I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be, but I was going back to New York a different man.
Chapter Eighteen
Rebecca
I placed a platter of fried chicken in the center of the table. Kim eyed it with approval.
“It looks just like Mom’s,” she said.
“That’s a good sign,” I said, refilling her wine glass. “Let me just grab the corn, and we’re all set.”
This was our mother’s recipe. I decided to make it tonight, given that we weren’t going to see our parents anytime soon. It was a way to have them here with us, even when they weren’t physically here. I walked back into the cozy little kitchen and grabbed the plate of corn on the cob, along with my own glass of wine.
I hoped the meal would cheer Kim up a bit. With the library set t
o close, she’d been having a rough time of it. The worst part was how happy I felt right now. Austin’s quick visit earlier had brightened my day and reminded me how good he felt inside of me.
It was hard to be so happy, knowing that she wasn’t. I felt guilty about the joy I felt. Maybe I could spread some of my good feelings to my sister with dinner and drinks.
I walked back into the dining room and set the corn down. Kim put a couple of pieces of chicken on her plate. I grabbed a drumstick and took a bite. I closed my eyes at the flavors. Mom had a recipe that made it sweet and spicy all at once.
“So good,” I said.
Kim grinned at me. “It tastes just like Mom’s,” she said. “You nailed it. Thank for cooking this for me.”
“I don’t do it often enough. Mom left her cast iron pans and all the recipes, so why not? Plus, we’re not going to see them for the holidays.” I sighed. There was just too much going on this year.
“I know,” Kim said, with an encouraging smile. “Hopefully, we can work something out soon.”
She looked more upbeat than she had. It was impossible to be sad with a plate of Mom’s fried chicken in front of you.
She shot me a curious look. “You seem to be in high spirits tonight,” she said. “What gives?”
I didn’t want to talk about how good I felt, considering she had a mountain of worry on her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the holiday spirit. Eat, drink, and be merry, right?”
It wasn’t far from the truth. I’d gotten a tree earlier from the lot in town. Kim and I were going to decorate it after dinner with the decorations Mom left behind.
Austin was doing the same thing tonight with his family and Preston. I wondered what the man thought of it, being from England. Austin’s mom was all about tradition, so he’d be getting his fill. I smiled at the thought, wishing I could be there to see it.
“I just wish that I could work a Christmas miracle,” I said.
Kim let out a soft chuckle. “I was going to wait until Christmas to tell you, but you’re my sister. I can’t keep any secrets from you.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked her, taking a sip of wine.
Her eyes shined. “The library just got a crazy donation, Rebecca. From an anonymous donor. It’s big. I mean, huge. Not only are we going to stay open, but we can expand some and hire the staff to do it. It’s incredible!”
She jumped up and hugged me. I spun her around in a circle.
“That’s awesome,” I said and smiled to myself. An anonymous donor. I knew a certain someone who had that kind of money to give. But I wouldn’t press the issue. I’d just thank him in my own way, quietly and without calling him out, if Austin was, in fact, the donor. “You get to stay here with me.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, sitting back down and digging into her meal. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Now you need to spill about what’s making you so happy.”
“It’s Austin,” I said, blushing. Kim looked me over. “I don’t think I realized how much I missed him until he came back, Kim. Now that we’re seeing each other again, I am over the moon. You were right about giving him a chance.” I couldn’t suppress my smile.
Kim looked carefully at me. “About that, Rebecca.” Kim cleared her throat.
I frowned at her. “I thought you wanted this, Kim.”