Susan Mallery - When We Found Home

A prickling sensation along the back of his neck had him wondering if instead of assuming all was well, he should probe deeper and find out for himself. Which would mean getting more involved in her life, getting to know her, something that until now, he’d avoided. Not because he didn’t want to care, but because he didn’t want to disappoint. Unfortunately it seemed that was no longer an option.

* * *

Santiago waited for the last quarterly presentation to be finished before wrapping up the meeting. Alberto’s Alfresco had grown 4 percent in the previous quarter, thanks to an increase in prepared dinners. Not just entrées, but curated four-course meals that required the barest of preparation and yielded something even the fussiest of mothers-in-law would appreciate. Every sector was up, except for dried soups and powdered beverages—their sales had been flat, something Santiago hadn’t expected. He was going to have to do some research.

He left the conference room and headed to his corner office. April was still the rainy season in Seattle, but the skies had momentarily cleared, giving him a view of the city. His office faced east—not exactly the prime west, Sound-facing office that Malcolm had—but Santiago didn’t care. He could see the Sound anytime he wanted from his condo and he liked the relative quiet of his corner when he needed to number crunch.

He sat down at his desk and paused for a second, thinking he’d come a long way from the farm worker’s kid he’d been when he’d entered the University of Washington on a football scholarship. He’d barely gotten through high school with a C average—he’d known sports were his only way out and he’d done his best to excel. Football he understood. He didn’t love it the way some of the guys did, but he respected the opportunities it provided and he’d worked the program. Academically, he’d been terrified.

He remembered the first day he’d shown up in his dorm room. His roommate, some skinny kid with a serious expression and expensive luggage, had greeted him with even less enthusiasm than Santiago had felt. Malcolm Carlesso had been quiet, studious and about as much fun as termites. Two days later Santiago had been in the process of requesting a room change when he’d come back from practice to find a bowl of ice sitting in their small freezer. When he’d asked about it, Malcolm had said it was for Santiago’s ice pack for his knee. Malcolm had been going to the communal kitchen anyway and had brought some back.

That simple gesture had been the beginning of a friendship that had lasted over fifteen years so far. Malcolm had helped Santiago realize he was a whole lot smarter than anyone had known. Santiago had taught Malcolm to loosen up and get rid of the stick up his ass. They’d roomed together all through college, even getting an apartment together their senior year.

When Santiago’s mother had lost her job in Yakima, Malcolm had arranged for her to get a job at Alberto’s Alfresco, and the family had moved to Seattle. When Malcolm had wanted to expand the company, he’d hired Santiago away from the hedge fund where he’d been the finance VP. They were a team—no matter what, he had Malcolm’s back and he knew his friend would say the same about him.

Now he sat in front of his computer and pulled up the numbers for the soup and drink division. Something was wrong and he was going to find out what.

But before he’d gotten much past the first layer of numbers, Malcolm walked into his office.

“What did I miss?” his boss asked, taking the visitor’s chair by his desk.

“Nothing much. The quarterly meeting went well. We’re up 4 percent. I’ve emailed you the summary reports, just let me know if you want to get into more detail.”

“Any surprises?”

“Soups and drinks are down. I’m looking into it.”

Malcolm rubbed his forehead. “Thanks. I don’t think I’d be much help right now.”

“You have a lot going on. How’s Keira?”

“Physically? Healing. She sees her doctor tomorrow. As for the rest of it, I have no idea.”

Malcolm was gifted when it came to business and a hell of a good friend, but he was not equipped to deal with a twelve-year-old girl. He wasn’t relaxed around kids and he didn’t trust easily. Whatever progress had been made on that front had been undone by Rachel nearly two years ago, Santiago thought, mentally calling Malcolm’s ex-fiancée every crappy name he could think of.

Malcolm looked at him. “There was a kitten. That’s how she got hit by a car. She saw a kitten and ran into the street. Can you believe it?”

“Yes. It’s something Emma would do in a heartbeat. She’s a kid, Malcolm. It was a kitten. What did you expect? That she would look both ways? She reacted.”

“She could have been killed.”

“Yes, but she wasn’t. She’ll recover and hey, now you have a cat.”

His friend grimaced. “Lucky me. I said she could keep it.”

“Good move.” He leaned forward. “You have to relax around her. Pretend she’s a regular person.”

“Thanks for nothing. She is a regular person.”

“Not to you. You act like she’s an unwelcome life force. Kids are tough. Just let her know you care and you’re there for her.”

“I do care about her. I’m just not sure how to make her believe that.”

“Fake it until you make it.”

Malcolm glared at him. “What does that mean?”

“Pretend interest in whatever floats the boat of a twelve-year-old girl. At first you’ll feel awkward and stupid but over time it will get easier. She’s your sister.”

“There’s another one.”

“Another...”

“Sister.”

Santiago stared at him. “You’re kidding. Like Star Wars? There is another?”

“Not funny and yes. Alberto found out about her the same time he learned about Keira, but he couldn’t locate her.” Malcolm hesitated as if he were going to say something, then seemed to change his mind. “She’s twenty-six and living in Houston. We get the DNA test back today.”

Santiago whistled. “Two new sisters. Any others out there lurking?”

“Not that Jerry knew about. Those were the only two mentioned in his papers.”

“If the DNA test is a match, then what?”

Malcolm looked at him. “Guess.”

“Let’s see. Alberto will fly her out here and move her into the house.”

“Bingo.”

“You’re awash in sisters. That’s nice. I would have liked a sister.”

“Take one of mine.”

Santiago chuckled. “I do great with kids.”

“Yes, you do. It’s annoying.”

“I’m a people person.”

“That you are.”

“You’re better-looking but no one notices because you’re such a tight ass.”

Instead of laughing, Malcolm turned away. “Do you know how Keira had me listed in her phone?”

“What do you mean? She had your name wrong?”

“No.” Malcolm looked at him. “On her contact list, I’m her asshole brother.”

Santiago winced. “I’m sorry, Malcolm. She’s having a tough time making the transition. It’s still all new to her.”

“Yeah, I know.” He rose. “You’re in her contacts, too. Under your real name. Hell of a thing.”

“It’ll get better.”

“You sure?” Malcolm shook his head. “Never mind. I’ll figure it out. Thanks for covering the meetings for me.”

“No problem.”

He watched his friend walk away and wished he knew how to fix the problem, or at least mitigate it. Maybe if he talked to Keira or...

No, he told himself. Malcolm had to figure out Keira in his own way. Santiago stepping in to play hero wouldn’t help anyone, or so his brothers had told him about five thousand times.

chapter six

Delaney had lived in Seattle all her life and still wasn’t the least bit familiar with the area where Keira and Malcolm lived—probably because if the world were separated into haves and have-nots, she would definitely find herself on the side of the latter.