“Easy for you to say.” Ramona’s tone was dry. “You couldn’t do anything wrong in their eyes. Miss Perfect.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You never got dirty, never stayed out past curfew, never did poorly in school.”
“You chose to do those things. No one made you do them. But our grandparents still loved you.”
“But I wasn’t you, was I, Megan?”
“No, but you weren’t orphaned, either. Both of your parents were alive.” She hated reliving this painful past.
“But they didn’t dote on me the way our grandparents doted on you.” Ramona’s tone was tense.
Was her cousin actually envious of her? She couldn’t grasp that concept. Ramona had everything: career success, social success, confidence and beauty. Why would Ramona possibly envy her?
Megan sank onto the sofa. “Your Heritage High graduating class was right when they voted you most likely to succeed. You have a successful business and you’re the town’s mayor.”
“But you’re trying to turn the town against me.” Ramona folded her arms.
“Because you’re trying to put us out of business.” Megan sighed. “We were never in competition, Ramona. I thought you realized that when you decided to stay with me after Grandpa died.”
Ramona relaxed her arms and straightened in her chair. “You thought I stayed because of you?”
“We’re the only family we have left. Why else would you stay here rather than go back to New York and Ean?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Ramona looked away.
“No, you don’t. But you should at least understand the reason yourself. Why did you come home?”
Ramona’s café au lait cheeks flushed. Her lips tightened. Megan remained still and quiet, waiting her out.
Finally Ramona crossed to the far side of the room, facing the fireplace. “I wasn’t ready.”
“For what?”
Ramona hesitated. “The demands of Ean’s career. He was working all of the time. I barely saw him.”
It sounded like a plausible explanation. Ean’s career was very demanding. That was the reason he hadn’t been able to come home more often or stay for longer visits. Still, something in Ramona’s voice made Megan realize her cousin wasn’t completely forthcoming.
“That didn’t mean you had to leave New York.”
Ramona turned to her. “I didn’t have anyone else in the city.”
“Neither did Ean.”
Ramona shrugged a shoulder. “He survived.”
Megan’s lips curved in a slight smile, as proud as though she had a right to be. “He did more than survive. He thrived.”
“And then he came home.” She gave Megan a considering look. “Is there any truth to Quincy getting a job in Philadelphia?”
Megan’s brows jumped up her forehead. “Why? Are you looking for another ticket to a big city?”
Ramona returned to the armchair. “I’m just curious.”
Megan gave her a hard stare. “Ramona, don’t play games with Quincy.”
“What? Are you his mother?”