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worked with high-risk teenagers with emotional and substance abuse problems.
    Survivors’ guilt.
    Their father’s final actions had left its mark on all of them.
    His mother usually wanted her sons to stay on as long as possible for these annual Independence Day visits. She seemed to want Marc long gone at the present time, though. He tried to ignore the flare of irritation he felt at that fact. Brigit loved him. She remembered how much he’d been hurt by Mari’s refusal to see him after the crash. Maybe she just didn’t want to see him get hurt again.
    The porch swing resumed the rhythmic squeaking noise that blended so hypnotically with the sounds of the locusts and the Lake Michigan waves breaking on the nearby beach.
    â€œYou’d do best by staying away from her,” Brigit said, finally saying the words he knew she’d been thinking since the parades yesterday.
    â€œMaybe you’re right. But that doesn’t seem to be stifling the urge to do the exact opposite.”
    Brigit exhaled at his quiet admission. “After all they did to us—”
    â€œMari never did anything to us. As for what Ryan and his aunt did, it’s not that different than what most people would have done in the same situation.”
    â€œShe ignored you! She took that money—blood money! After all this time, you’ve forgotten the effect it had on me—on us. ”
    â€œI haven’t forgotten,” he said, stung. “Maybe it’s never occurred to you that Mari and I might have memories, too, Ma, memories outside of Dad and the crash and the deaths—and the grudge. ”
    Her face pale and tense, she brought the swing to a halt and stared at him. He hated seeing her pain, but damn it, what he’d said was true. He exhaled heavily, trying to rid himself of his anger. He wasn’t mad at his mother, necessarily, but at this whole situation.
    He almost heard Brigit building her arguments in her mind. Marc had become a lawyer like his father, but it was his mother who’d taught him the skills for making an airtight case.
    â€œYou want Mari because she’s the only thing you’ve wanted and couldn’t have.”
    Marc started. “That’s a hell of a thing to say. Do you really believe that?”
    â€œI do,” Brigit said quietly. “You’re my oldest son, Marc. I carried you in my body, and I watched you grow from an infant to a man. Do you really think I’ve never noticed that once you set your mind on something, you make it happen, no matter what kind of storm you cause in the process?”
    Marc scowled. He couldn’t believe he was hearing this from his own mother’s mouth. “You make me sound like a spoiled brat. I’ve worked like hell to get anything I’ve ever had. And I’ve failed at plenty of things. What about Sandra?” he demanded.
    â€œI said anything you ever wanted. If you’d wanted Sandra more, the two of you would still be married.”
    Marc gave his mother a hard stare, warning her not to tread on that private territory. He’d heard her out after he and Sandra had decided to split, but that decision was his and his ex-wife’s business, not Brigit’s. His mother changed gears, just like that.
    â€œMari never married, I hear,” Brigit said levelly.
    â€œNo,” Marc conceded, not sure where his mother was going with her comment.
    â€œHer brother is the only family since her aunt died afew years ago. I don’t think Ryan would take too kindly to having Mari get involved with you again.”
    â€œYou really care about what Ryan Itani thinks?”
    â€œNo. But if you care about Mari, you should. Would you really consider alienating her from her only relative?”
    Marc rolled his eyes and stood. “You’re assuming Mari would even be interested. I haven’t seen any indication of that so far,” he muttered bitterly. His mother’s comment