Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I love my mom and dad. Seriously, I would take a bullet for either one of them. I didn’t mean to have a snide tone. But after my conversation with Aunt Marj, I can’t help but think that they’ve been hiding something from me my whole life. Something so important that Aunt Marj wants me to wait until after their anniversary party to even bring it up with them.
I glance at my sister. She’s knee-deep in conversation with Angie and Sage. The three of them are in their last year of college, and of course they’re having the time of their lives.
Gina won’t want to be dragged into any family drama. She wants to finish her degree in art. She’s been painting since she was a little girl, and she’s got so much natural talent, which is odd, because none of the Steels paint.
She does both perceptual and conceptual art, mostly oils on canvas but sometimes watercolor. In fact, every Steel home has one of her creations in it. Mom and Dad’s house has one on every freaking wall.
Will she make it as an artist?
I have no doubt. With the Steel money backing her, every gallery in the United States will want to showcase her work.
That’s fine.
I’m happy simply showcasing my bread here in Snow Creek.
I’m a small-town girl at heart. But Gina? She’ll end up in New York or LA, I’m sure of it.
“Ava?” Dale’s voice.
I shake myself out of my thoughts. “Yeah?”
“Are you mad at your parents or something?”
So much for trying to keep my thoughts secret.
“No, of course not.”
How can I be mad at them when I don’t know what they’re keeping from me, if anything?
“Oh, okay. I must’ve imagined the look.”
I should know better. Dale is extremely close to my father, obviously. My father taught him everything he knows about winemaking.
“I’m good.” I force a smile.
“Good. Where are your parents, anyway?”
This time I wrinkle my forehead. “They’re not here yet?”
“No, they’re not. When I saw Ryan earlier at the winery, he said they were going to be a little late.”
“They didn’t say anything to me. Maybe Gina knows something.”
“Nope, we already asked her,” Dale says. “She just says they had a quick meeting they had to attend.”
“Both of them? On Thanksgiving?”
“Yeah, both of them. Weird, right?”
“I’ll say.”
What the hell is going on? I hate thinking badly about my parents, but this is all too ominous. First, Mom blows off my calls about the text message. And then Aunt Marj tells me not to approach them until after their anniversary party.
“You know what, Dale? I think I’ll have that drink now.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
BRENDAN
“Oh.” I keep my jaw from dropping on the floor.
Ryan and Ruby Steel are standing in the doorway.
“Hello, Brendan,” Ryan says, his lips drawn into a slight frown.
“Mr. Steel.”
“Ryan, please.”
“Sure, of course. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the Steel family Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, we’re heading there, but Ruby and I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
“Uh…sure. You want to come in?”
“Actually, no,” Ruby says. “Can you come with us for a minute?”
“I can come outside and talk to you. But I’m not sure my parents would appreciate me leaving. Dinner will be ready soon.”
“Please,” Ryan says. “It’s important.”
“Is Ava okay?”
“Of course. She’s fine,” Ruby says. “But this does concern her. And you.”
“You mean the fact that we’re seeing each other?”
Ryan shakes his head. “No. I mean, we’re happy for you. Really. We’ve always liked you, Brendan.”
“Okay.”
I don’t really feel that I have to justify who I date, but this is Ava’s father.
“Let me go tell my mom. You know how long we’ll be?”
“No more than half an hour.” From Ruby, whose blue eyes look fatigued. She has dark circles that weren’t there when Ava and I met her for lunch to talk about the message we both got.
“All right. We probably have a half hour before dinner. But let me just tell her.”
I shuffle into the kitchen, my mind racing. What the hell is this all about?
“Hey, Mom,” I say. “You have an ETA on dinner?”
“I’d say about half an hour to forty-five minutes.”
“Okay. Great. Ryan and Ruby Steel want to talk to me about something, and they want me to go somewhere with them.”
“Where do they want you to go?”
“I don’t have a clue, but they said it would only take half an hour. Do you mind?”
Mom furrows her brow and then touches her oven-mitted hand to her forehead. “Does this have something to do with Ava? Is she okay?”
“Yes, they’ve assured me she’s okay. I’ll be back in half an hour.”
She takes off the oven mitt, narrows her gaze. “All right, honey.”
I make my escape quickly, just dodging Carmen, who I know is going to want to know why Ryan and Ruby Steel are here.
Once I’m out of the house, Ryan is opening the passenger side door of his Mercedes. “Get in.”