I blushed. It was a big deal, but I wasn’t used to being treated like that. I was completely blindsided when they approached me the week before, saying I was in the running. I had been a nervous wreck when I sat down with the Senior partners for a “talk.” I thought for sure they were going to pass me up, especially with how much time off I had taken recently. But no. They had seen it all differently. Not only was I family oriented, but I proved that I could still balance my work load, while taking care of my family.

Go figure. 

It also brought to light how much of everyone else’s work I usually ended up helping with - cough, cough, Chris, cough, cough.

“Wow, Fi. That’s awesome. Congrats.” Randy wrapped me in a warm hug. “I’m so proud of you, sis.” He sounded like he actually meant it too. 

“Thanks.” I croaked, making them both laugh. 

We spent the next few hours packing up everything in the house, creating piles for storage, give-away, and what we would take with us. Even Katia was going to take a few things, mostly for her girls – and to pass onto me when I was ready. If I was ever ready for my own.

By the time we decided food was a necessity, we were all covered in dust and sweat. We sat around the dining room table, probably for the last time before it got put into storage for who knows how long, and munched on a couple pizzas, wings, and breadsticks. Katia, like the mother she was, would not let us have the brownie-cookies until we finished our dinner. 

“So, what all is going to be different with the promotion?” Randy asked, taking a big bite of his Meat Lovers.

I shrugged, finishing my bite of the Hawaiian. “Not much really. I get a bigger office, which is kind of cool, since I’m moving up a floor. I will have a handful of people reporting to me, and I will report directly to a Senior partner. That part I could live without.”

Katia giggled. “Hopefully after being around them so much, they will stop freaking you out all the time.”

I rolled my eyes. “One could only hope.”

We each updated the others on our changes in life. I was thrilled to realize that Randy seemed to actually enjoy his job. He was even considering trying to move up to a district level position. I was proud that he was making a real go of it there. 

It was long past dark when Katia left us, she purposely waited until after bedtime to return to her husband and two daughters. She didn’t even lie about it, she flat out said that was why she stayed so long. 

Randy and I stood in the living room filled with boxes, all waiting for the movers to come the next day, just staring at the place we grew up in.

“It’s weird knowing we will never be back here after tomorrow. Knowing someone else will be raising their family here.” Knowing someone else’s mother would be living here. I couldn’t say that one out loud, it was hard enough just thinking about it.

“Yeah, it is. I’m gonna miss this place. I almost wish we weren’t selling. I mean I totally get why, and I agree it was a good call, but still… ya know?”

I sighed and wrapped my arms around his left arm, hugging my big brother. The nostalgia for the good ole days was getting to me.

“Yeah, I do. As badly as I wanted to argue with Dad, it was kind of a relief at the same time.”

Randy snorted. “I bet.” 

All was silent, the feeling of unspoken subjects lying between us. Randy knew about the whole deal with Dad and the Power of Attorney thing. He had popped in for a random hospital visit while the lawyer was still there. The lawyer and I both felt awkward and nervous while Dad explained the new set up to him. Randy and I hadn’t spoken about it since. We hadn’t really spoken about Dad much either. Family dinners in the nursing home lately had been kind of subdued. When my big brother bothered to come anyway. 

“I understand why he did it. I agree with that one too.”

I turned to look at him, surprised. So many surprises tonight. “You do?”

“Yeah. I really do. I don’t have the best history with money.” His voice trailed off, and a new edge took over his face. One I recognized a little too well.

“You were doing so good, Randy.”

“I know. But after Dad’s heart attack, and then all the changes. I thought maybe I could help. I’ve been getting by with playing online, with fake money. It helped with the itch. I do really good, so I thought I’d try again. I found a new place, very low key, not many people.”