Charlene was overjoyed. She called Brendan post-haste, her voice taking a coquettish tone, “Can you come home earlier today, Bren? I’ve got some really important announcements to make.”

There was a brief beat of silence from the other side. “I’ll be home as soon as the meeting’s over.”

“Terrific!”

She straightened her back and began ordering Mrs. Engel to buy a list of cooking ingredients before personally preparing dinner. Relieved from kitchen duty, Mrs. Engel mused in the living room. “What’s with that Charlene? She’s as happy as a chimp with a banana. Is it her birthday today?”

Deirdre shook her head. “It’s not this month.”

“What else could possibly make her this happy, then?”

“Good news upon her, I bet.”

Before Mrs. Engel could understand what it meant, Brendan strode in from outside before hanging his suit on the rack.

Charlene practically sprung out of the kitchen excitedly to greet him. “You’re home already, Bren?”

“You called me about some important announcement, didn