"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Annabelle finally said. "If you love someone and they love you, nothing else matters." Wasn't that the reason wedding vows contained the words, for better or for worse?
"I'll always be here for you," she assured him. "And if you let her, Lola would be here too." Annabelle rose to her feet and hugged her uncle tight.
"Where are you going? We have Lola's dumbass business proposition to discuss."
Annabelle recognized the subject change. Her uncle's eyes were moist. Maybe on some level, she'd gotten him to think. But she wasn't about to discuss The Hot Zone's future when they were all so emotional or her uncle was on his way toward getting drunk.
"I'm going to find Vaughn." He'd promised he'd be there for her after the family fallout and she needed him now.
"He's gone," Uncle Yank said.
Annabelle turned around fast, certain she'd heard him wrong. "What did you say?"
"Vaughn's gone. He asked me to relay the message." Uncle Yank stared at his drink once more.
"What message?" she prodded.
"Something about having to leave because there was a fire at the lodge." Yank took a solid gulp. "Guess everyone's having a crappy day," he muttered.
He didn't know the half of it.
ANNABELLE HEADED BACK to her apartment, Micki alongside her. No sooner had she unlocked the door and stepped inside than Boris attacked, jumping up and down on his hind legs, his tail wagging like crazy.
"There's nothing like a doggie greeting," Anna belle said as she scooped the white ball of fluff into her arms.
Micki laughed. "I hear you. Find me a man who'll lick my face and breathe in my ear and I'll die a happy woman."
"It's good to know you want so much out of life. Annabelle's grin dimmed. "What's bothering you anyway? You seemed uncharacteristically grumpy back there."
Micki was the happy-go-lucky sister who rarely complained. It was unusual to hear her gripe, especially after a party.
She shrugged. "I'm just getting tired of being alone, you know? Maybe it's an early midlife crisis. It'll pass, I'm sure."
"Well I'm here for you no matter what."
"And I'm grateful for it," Micki said. "Speaking of grateful, I don't think I've thanked you for taking care of the apartment for me while I was gone."
Micki swung her lithe body onto the comfy couch Annabelle had purchased from a Pottery Barn catalog. "Not a problem, sis. What's a little plant watering, right?" she said with a touch of sarcasm as she gestured around the living room, her sweeping arm encompassing Annabelle's vast collection of beloved plants. "Anyone ever tell you this place looks like the Garden of Eden?"
"Hah, hah. Is that your way of saying I owe you?"
"Just a little." She squeezed her fingers together, "Next time you might want to consider getting a live-in plant-sitter."
"Is there really such a thing?" Micki rolled her eyes.
"I was joking."
"I know." Annabelle joined her sister on the couch and released Boris so he could jump into Micki's lap. "And it looks like I'm going to owe you some more. I might have to go back to Vaughn's."
"Annie," Micki groaned, leaning back against the couch. "Do you realize how many times I have to refill the watering can to feed these thirsty monsters?"
"Did you try talking to them? They're usually much more pleasant if you sing 'You Are My Sunshine' while you're pouring water and misting their little leaves."
"Misting?" The color drained from Micki's cheeks. "You never said anything about misting!"
"Joke," Annabelle said, chuckling. She'd missed spending time with Micki while she was away. Nothing beat hanging out with her sisters. Unless she counted hanging out with Vaughn.
She thought about the fire at his lodge and she shivered.