When dinner was over, Tawny grabbed Poppy and Chess and ordered them to play dolls in the new castle Santa had left for her because, as Tawny told them several times, she was on the good-girl list and she could stay up past her bedtime.
“Not too late.” Cam winked. He took a sleepy Brinley up to her room, and when fifteen minutes passed, Blue sighed and looked at her brother.
“He’s fallen asleep with her.” She grinned. “He does it all the time.”
Cash took the last bit of food they’d wrapped up and stored it in the fridge. “I’ll tell you something, Blue, your cooking has improved a hell of a lot.”
She jabbed him with her elbow but laughed. “Actually, Cam roasted the turkey and made all the fixings, including the stuffing and gravy and grilled vegetables. Oh, and his mashed potatoes are to die for.”
“No wonder he’s sleeping. You worked him to the bone.”
“He can’t take all the credit. Poppy brought the ham and dessert.”
“And what was your contribution?” he teased.
“I made sure the beer was cold and the wine was chilled.” She raised her glass of wine. “I think I did a good job.”
He slipped his arms around her. “You did. This is a good look on you, sis.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“Being happy and content.”
The siblings were quiet for a few moments, and then Blue spoke quietly. “Have you talked to Mom or Dad?”
“No.” The last time he’d spoken to his father was the day he’d enlisted. He’d been eighteen years old. The rift between him and his mother was just as bad.
“She called me.”
“Did she now.” Cash knew his mother only called when she needed something.
“She wanted to know when I was going to invite her and Pete for a visit. Says she wants to see her grandchild.”
Anger flared inside Cash, but he didn’t say a word. Some folks weren’t meant to be parents. It was his and Blue’s tough luck that both of theirs fell into that particular category.
“I told her I’d think about it. That if it ever happened, Pete couldn’t come with her.” Blue looked up at him. “She said, ‘Why on earth would I come without Pete?’ And I told her she should know why.” Blue shrugged. “She hung up on me, and I haven’t heard from her since.”
Cash was silent because there wasn’t anything to say. Their family history wasn’t pretty, and their mother was in a toxic relationship with a man who meant more to her than her own flesh and blood. He was the stepfather you didn’t wish upon anyone.
“So, to change the subject…” Blue paused, and he saw the wheels turning big-time. “Chess seems nice.”
“She has her moments.” He wasn’t giving anything away.
“Tawny really likes her.”
“Tawny likes everyone.”
Blue nodded. “True.” She paused. “What’s the story with you two?”
His gaze wandered across the room to where Chess listened intently to Tawny. The little girl held up a doll, and the two of them giggled.
“There’s no story,” he replied, knowing his sister wouldn’t let it go until he did. “I don’t know her all that well.”
Except, he felt he did.
“We got thrown together because of the storm, and that’s about it.”
“If you say so,” Blue quipped, grabbing up the bottle of wine on the counter and emptying it into her glass. She grinned at him, all cocky and full of it. “Do you want to know what I think?”