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“Because I always call with a motive, right?”
    â€œThat is the pattern, yes.” Blinking buttons on the phone caught Mark’s attention. People must be trying to reach him. Thank goodness his secretary had the sense to deflect them.
    â€œOne of the steps in our recovery is making amends to people we’ve harmed. And you’re the person I’ve hurt the most.”
    â€œYou want to make amends?” He didn’t see how aperson could atone for so many years of disappointment and pain. Still, he loved her in spite of that.
    â€œMaybe not for your sake, but for mine—if that’s okay?” Bryn added quickly. “The last thing I want is to cause you any more problems.”
    Forgiveness might not come easily, but Mark was willing to try. “I’d be happy to see you.”
    â€œI was hoping…how about Christmas?” she blurted. “I could drive out there.”
    â€œThat’s what, seven or eight hours?” A long trek for one person. “I’ll send you a plane ticket.”
    â€œNo, Mark. This is my responsibility.” She spoke with a maturity he’d never heard from her before. “I should arrive by late afternoon. But don’t let me disrupt your plans if you were going to spend Christmas with someone.”
    That reminded him of Sam’s fundraiser. He’d promised to be there, but that didn’t preclude welcoming his sister. “You should come,” Mark told her. “It won’t be a proper Christmas without you.”
    â€œI don’t deserve…” Her words choked off. She cleared her throat. “You’re the most wonderful brother in the world.”
    â€œJust get here in one piece.” He gave her his cell phone number. “You can reach me anytime.”
    She provided her own number. “I’m not going to disappear again. This is for keeps.”
    â€œThat’s the best Christmas present you could give me.”
    After they hung up, Mark sat amazed at this development. He’d feared his next contact with Bryn would be a call informing him of her death, or that he might never learn what happened to her. This was beyond anything he’d dared to hope for.
    If it was real, and not just another of her deceptions.
    A tap at the door broke his reverie. Without waiting for an invitation, a blond whirlwind in a teal blouse and gray tweed skirt breezed in, head high and mouth set in a determined line.
    â€œSam.” Mark got to his feet. “I was wondering where you’ve been.”
    â€œLicking my wounds. Well, I’m done with the self-pity. Now I’ve got a plan.”
    â€œWhat kind of plan?” he asked warily.
    â€œI’ve decided to call a press conference.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    She beamed. “I’m sure reporters will be very interested to know what’s happening to the clinic.”
    â€œI decide when the hospital holds a press conference and what information we release to the media.”
    She held up her hands in a peace gesture. “Sorry. I was just taking a poke at you. I want to announce the Christmas fundraiser. That’s all.”
    â€œWhy not simply send out a press release?” Putting Samantha together with the media was like cleaning a linoleum floor with gasoline. One spark and the whole house blew up.
    â€œIt’ll get lost on somebody’s desk. There’s only a couple of weeks left, after all, and this is the fastest way to reach our supporters. Also, a local caterer agreed to provide food at cost in return for publicity. Jennifer believes we can get the press conference organized by Monday.” With an unexpected note of pleading, Sam added, “Please? If the fundraiser fizzles, we’re sunk.”
    It was hard to argue when she spoke so reasonably. “I suppose so. No mention of having to move out of the offices, though,” Mark warned. “We’ll be presenting the plans for the