“No. But I do want the chance to prove myself.”
Denise studied her beautiful daughter and thought about how different their lives were. Denise had been nineteen when she’d met Ralph. While she’d been taking classes at Fool’s Gold Community College, she hadn’t had any serious plans for getting a degree.
Within six months, Ralph had proposed and she’d accepted. Her sole work experience had been a series of part-time jobs. Three months later, they’d been married and a couple of months after that, she’d gotten pregnant. She’d had the three boys in just over three years, had waited a couple of years, then gotten pregnant with the triplets. By the time she was Nevada’s age, she had six kids. Working had never been an issue.
The family business had provided enough money for them to live relatively comfortably. They’d bought this house just before the triplets were born and had paid for it in fifteen years. Saving for college for six kids had been a real challenge, but they’d managed.
When Ralph died, she discovered he’d left her a generous life insurance policy that would take care of her for the rest of her life. Ethan had taken over the family business and was bringing it to new heights. Each of the other children got a quarterly check from their share of the business.
Denise’s biggest problem was how to fill her day. After a lifetime of taking care of others, her house seemed empty and sometimes her days did, too. Maybe it was time to explore other options. She could always go back to school—start some kind of career. Whatever she chose would sure be a lot less work than being a stay-at-home mom.
But that was for another day. Right now, Nevada needed advice.
“Have you talked to your brother?” she asked.
“Not yet. I want to make up my mind first. I don’t want to leave him dangling.”
“Do you have another job in mind?” A horrifying thought occurred to Denise, although she was careful not to let her worry show. “Do you think you need to leave Fool’s Gold to prove yourself?”
“For a while I did, but maybe not. There’s a big job starting nearby. You’ve probably read about it in the paper. Janack Construction is building a casino-resort complex northeast of town. I thought I would see what I could do there.”
“Janack. Why is that name familiar?”
“Ethan was friends with Tucker Janack years ago. They were at cycling camp together.”
“Oh, right.” She remembered a skinny, dark-haired boy. His family had been extremely wealthy. Tucker’s father had picked up his son in a private jet. “They do big projects all over the world, don’t they?”
Nevada nodded. “They just finished that huge theme park in Rio. The land here has been held in trust for descendants of the Máa-zib tribe. His mother had Máa-zib blood in her.”
“You’ve done your homework,” Denise said, realizing this wasn’t an idle conversation. Nevada had already made up her mind.
“I think it’s important to know as much as I can about the company. This is going to be a good deal for Fool’s Gold. Part of the construction plans include widening the road into town. We’ll get the benefit of more tourists now that they’ll have an easier way to get here. Despite being on Máa-zib land, the facility will have to pay some local taxes.”
“Mayor Marsha is probably doing the happy dance as we speak.”
Nevada laughed. “I’m sure she is.”
“So you’re going to go to work for them, aren’t you?”
“I’m going to apply. If you’re okay with that.”
Denise took her hand and squeezed. “I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy. You know that, right?”
“I do, Mom.”
“Then be happy. You’re right—Ethan isn’t growing the construction side of the business very much. If you were interested in taking it on, he would be happy to let you. It would be a chance to put your mark on things. But if that isn’t what you want to do, better to get out now. What was it you said? Test yourself.”
Nevada could always go back, Denise thought. Not that she would suggest that. Hinting at failure rarely helped anyone.
“I need to know what I can do,” her daughter told her.
“Then go find out.”
Nevada pulled her hand free, then leaned in and hugged her mother. “You’re the best.”
Denise hugged her back. She’d been blessed with wonderful children. “I know. You six were very lucky that I’m your mother.”
Her daughter laughed. “It’s your modesty we admire most.”
“As you should.”
“There you are!”
They both turned to see Dakota walking around the side of the house, Hannah in her arms.
“I’ve been wandering through the house. I saw your car, Nevada, and couldn’t figure out why neither of you were anywhere. I actually went to the thought of alien abductions. Then I realized you must be in back.”