A Mirthful Wish by Kristy McCaffrey

Author:Kristy McCaffrey [McCaffrey, Kristy]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Ten

Ellie let herself into her grandparents’ house since no one heard her knock and followed the din of conversation to the kitchen. Compared to the Adler mansion, Adam and Isabelle lived more modestly, but then the entire family didn’t reside together. Their house wasn’t far from the Adler Reindeer Farm, since once upon a time her grandfather had owned the herd with Theo Adler.

“Ellie!” Her brother, Jamie, gave her a big hug.

She was then handed off to her older brother, Owen, who was close in age to Liam. It was good to see them.

“How’s Albuquerque?” she asked Owen. He was at UNM getting an MBA.

He shrugged. “The same. I can’t believe you’ve come back. You were our world traveler.”

“Even world travelers get tired.” She leaned close and said in a low voice, “You’ll be home for good soon, too. You’ve gotta help dad with the Thatcher portfolio.”

“I know. Is it true that Liam Adler is now running the Adler empire?”

“Yes, I guess so.” She feigned a nonchalance she wasn’t feeling, because in the last hour she’d come to realize that Liam Adler was a huge problem for her. She liked him. Like really liked him. Man, this was going to make living in town a bear.

She grabbed a saltine and a slice of cheddar cheese from the hors d’oeuvre plate on the kitchen island and started munching. Two hours with the magnificent Lumi—and the magnificent Liam—and she was famished.

“Slow down, El,” Owen admonished. “You’ll ruin your dinner. I have it on good authority that Grandma made her famous lasagna.”

Ellie groaned with happiness. Her grandmother was a testament to her Italian heritage. Then she did a quick scan of those present. “Where’s Bella?”

Owen dug a cracker into a bowl of pimento and shrugged as he popped it into his mouth. “Mason said she had a date.”

Since Mason, their cousin and Bella’s brother, was currently chatting with Ellie’s dad, she was forced to pump Owen for more information.

“Did he say with who?” she asked. It was incomprehensible that Bella would have such a rebellious streak in her. It went against the fabric of her personality.

“No. And why don’t you know? You two were always like conjoined twins.”

“Maybe it’s just casual,” she said, more to herself. “Not serious. Not worth talking about. Yeah, that’s probably it.” Was she talking about Liam now?

Owen gave her a funny look, which she ignored.

Her dad stepped away from Mason and gave her a hug, and said quietly, “Your mother told me about the dog. I might have a solution for you.”

“Really?” Ellie brightened.

“I know you want to move out. I’ve got a friend who owns a condo down by the creek. His tenant had to break the lease suddenly, so if you want it, he’ll have it ready to move into before Christmas. And he’ll let you have a dog.”

“That’s fantastic!”

“We can see it in a few days, if you like.”

“Yes, absolutely. Thanks, Dad.” She gave him another hug.

While they all waited for the piping-hot lasagna to cool, Ellie got Grandpa Adam to join her in the living room.

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