Rain (A Kelli & Merin Romantic Suspense Book 2) by Barbara Winkes

Author:Barbara Winkes [Winkes, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2023-04-05T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Things become a whole lot more complicated in a heartbeat when I walk inside the inn and go upstairs to realize my parents have dinner guests. The table is set for six—they put a plate for me.

“Hi, Kelli! How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks. How are you?” Next to Fiona Collins sits Merin’s mother. Her greeting is a lot more cool and sober when we shake hands. In a heartbeat I realize that this was what they wanted to talk about yesterday.

Merin’s stiff posture tells me she didn’t know about the visit either. It was done with good intentions, no doubt about it, but we have yet to see if it will do any good. Sam keeps close to her, curled up next to her chair. Good dog. He has always picked up on his humans’ emotions, and I’m sure he senses that she’s upset.

“Kelli, you’ll sit down to eat with us?” Dad asks.

“Yes, of course. If you’ll just excuse me for a minute?”

It takes me more than a minute to get out of my clothes, into a quick hot shower, and into an after-work outfit. In my mind, I’m cursing most of the time. If Fiona and her grandmother stay longer, there’s no way I can whisk Merin away.

I understand the general idea, and if Merin’s mother is willing to keep the lines of communication open, the timing doesn’t matter. Almost.

What a mess.

I pull my hair into a ponytail, grimace at my reflection in the mirror and head back down.

Mom, Dad, and Fiona do most of the talking. If anything, it’s a relief to see that the teenage girl is doing so well after a traumatic experience. Merin’s mother is polite, but clearly out of her element. I admit I don’t have much sympathy. She’d rather Merin stay in a marriage that didn’t satisfy her, or her husband, than be honest and authentic. Happy.

I know I need to work harder to be the partner she deserves, but in our relationship, we found something real, something that goes far beyond sexual intimacy. Even if that matters, too.

“I can only stay for a couple of days,” she says. “I’ll have to be back before Christmas. The dinner will be at our house.”

“Mom says it’s okay if I stay longer.” Fiona seems excited about the prospect. “If you’ll have me.”

“Of course,” Mom and I say in unison. “Any family and friends of Merin are always welcome,” she adds.

Merin takes a sip of her wine, and then another. I can sympathize. Silence ensues. Everyone is looking down at their plates, except I catch Merin’s gaze and give her what I hope is an encouraging smile.

“We were wondering if you ever wanted to come home.”

Merin’s chair scrapes across the floor. I’m not the only one to wince.

“Mom! They fired me. I live and work here now. Kelli and I are going to move into a new place together.”

I’m glad she made that clear.

“Really? That’s cool,” Fiona says. “The landscape is really awesome. Must be great in the summer.

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