A Perfect Compromise

By the time they got back into the car for the drive home, J.B. was wrung out, as if he’d played triple overtime.

Only a few more days, he told himself as he did the evening chores. It was pathetic that he’d barely been home twenty-four hours and he was already counting down to leaving. He loved his family, but he didn’t fit here. New Jersey was more his home than this small town.

Luckily, he couldn’t brood for long because his brothers and their families arrived for his welcome-home barbecue.

Dinner was a rowdy affair. His dad sat at the head of the picnic table, while everyone else squeezed down the sides. His mom sat opposite her husband, beaming, clearly thrilled to have all her chicks under her roof.

“Welcome home, bro.” Pierre Luc raised his bottle in salute. “Congratulations on making the Finals. Tough loss.”

“You’ll get ’em next year.” Marc Andre clinked his beer bottle against J.B.’s.

“Damn—darn straight,” J.B. said.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t make any of your games.” His mother frowned. “Finding someone to look after the farm is difficult.”

“Jean-Baptiste knows we can’t up and travel at the drop of a hat.”

J.B. bit back his irritation at his father’s words. Other families—even other farmers—managed it. He understood it wasn’t easy, but his dad didn’t want to make the effort.

“No worries, Ma.” J.B. smiled at his mom. “Maybe next year.”

“Did you get the mess with that woman in the nightclub sorted out, Jean-Baptiste?” his father asked.

Why couldn’t his old man ever call him J.B.? He forced a casual tone. “She got hold of Coach Macarty and explained that it was an unfortunate accident. She told the media, too, but the truth wasn’t appealing and the story got buried.”

His father huffed. “Your team can’t have been happy. It’s not like this was the first time you’ve been at the center of a scandal.”

Although that wasn’t quite true—Jake had taken the fall before—J.B. didn’t bother to correct his dad. He wouldn’t listen, anyway. “Once they had the facts, they were cool.”

“It’s time you started being more responsible. You’re not a kid anymore.” His father loaded his plate with more potato salad. “Speaking of which, while you’re here, Jean-Baptiste, I’d like you to survey the fences. You should keep your hand in the farm.”

J.B. exchanged wry looks with his brothers.

“Give the kid a chance, Dad,” Pierre Luc said. “He just got here.”

“He hasn’t even had a chance to stop by our places yet,” Marc Andre chimed in.

“They’re right, Bastien,” his mother chided. “Our boy’s only here for a few days. He should rest, not ride the fence line. He works hard enough. He’s earned a vacation.”

“He just had a week on a beach.”

Before J.B. could react, his mother laid her pale hand on his father’s dark one. As it had for as long as he could remember, the action calmed his dad.

Later that night, as J.B. sat out on the front porch, nursing a beer, he thought about his parents’ marriage. The gentle former teacher and the rough farmer seemed to fit together perfectly; to complement each other. His brothers’ marriages were strong, too.

Bella popped into his head, as she had every day since he’d returned from Antigua.

Never before had a woman had such a lasting impact on him.

J.B. shook his head. It didn’t matter. Their relationship was over and he was good with that. He didn’t have the time, energy or inclination for commitment. Being back here only emphasized his feelings. His family’s responsibilities weighed heavily, as if he were the one suffocating under the pressure.

Bella was...had to be...nothing more than a pleasant memory.

* * *

“IF WE CAN’T paint the town red, then watching Colin Firth isn’t a bad alternative.”

Relieved that Sapphie didn’t mind their last-minute change of plans for the Labor Day weekend, Issy sighed. “Thanks. I really don’t feel up to a dinner cruise tonight.” The thought of putting on a fancy dress and heels, and spending the evening on a boat on the Hudson made her stomach pitch. “I promise I’ll make it up to you on your next visit.”

“You’ll get that chance sooner than you think. Part of the reason I wanted us to go out was that I’ll be spending a lot more time on the east coast over the next twelve months.”

“You got the contract with Marty Antonelli?”

“Starting Tuesday, I’ll be evaluating the basketball team he bought and advising him on how to make it a more financially viable enterprise.”

“Congratulations!” Issy squealed as she jumped up and hugged her friend.

This was a major coup for Sapphie. She’d worked hard to get her foot in the door with the technology billionaire who’d recently acquired several sports franchises.

They danced around like lunatics for a few minutes, then collapsed on the sofa, laughing.

“I know you like hockey and football. What do you know about basketball?” Issy asked.

“Not a lot. But I used that to my advantage. I told Mr. Antonelli that he didn’t need someone with preconceived ideas about the team.”

“And he bought that?”

“Of course.” Sapphie blew on her nails and polished them on her top. “That, and my impressive track record.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

Sapphie had always found a way to make things work more efficiently and effectively while squeezing a quart out of a pint-pot budget. She’d put herself through college with her projects on the side for local companies. It hadn’t been a surprise when Sapphie had formed her own management consulting firm.

Issy couldn’t help being envious of the way her friend was able to improvise and adapt, to achieve whatever she set her mind to. If she’d had even half of Sapphie’s talent, Issy would have been made head of department before, instead of being passed over for ‘more experienced candidates’ the past two times the position had become vacant. Certainly she wouldn’t have had to jump through hoops for one more year to prove to Farlingdale Academy’s board that she was capable of taking over the retiring head’s position.

She frowned at the snack foods on the coffee table. “We should be celebrating with something fancier than popcorn, chips and sodas.”

“Trust me, this is great. I get enough fancy food at work. Besides it’s the company and—” Sapphie indicated the Pride and Prejudice DVD “—the entertainment that makes this a real celebration.”