Mistletoe Twins by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-09-13T15:33:31+00:00

Chapter Nine

“You and Ben still aren’t speaking to each other?”

Adele couldn’t suppress the niggle of worry that had begun building last night after her foster sister had sat stony-faced through dinner, in obvious avoidance of her husband. Her stomach twisted at the very thought of this marriage faltering.

“No.” Victoria avoided her gaze and sipped her early-morning coffee while her daughter played with a toy.

Adele’s stomach sank. If Victoria and Ben could fall out of love— “Anything I can do?”

“No. I’m waiting for him to apologize.” Victoria’s lips pursed. “He challenged me on my decision to let a troublemaking kid go riding with the rest of the group this afternoon. He said I’m putting the other kids in danger. Which is utterly ridiculous.”

“Is it?” Adele saw irritation alter Vic’s face and quickly backtracked. “I’m not taking Ben’s side, Vic. I’m just wondering if maybe he noticed something you didn’t.”

“Nothing concrete, he says. A ‘feeling.’” Her expression showed exactly how she felt about Ben’s feeling. She glanced at Adele, then frowned. “Stop looking like that.”

“Like what?”

“As if you expect us to end up in divorce court over this. People disagree, Adele. It’s normal and even healthy.” She shrugged. “We’ll talk it out and be fine. I just need a bit of time.”

“Okay.” Adele busied herself assembling ingredients for breakfast waffles. Her sister left the kitchen with a refilled cup of coffee. Half an hour later she heard Ben, Victoria and their kids leaving via the front door. She peeked out the window and saw them hand in hand, strolling down the driveway for their usual early-morning walk, and heaved a sigh of relief that there was no obvious sign of strife.

“Are you dreaming about Christmas, dear?” Aunt Margaret entered and poured herself a coffee.

“More like watching Ben and Vic. They had an argument.” She suddenly felt guilty for repeating that.

“So did Tillie and I. She wants to go downhill skiing. I think it’s too dangerous. At her age—at our ages—we shouldn’t take silly risks.” Frustration tightened Margaret’s lips.

Adele couldn’t help staring. She’d seldom if ever heard the aunts disagree. To see Margaret’s irritation now was upsetting.

“Why are you frowning, dear?” Margaret asked.

“It’s just—I’m surprised. I’ve never heard you and Tillie argue.”

“Well, we do. She’s a daredevil and that disturbs me.” Her aunt plunked the cream pitcher on the table as if to emphasize her words. Then she sighed. “I’ll get over it. I always do.”

“Oh.” Adele wasn’t sure what to say.

“I recall how arguing always bothered you. You always wanted harmony and peace. But some disagreement is healthy, Adele. Everyone has an opinion and to keep silent just to avoid an upset isn’t necessarily good. We must express our feelings and trust the ones we love will respect us for them,” Margaret murmured. “As we must respect theirs.”

“I guess.” Adele didn’t like this conversation. Quarreling always reminded her of her parents’ bitter feuds and how afraid she’d been as they escalated.

“You see, dear, it’s all in how you disagree. From the little you’ve told us in all these years, I doubt your parents disagreed with respect.

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