonight.” He halted a couple of feet away and rubbed his eyes with the thumb and index finger. “I wasn’t paying attention. I know it sounds lame, but I’m a bit stressed with all the shit that’s going on.”

She wasn’t sure how she felt about Dan blaming it all on the stress. Swallowing the censure, she kept her voice even. “What, exactly, is going on?”

“Something came up, and we’re scrambling to keep it from going public.”

"You’re right, it sounds lame.”

He took a breath. "Everyone can get stressed when they have problems. We’re no exception.”

“We?”

“Dad, mainly. My brother Alex, he’s dad’s right hand. Me as their legal counsel.”

“Is it about the company?”

“Not directly, but yes. It can affect the company.” He cut the air with his hand in an abrupt motion. “What I'm trying to say, I'm a bit preoccupied with all that. It was insensitive of me to, you know… "

She could feel her eyebrows lifting. "To tell me that I’m a little girl playing dress up in therealartists’ world?"

"C'mon, Coco, give the guy a hand. I'm trying to apologize here."

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. Took them back out. Raked his fingers through his hair and rotated his head.

"I wasan ass."

Coco couldn't help but be amused at seeing Dan squirm. "You don't do this very often, do you?"

"Being an ass? Afraid so."

"Saying you're sorry."

"You don't have to rub it in," he said mildly.

She took a deep breath. Dan was reaching out to her, trying to make amends, and this once she decided to meet him halfway. If she learned nothing else from her failed marriage, she learned the importance of forgiveness, of the ability to let go of petty unintentional offenses for the sake of second chances.

“Alright. I understand.”

Dan brightened up. "You’re a doll. Do you want to stop by my place for a nightcap?”

Coco paused. Would he expect her to stay the night? Was she ready? “I’m not sure this is the right time…”

Dan held up both hands. “Nothing untoward. Just a drink or two. And I’d like to use the opportunity to, like, learn more about your style. Do you have a style?"

It was gratifying to see Dan try so hard. "Yes. I do have a style."

"Will you share it with me?"

Coco smiled. "If you insist. I have my portfolio in the car."

Equaling her aquasense with forgiveness, Dan gave her a warm hug. “I’dloveto see it. Follow me.”

She did, and they soon reached Dan’s ritzy condo located in a gated community.

"Watch your step - there is a raised level," Dan cautioned as Coco crossed the threshold of his home, thinking that the step must be symbolic somehow.