Absolutely, Positively

a slight, knowing smile. She winked at him.

    Eventually, when she deemed the initial explosion over, she raised her hands to regain control of the room.

    “People, people, take your seats,” she said loudly. “Sit down, all of you, or I'm going to walk out of here right now.”

    There were a few more angry protests before the Strattons and Trevelyans reluctantly subsided back into their chairs.

    “Now, then,” Molly said calmly, “for those of you who doubt my interpretation of events, let me list just a small sampling of the many ways in which you all try to use Harry. Shall we begin on the Trevelyan side?”

    “Why not?” Parker fumed. “Bunch of lazy, shiftless cons and carnies. That's all they are. They'd take advantage of their own grandmothers.”

    Leon started to get to his feet. “Why, you—”

    “Down, Leon,” Molly said quickly. “As I was saying, we shall begin on the Trevelyan side of the family. Evangeline, who did you go to four years ago when you wanted help putting together a financing package for Smoke & Mirrors Amusement Company?”

    Evangeline's face tightened in astonishment. “That was business.”

    “Business which you could not have conducted if you hadn't had help from Harry.” Molly held up a finger. “Now, just to keep things even, we shall go to the Stratton side of the family. Brandon, who did you approach when you wanted assistance in setting up your new property management firm?”

    Brandon blinked. “That's different. I just needed some names of venture capitalists.”

    “Names which Harry supplied.” Molly held up another finger. “Back to the Trevelyans. Leon, who bought your new truck for you?”

    Leon's dark eyes glittered with anger. “That's between me and Harry, damn it.”

    “Precisely. Harry bought it for you.” Molly held up another finger and looked toward the Stratton side of the table. “Gilford, who did you go to when you wanted help convincing Parker that it would be a good idea to expand Stratton Properties into commercial development on the Eastside?”

    Gilford looked shocked. “How did you find out about that? That's proprietary information.”

    “Harry mentioned it,” Molly said dryly.

    Danielle bristled. “I shall have to speak to Harry about maintaining family confidences.”

    “Too late, I'm afraid,” Molly murmured. “Like it or not, Harry now considers me one of the family. That means the rest of you will have to do the same.”

    That brought another wave of charged silence. The Strattons and Trevelyans glared at each other and then at Molly.

    “Now, then,” Molly continued briskly, “since we're talking about confidential Stratton information, perhaps this is as good a time as any to remind you, Mrs. Hughes, of just how much you've relied on Harry during the past few years.”

    “Me?” Danielle's expression was one of deep indignation. “I'm his aunt. I have every right to discuss certain problems with my nephew.”

    “Problems which you want him to resolve for you,” Molly said. “I'm sure you recall how you went to Harry when you became anxious about Brandon going out on his own?”

    “There's no need to bring that up now.” Danielle cast a quick, uneasy glance at her father, Parker.

    “Fine.” Molly turned toward Raleigh. “Maybe we should talk about how useful you find Harry when money runs short?”

    Raleigh winced. “I get your point.”

    “I think we all do,” Parker said in a tone of weary resignation. “It's clear where this is going. Ms. Abberwick, you seem to feel that Harry has been imposed upon by both sides of his family.”

    “It's a little more complicated than that,” Molly said carefully. “I believe that he hasallowed himself to be imposed upon because deep down he wants a connection with both sides of his family, and this was the only way you would allow him to be a part of your lives.”

    “That's not true,” Danielle said. “Naturally we wanted Harry to take his rightful role within the family.”

    Molly turned to confront her. “Did you? That's not the way it came across to Harry. All his life the Strattons and Trevelyans have tried to make him choose sides in the war between the families.”

    Olivia grimaced. “That's putting it rather strongly.”

    Molly ignored her. “You're all guilty of trying to make him declare himself either a Stratton or a Trevelyan. When he refused to deny either side of his heritage, you tried to punish him for