Awakened by Helen Hardt

Author:Helen Hardt [HARDT, HELEN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642632576
Publisher: Waterhouse Press

Darla made roast beef sandwiches with lettuce and tomato. They’re delicious, but I worry about eating so much red meat while I’m here. I’m no vegetarian, but in Cali I live on seafood.

Jade is good at conversation, talkative like I am. Like I usually am. I can’t seem to be talkative around her son.

Jade takes a sip of iced tea. “I can’t believe Diana isn’t back yet. What did she go over to Dale’s for?”

To tell him off.

I can’t say that, of course. She has been gone for a while, though. “I don’t know.” The lie is bitter on my tongue.

“Dale has a soft spot for Diana,” Jade says. “For both his sisters, actually, but especially Diana, since she came along shortly after he and Donny arrived here.”

Is that an opening? Should I ask why?

I’m not sure.

“Be patient with Dale,” she says then.

I lift my eyebrows.

“He can be…a little sharp sometimes.”

“Sharp?”

She smiles. “Kind of like a knife, but he doesn’t mean to be.”

I nod. “I know. Diana warned me.”

“Ryan is adamant that he take the reins with this internship. Tal and I aren’t sure why he feels so strongly about it, but he’s the boss at the winery.”

“I’m not sure Dale is happy about it.”

“Dale’s just a loner.” She sighs. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to his… I’m not sure of the word. It’s not standoffishness. He’s very close to his brother, of course, and to Talon and the girls. He and I never clicked the way the rest of them did. It’s something I still struggle with. I’ve always wanted to be closer to him.”

“I’m sure he loves you.”

“Oh, he does. I know that. We just don’t have the ease that I have with my other three children. I regret that.”

“Not all children are close to their parents in the same way,” I say.

Like I have a clue what I’m talking about. I don’t even know my father, and I have no siblings. I know absolutely nothing about this subject.

“I know. Believe me, I know.” She takes another sip of iced tea. “Dale’s a good man, though. Strong and intelligent. Brilliant, even, and so creative. I’m sure Diana told you.”

I nod. She did, but I already know all this based on my twenty-four hours with him.

“Don’t let him get to you. He can come across as…abrasive.”

Try ice cold.

And hotter than hot in the next moment.

“Anyway, on to a different subject. I don’t want to overwhelm you, but we’re having the whole family over tonight for a barbecue to celebrate Diana’s internship. Since she and Brianna are both leaving tomorrow, it’s the only time.”

“The whole family?”

“Except for Donny. It’s a five-hour drive from Denver, and he can’t get here on such short notice.”

“That’s still…” I count on my fingers.

“Twenty people, including you. And that’s not counting significant others. Gina and Henry are both in relationships, and I think Bradley’s dating a new girl. Angie might be dating someone as well.”

“Wow,” I say. “Gina and Ava belong to Ryan, right?”

“Yes.

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