All Wrapped Up. Jennifer Drew

It was exciting to work in the heart of Chicago, even though it meant a daily train commute from her town house in Haley Park. She loved being part of a dynamic team and couldn’t imagine a job better suited to her talents. Her co-workers were like a second family. Her best friend, Dana Gerard, who had the office next to hers, was like a second sister. The vivacious little brunette could always make Liv smile, even after a grueling day. She felt lucky to have such a positive person in her life.

      Liv was a little uneasy about the recent change in leadership. William Lawrence Jr. had just retired, leaving a third-generation Lawrence in control. Billy Lawrence, who refused to be known as William III, wanted to attract hip new clients in the sports and entertainment fields. At twenty-seven Liv was one of their top people, but she’d been advised to update her image and change her attitude. Even though her new boss was close to forty himself, Liv didn’t doubt he’d replace her with someone younger if she didn’t meet his expectations.

      “Loosen up a little,” Billy Lawrence had told her.

      She wrote “loosen up” on her list and underlined it.

      The words were painfully familiar, thanks to her ex-boyfriend, Jerry Lockmor. When he’d dumped her, he’d told her that she was too uptight in bed. Of course, his idea of passion had been thirty-two seconds of foreplay and a neon-colored condom. She’d been hurt when he broke off their relationship, but in retrospect it was a relief to have him out of her life.

      “I know what great sex is, Jerry, you idiot,” she muttered. “You were never in the ballpark.”

      She’d always believed in long-lasting relationships because her parents’ marriage had flourished. They were forcing her to reconsider her beliefs.

      She felt confused and hollow inside, but weeping and wailing wasn’t her style. She had things to do.

      The phone on the desk right beside her rang. There was no one she was in the mood to talk to at the moment so she let the machine answer it.

      “Olivia, pick up the phone. I know you’re there. I just talked to Mom.”

      Her sister was at the top of the list of people she wanted to avoid right now. If anyone could shatter her veneer of self-control, it was Amy.

      “Honey, I know you’re upset, but I’m going to keep calling until you talk to me. A family needs to pull together at a time like this.” Her sister sounded weepy. “We’re sisters. We should help each other.”

      Could things get any worse? How could Liv make Amy feel better when she was miserable herself? Reluctantly she picked up the phone.

      “I was in the bathroom,” she lied.

      “You were right by the phone trying to avoid me. I know it hurts, Liv, having Mom and Dad break up,” Amy said. “I cried for days when I learned—”

      “You cried for days? When did they tell you?” Liv felt as though she’d been kicked in the stomach.

      “They didn’t exactly tell me. Well, they did, but only because I knew something was wrong.”

      “How?” Liv couldn’t believe she’d missed something so obvious that her sister had clued in to.

      “Mom wasn’t into planning my wedding the way she had been. She was distracted,” Amy said.

      “How long have you known? Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I haven’t known that long. Mom thought she should tell you herself. Please, don’t get upset. It doesn’t matter who knew what when. I hate that it’s happened, but I’m sure everything will work out. Are you okay?”

      That was just great! Amy, who thought a broken fingernail was a major tragedy, was consoling her.

      “I’ll be fine when I get used to the idea of parents who don’t love each other anymore. Don’t worry about me,” Liv said.

      “I know, I know, you’re the one who always has things under control. But remember, they’re still young enough to build new lives.”

      “I didn’t know they hated their old one,” Liv said.

      Amy rarely played big sister. In fact, Liv sometimes forgot her sibling was one year older. Talking about her parents’ bombshell was making it seem all the more real.

      “They don’t hate each other, they just changed and grew apart,” Amy said. “You’ve probably figured that out for yourself. We have to cancel their anniversary party.”

      “People don’t usually give parties to celebrate a divorce,” Liv said, not intentionally sarcastic but it came out that way.

      Liv felt numb all over. She didn’t want to deal with this. It shouldn’t be happening to her family.

      “Liv, I feel guilty, but I won’t be able to help you call the guests to cancel. It’s really hectic at the flower shop. We can hardly keep up with all the orders for Christmas parties. And Sean says he never sees enough of me, so we’re going to his parents’ in Wisconsin next weekend.”

      Amy talked rapidly. Now that she’d given her consolation talk, she clearly didn’t want to deal with Liv’s take on it.

      Liv would hate explaining to fifty people why her parents wouldn’t be having an anniversary party, but it wasn’t as if she had much choice.

      “Okay, I’ll do it,” she said grumpily.

      “You’re the best! No one ever had a better little sister.”

      Yeah, yeah. Liv wasn’t in the mood for her sister’s facile compliments.

      “There is one tiny little thing you should know. Do you have pencil and paper handy? Of course you do. You’re always so well organized. Write down this number, 555–2996. Got it?”

      “Yes, 555–2996. Whose number is it?”

      “You didn’t have a date for Mom and Dad’s party, and I just happened to pick up the sports page of the Chicago Post…”

      “You never read the sports section.” Liv braced herself to hear one more thing she wasn’t going to like.

      “I was using it to repot a plant. Anyway, there was a story by Nick Matheson, the guy you brought home for Christmas once. He was so cute, and I felt so bad because his parents had just gotten a divorce. I actually envied you—but, of course, Sean suits me perfectly now.”

      “What are you talking about?”

      Even control freaks had a breaking point.

      “Nick’s back in Chicago working for the Post. I sent him an invitation to Mom and Dad’s party. That’s his number. You’ll have to uninvite him.”

      “Why me?” Liv protested. “You invited him. You should be the one to tell him the party’s canceled.”

      Being dumped by Jerry had stung her ego for about ten seconds, but Nick had really wounded her. She didn’t want to dredge up the old heartache by talking to him.

      “I don’t know him that well. I’m sorry, Liv. I shouldn’t have meddled with the guest list.”

      “You call him!”

      “No, really. You should be the one to do it. Oh, I have a call waiting. It’s Sean. Love you!”

      The phone went dead. Liv realized she was holding her breath.

      Nick Matheson.

      She’d never completely stopped thinking about him, but she was surprised by the pang of regret she’d felt hearing his name.

      Her sister, who floated through life blissfully unaware of subtle nuances in human behavior, had appointed herself matchmaker. Now, typically, she’d dumped the problem on Liv. If she didn’t love her sister, she could cheerfully strangle her.

      Liv put item number three, call Nick Matheson, on her list. But she wasn’t sure she could