Page 63 of Colorado Bride
ChapterTen
Emily broke the silence.Her tears stopped and she needed answers.
“Why won’t you believe me when I say nothing happened with Rory?He was more interested in the money.I’ll tell you why, for the same reason you don’t believe there is something wrong with your mother.You don’t trust me, so you don’t believe me.”
She paused for a moment, contemplating if she should say anything.
“You know he has your smile.There is nothing else to designate him as your half brother, but his smile is the same as yours.Same dimples as yours.”
She felt his body stiffen and then relax as if he was concentrating on keeping himself relaxed.
“If you’re trying to tell me he’s my brother, father said he’s not and I have to believe my father.”
“Maybe I was seeing something that isn’t there.”I know what I saw.“Or maybe your father lied because he wanted you to take care of your mother.”Though I can’t imagine anyone caring enough about Doris to actually want to take care of her.
“Maybe.”
“Was your mother always the way she is now?Do you remember her being this hateful when you were a boy?”
“No.She’s changed.She was a happy woman when I was little, even when Jane came along when I was five.I’d never seen her as happy as she was had a daughter.”
“How does she treat Jane now?”
“She doesn’t.Since Jane left to marry Curt, she and Mother haven’t talked.”
“Does she not like Curt?”
“I don’t know.She seemed to like him right up until their wedding day.Curt announced he’d bought them a ranch on the other side of Golden toward Denver and that was it.Mother changed literally over night.”
“That should have been good news.The newlyweds were getting off to a good start I’d say.”
He shrugged.
“Me, too.But Mother frowned and then pouted at the news.Her mood was like she had expected them to live with us forever.She went from being happy at their wedding to two weeks later, refusing to speak to Jane.”
“When do I get to meet Jane?From the sound of it we have a lot in common.Your mother can’t stand either one of us.”
He frowned.
“That’s not the situation.”
She moved away and stared at him.
“Then tell me what exactly is the situation.”
“Well.”
He ran his hand through his hair.
“I can’t tell you what is happening because I don’t know.As to meeting Jane, how about on Sunday?I usually go over once a month but I’ve not done that since we married.”
A happy thrill rushed through her.
“I’d love to meet them.I don’t have any family, as you know, so I’m excited to have a sister and brother-in-law.”
“Not to mention an adorable niece and nephew.”
She smiled and closed her eyes, picturing her new niece and nephew.
