Unforgettable

unforgettable  performance!”

---

“Very pun-ny. But very nice to hear from a younger brother.”
“We’re glad we came,” added Brian. “Timing was close since we’re heading out
tomorrow.” His grin said it all, and Jen knew his mind was already on the
pitcher’s mound.
“Thanks, boys. I’ve enjoyed my fifteen minutes of fame, but now reality awaits.”
She walked hand in hand with Doug outside the theater as their group looked for
Luis and the car. “Actually, guys, I think I’m supposed to drive you to Hyannis
tomorrow for your summer league. With all the rehearsals and night classes, I’m
a bit confused. But I’m ready to go.”
“You can sleep late,” said Brian. “Mike bought us a car.”
“He what?” Jen exclaimed.
“It’s an almost-new second-hand Pilot,” said Andy, “so there’s room for our
stuff.” He patted her arm. “The gas is on us.”
Totally baffled, Jen turned to her brother-in-law. “I could have driven them…
why did—” Mike had done so much for them already. Regardless of his income,
enough was enough.
“Both you and Lisa have busy lives. Neither of you can go and fetch them every
time they want to come home.”
“But I would have…” she began to protest.
“He’s right, Jen.” Doug’s quiet voice caught her attention. “Your brothers are old
enough to be responsible for a car. With the baseball scholarships they just told
me about, and the attention they’ll get from the scouts, who knows where they’ll
end up? They’ll need a car anyway.”
She took a breath before saying, “I know where they’ll end up. They’re staying
right here in Boston. They’ll play for the Red Sox!”
The boys cheered. Lisa laughed. Doug said, “Hear, hear!” The tension was cut.
“But that’s not the way it works,” said Mike, the only one who’d been through a

---

professional draft experience. “And there’s no use speculating. The only rule in
this family is that our kids graduate first. And that’s not debatable.”
“Definitely,” said Jen quickly. “Can’t take a chance on being sidelined with a
broken arm or something worse.” Like never getting drafted by any team.
Without her degree, she’d be nowhere. Their hardworking parents had pushed
education, had wanted a better life for their kids. And then Mike, the boys’ legal
guardian, had picked up where her folks had left off. He was determined her
brothers understand the importance of backup plans.
“Besides,” said Mike, throwing his arm around Andy, “they’re not ready to go
pro. They need a little more meat on their bones. Eat, boys, eat!”
Jen glanced at Doug. “You were skinny at their age, too.”
“Live in the present, Henny-Penny. Can’t call me skinny now.”
He had her there. “Not going to argue. I guess time has a way of changing
things.” She looked at the ones she loved, her personal crowd—and the truth of
her statement slammed into her like a runaway train.
“My God,” she said, suddenly shivering. “Our lives really are changing. I don’t
like it!” She took a deep breath, her gaze slowly moving from one beloved
person to the other. “I can’t stop any of you from growing up and branching out,
but one thing must not change. We will always be the Delaneys! The Delaney-
Brennan clan. We stick together no matter what, because if we don’t, we might
disappear like…like”—she waved her fingers—"ashes in the wind.”
“Promise me.” she added, her voice cracking. Her chin dropped.
Silence followed, broken in a moment by a cacophony of voices. Familiar,
reassuring voices. Mike’s protective tone, her brothers’ tentative expressions,
Lisa’s sympathetic hugs. But only one voice registered.
“Let it go, Jen. Let the damn fear go!” Doug leaned in, his forehead touching
hers. “Your family’s not going anywhere, and they don’t need a babysitter. Not
anymore. Now, it’s your turn. Do what the song said and spread your wings. It’s
time.”
##

---

Maybe Doug was right, in theory. Not in reality. Not a babysitter, but a coach?
A week later, Jen sat behind the wheel of Mike’s car, heading west on the Mass
Pike toward the Tanglewood Music Center in Lennox. She darted a glance at
Doug, who sat next to her.
“Emily’s awfully quiet back there,” she whispered. “Will you take a look? A
subtle look. She’s sensitive.”
“Sure,” said Doug, twisting in his seat. “Hey, Emily. What’s going on in that
head of yours?”
“Geez. I said subtle!” said Jen.
“You can probably tell what’s going on,” said Emily. “I’m an open book.
Everybody can read me. I wish…I wish I was stronger, like you, Jen.”
“Oh, Emmy. I’ve got my own issues…as Doug likes to remind me. But you?
You’re terrific. Just consider how you’re spending this summer! You’ve earned a
fantastic opportunity.”
“You mean by my audition?”
“And the recommendations from your teachers, and getting all the paperwork in
on time.”
“…and convincing Mike to let me out of his sight for the summer with no adult
supervision. I guess I’m an adult”
“Yeah, a bit overprotective is our big brother.”
“He always says if my head weren’t attached to my shoulders, I’d forget where I
put it. And he may be right. Like..uh…right now. Jen, I forgot my money!”
“What?” Typical. Which was why Jen was still Lisa’s deputy.
“I forgot the credit gift card Mike gave me to use at Tanglewood. It’s on my desk
at home. It was for lunches and other ‘incidentals’ that aren’t included in the
program. He said the safest thing to do is use a gift card. I think it was for five
hundred dollars.”

---

Great. She had only twenty dollars in her wallet. Her mind raced for solutions,
but Doug’s laughter interrupted her thoughts. She glared. “What’s so funny? Do
you want her to starve?”
“Just watching you think,” he replied with a grin. “You’re very expressive when
problem-solving.” He turned to look at Emily. “Not to worry, honey. Your sister
has a knack for rescuing people.”
“Oh, come on. This one’s actually a no-brainer. Even you could figure it out.”
She waved her fingers at her sister. “We’ll just stop at an ATM, and I’ll withdraw
enough from my account to keep you going for a week. There’s no way,
however, that I’m giving you five hundred in cash.”
Emily sighed a big sigh. “I don’t blame you. I’d probably lose it.”
“Amazing how you never lose your violin,” said Doug, a meaningful note in his
voice.
“Doug! I’d never, ever do that.” Emily’s indignation now had both Doug and Jen
laughing.
“I believe you. Just teasing,” said Doug.
“But…you know…money will be an issue real soon. Do I have any money of
my own, Jenny? You know, like from Mom and Dad?”