Contingent on Approval: Holiday Novella 5.5 by Jenna Bennett

Author:Jenna Bennett [Bennett, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Mystery, Women Sleuths, Romance, Anthologies, Holidays, Multicultural, Romantic Comedy, Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages), Collections & Anthologies, Multicultural & Interracial, Mystery & Suspense
Amazon: B00A9N9MAM
Published: 2000-12-31T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 6.

“That went better than I thought,” I told Rafe when we were out of earshot in the formal dining room, set with Catherine’s holiday dishes and tapered candles in silver holders and cloth napkins in engraved rings.

He shrugged. “Guess nobody told your brother-in-law about me.”

“Of course someone told Jonathan about you. Don’t be silly.” The fact that I was carrying on with him had been the number one topic of conversation in the family for the past several weeks. I knew that because Dix had told me.

“So why’d he look surprised?” Rafe wanted to know.

“I have no idea. Maybe it was the sweater.” I thought for a second and added, “Although if he’s been listening to mother, he might have expected you to look different.”

He slanted me a look. “Like how?”

“You know. Cornrows, pants around your knees, baseball jersey, gold teeth with diamond chips.” My mother’s worst nightmare. Between you and me, it isn’t a look that appeals to me a whole lot, either.

Rafe grinned, showing off a set of nice teeth with no gold fillings or other adornment. “Been a while since I rocked the gangsta look. Turns out it’s a lot harder to outrun the law when your pants are down around your knees.”

I smiled as I pushed open the swinging butler door.

Catherine’s kitchen is just as beautiful as the rest of her house. Sleek and modern, with granite counters, maple cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. At the moment it was hot and steamy, redolent of flavors. Ham, butter, green bean casserole, fresh bread. My sister was in the middle of it all, with an apron wrapped around her middle and her hair frizzing in the humidity.

When she heard the door open, she snapped over her shoulder, “Dinner will be ready in five minutes.”

“It’s us,” I said.

My sister isn’t an effusive person. None of us are, really. Excessive emotion is all right for the unwashed masses, but the Martins are above such unbecoming displays. I didn’t expect her to look overly excited to see me, or us. However, I also didn’t expect her to look surprised. “What are you doing here?” she said.

I blinked. “Weren’t you expecting us?” The table was set for six, wasn’t it?

“I thought,” my sister said, “you might be spending the day in bed, making up for lost time.”

So that’s what she’d intended the 365 condoms for.

I blushed. Rafe, on the other hand, laughed. “Thank you for that.”

Catherine smiled back. “You’re welcome. I owe you an apology.”

The last time the two of them had seen each other had been in the hospital the night of my miscarriage. I’d been despondent, Rafe had been upset, and the family had been worried. And because I hadn’t told them about him, or him about the fact that he’d knocked me up, a lot of people thought it was Todd’s baby. Todd knew better, of course, but Rafe didn’t. Nor did Catherine. So after he knocked Todd flat on his butt in the hallway, he’d left, and I’d sent Catherine after him.

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