Page 83 of A Lick and A Promise
“I don’t understand the vitriol,” Dad chimed in the instant Mom quit speaking. “Even if Luna had told us you were looking at houses, why couldn’t she tell us? Is it a state secret?”
“It’s my business,” Dream mumbled.
“And thirty-five thousand dollars might help you with that business,” Dad returned.
Hold up.
Thirty-five thousand dollars?
Hot damn!
I could throw a killer wedding for thirty-five K.
Yowza!
I was so caught in this exciting news, I missed Dad’s easy-going vibe slipping.
“I truly don’t understand why your first reaction is to snap something in an ugly tone at your sister,” Dad said to Dream.
“Dad—” I tried again, at the same time Mom said, “Scott.”
“Okay, then let’s talk about how you think I’m not getting married.” Dream was now snapping at Dad.
“Because you’ve repeatedly said that marriage is an antiquated concept, its sole purpose being to force women to be chattel,” Dad retorted.
As far as I remembered, she’d been saying this since she was thirteen years old.
Stymied, Dream changed tactics.
“I’d say I’m not having this conversation in front of Knox, who’s not my extended family, but I’m not going to have it at all. Ever,” Dream announced.
“Dream and I have been spending time together, Dad,” I got in. “And it’s been cool.”
“You have?” Mom asked hopefully.
I nodded to her.
“Oh my God,” Mom whispered. “That’s just…lovely news.”
“And what’s that mean?” Dream bit in Mom’s direction.
Knox, who was sitting beside her and across from me, looked at me.
I made a face at him.
He frowned.
Uh-oh.
“Nothing, sugar plum,” Mom said through our nonverbal exchange. “Two sisters enjoying time together is lovely.”
“Well, obviously you already know without asking, Luna the Magnificent instigated it,” Dream said sarcastically. “I’m sure it won’t surprise you that I didn’t reach out to her.”
At the “Luna the Magnificent,” Knox’s attention shafted in her direction.
Oh shit.
“All right. Maybe we should table this for now, and you girls can think on it and let us know which way you want to go with the money,” Dad said.
