Free Family Matters by Barbara White Daille

could only get dates if they were arranged by her grandmother!
    Now, looking to the other side of the game room, shebraced herself. Without a doubt, this situation was about to go from bizarre to unbelievable.
    Uncle Bren and Matt’s mother crossed the room toward them. Finally, Kerry had the opportunity to observe the woman up close. She looked about Bren’s age, putting her near sixty, with salt-and-pepper hair in a trendy short cut and pale, perfect skin.
    The growl coming from Matt confirmed Kerry’s suspicions that things were about to turn ugly.
    â€œMatthew.” His mother hurried toward him. “Sorry, I’m a little behind schedule. Brendan and I needed to discuss a few things. I thought you’d planned to meet me at the house.”
    â€œI tried that. When I got back from picking up your prescription, you weren’t there.”
    â€œOh.” A becoming pink blush suffused her cheeks.
    â€œMeanwhile, I had some business I wanted to take care of here.”
    â€œI see.” She shot a worried glance from one man to the other and finally settled her gaze halfway between them. “Hello. You must be Kerry. I’m Olivia Lawrence. I’ve heard so much about you from Brendan.”
    â€œHi.”
    Matt’s growl revved up to the sound of a cement mixer.
    â€œAnd from Maeve, too, of course,” Olivia rushed on, as if afraid her son would break in. Or more afraid of what he would say if he did.
    The man didn’t seem to have much patience with anything.
    Sure enough, he stepped forward a pace.
    â€œMacBride. About time you showed up.” He looked at the crowd around them. “We need to talk. Alone.”
    She’d wondered where Uncle Bren had gotten to earlier, after he’d somehow slipped away when she wasn’t looking. Or had she been hoodwinked by Gran? As horrible as it feltto think that of her own grandmother, she knew it might not be far from the truth.
    In any case, she wished Uncle Bren had stayed away. He’d taken a belligerent stance with hands fisted and chin raised. A problem just waiting to happen. Yet, even as she winced at the sight, his gaze skittered away from Matt, as if he’d suddenly become afraid of facing up to this lawyer who meant nothing to them but trouble. The reaction bothered her, and all her protective instincts jumped to the fore.
    Somehow, she managed to clamp down on them.
    Matt had been nice to her; he’d helped her. For a brief time, she’d even dared to hope they might manage to work together. But he had said it himself. Assisting her with one box didn’t mean he’d joined their cause. She had to remember that. And she had to support Uncle Bren.
    â€œWait a minute.” She put her hands on her hips and turned to Matt, looking up to make sure he met her eyes. “First of all, can you lower your voice, please, before anyone else notices?” So far, her volunteers had stayed busy at their tasks, and the last thing she wanted was to draw attention if he planned to start renewing his threats. Considering the state of their finances, she desperately needed those volunteers.
    That thought pushed her forward.
    â€œSecond of all,” she said to Matt, “any discussion you need to have with Uncle Bren, you can hold in front of me. Especially if it concerns the amusement park.”
    â€œI can’t guarantee it will be fit for a lady’s ears.”
    She exhaled abruptly, forcing the most unladylike snort she could manage. “You know where I work. There’s nothing much you can say I haven’t heard a student say before.”
    â€œMaybe your students don’t consider you a lady.” He glanced toward his mother.
    And maybe Matt didn’t, either. No big surprise there. No one ever did. With Sean and Patrick born before her and Colinand Brody coming after, she’d focused more on keeping up with the boys than on developing any feminine wiles. She’d been