at Dee again, but that spot on the floor was empty.
Austen’s gaze veered through the living room, then froze.
Instead of still lying on the floor, covered in colorful blocks, Dee was standing with her father, Caleb. Gone was the more playful expression that she often showed when it was just her and Austen. She hid behind the poker face that Austen had seen her wear during tough business negotiations.
The twins were tugging on her pants legs, vying for her attention, but Dee was completely focused on her father.
“Oh wow,” Janine whispered. “I didn’t know they were talking again.”
“They weren’t—until now,” Austen whispered back, her gaze still on Dee and her father, who stood stony-faced while he listened to whatever Dee was saying.
“I’d better go get the twins so they can talk,” Janine said.
Under the pretense of helping with twin number two, Austen rushed after her. She wanted to be close in case Dee needed her support.
“I could have told you that from the start, Danielle,” Dee’s father said as they came closer. “You should have set up a company with a broader customer base.”
Dee’s shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly. “Actually, niche companies can be just as successful nowadays. Pet bird ownership is on the rise in the US, especially in cities where people don’t have enough space for a cat or a dog, and a lot of them own multiple birds. We could have easily funded that project if not for—”
Her father clucked disparagingly. “Yeah, yeah. You know what your grandfather used to say. If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a very merry Christmas.”
Dee’s lips blanched because she was pressing them together so tightly, probably in an effort to hold back what she really wanted to say.
Austen swung Mila up onto her hip, but instead of carrying her off, she took up position next to Dee in silent support.
Caleb ignored her presence, while Dee shifted her stance so their shoulders brushed.
“Um, speaking of Christmas…” Dee looked her father in the eyes. “That project I was telling you about needs to be launched in time for the holiday shopping season.”
“So?”
“Um, well, as I said, we lost our funding because of a little glitch. I was wondering if you would be willing to lend me the money.”
Wow. Austen couldn’t believe it. Never in a million years would she have thought her proud partner would ask her father for help. Warmth spread through her chest. Dee had been trying to get a little recognition from her family for decades, so Austen knew how hard asking her father for money must have been. It meant the world to her that Dee had put the success of their company over her need to prove herself to her family.
Caleb stared at his daughter as if she had asked him to donate a vital organ. “Lend you money?”
The chatter and clinking of china ceased. Every family member stared at Dee and her father, who faced each other in the middle of the living room in a silent stand-off.
“Why would I do that?” Caleb asked.
Because she’s your daughter, Austen nearly said, but she bit her lip and kept silent, not sure if Dee wanted her to get involved in this discussion.
“Because it’s a good investment. I’d…” Dee glanced at Austen. “We would pay you back, with interest, within a reasonable time frame, of course. I don’t expect any gifts.”
Her father shook his head. “I wouldn’t be doing you a favor in the long run. You kids need to learn to run a successful business without relying on family money, just like I did. I started with one tiny clothing store, and now look at me.” He spread his arms wide as if to indicate an empire. “Sixty-two stores all over the country.”
“I’m thirty-seven, Dad—hardly a kid—and I already know how to run a business. I was the COO of Kudos for fourteen years, and I was a huge part of making it a Fortune 500 company.” Dee looked around for her uncle and former boss. “Wasn’t I, Uncle Wade?”
Her uncle swirled around the ice in his whiskey. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Austen couldn’t stand it any longer. She put her free hand onto her hip and stared at her former employer. “You guess?” she burst out. “Dee kept Kudos running, and everyone knew it. She was the one who got you the Universal deal, and she—”
“We.” Dee reached for her hand and squeezed softly. “We got them the Universal deal. You and I. But that