“Would anyone like a little gravy?”
Jenna took the gravy boat from her. “We can take it from here. Please thank Grace for this amazing meal.”
“Okay. Here’s some fresh-baked rolls and whipped butter. If you need anything...”
Charles slathered a roll with butter, and dipped it in gravy. “We know where to find you.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Angel quietly flipped the pages of an album Jenna put together for her. Every now and then she’d ask a question or cast an inquisitive glance her way.
She isn’t all freaked out like she was after seeing the photo from my purse. Dare I be hopeful?
“Maybe one day you can come to my home to see some of our mother’s things?”
Her sister stared at her for a few moments. “I think I’d like that, one day.”
“Of course, whenever you feel up to it.”
The doctor sat back and said nothing for most of the session. Jenna smiled. His look of approval reaffirmed the session had gone as well as she thought it had.
“You know, I’ve been here a few times now, and I’ve yet to go on a tour of the ranch.”
Angelina brightened. “I can show you.” She looked at the doctor. “That is if it’s okay with you?”
“I think that’s an excellent idea. Do you want me to come along?”
Her sister shook her head. “I can do it by myself.” She smiled broadly. “I’ll show you our craft room first.”
Jenna eagerly followed her sister’s lead out of the office, and was thrilled beyond measure to have Angel reach for her hand to hold as they went on their way.
Angel came to a full stop, however, when Daniel’s office door opened. He stepped into the hallway, closely followed by Buffy and a woman she assumed to be Diane from the kitchen.
True to her word, her friend had toned it down considerably. Jenna never thought she’d see the day Buffy would leave the house with minimal make-up and her hair in a ponytail. Even without all the extras, she was a natural beauty—and judging by the way Daniel ogled her, their plan was going well.
“Take as long as you need, Diane.” Daniel kissed the older woman’s cheek. “We’ll miss you.”
He turned to Buffy. “Let’s go back in my office and we’ll take care of the necessary paper work.” Not once did he take his eyes off of his new employee. He put a hand to the small of her back and ushered her inside, closing the door behind them without so much as a glance in their direction.
Her sister scowled after them. “Who is that?”
“I heard Diane was called away for a family emergency. I’m guessing that girl is her replacement.”
“Hmph.” Angel stomped her foot. “I don’t like her.”
“You don’t even know her, Angel.”
Her gaze narrowed. “I know enough.”
Grinning, Jenna asked, “So, can you show me the craft room now?”
She shrugged. “I guess so.”
“On second thought, do you think we could go out and see the horses?”
It was like a switch flipped, and she offered Jenna a brilliant smile. “That’s a good idea. We can get a few apples from the kitchen to feed to them. Would you like that?”
Jenna linked arms with her, and they half-skipped their way to the kitchen to find Twyla alone.
“Can we have some apples for the horses?”
Twyla smiled. “Yes you can.” She gave Angel a plastic bag. “Take what you want from in the cold room.”
“I’ll be right back.” Her sister scurried out of sight.
Jenna took a quick look around her. “Are we alone?” she whispered.
“Yes, but not so long.”
“Daniel will probably bring Buffy here soon. He seems more than pleased to meet her.”
“This is good, ci?”
Angel burst into the room. “I got the apples. Come on, let’s go to the stables.”
Jenna chuckled, as did Twyla.
“You two have fun.” Her accomplice waved from the door.
Angel practically dragged Jenna across the lawn to where the horses were kept. She had visions of her toppling over on her bad arm, but there was no stopping her. Her sister seemed to go off in her own little world whenever she interacted with the horses. Her face lit up, and her otherwise uneven gait, now smooth, almost angelic. One by one she touched each horse as a mother would a newborn child.
Jenna remembered reading that when someone loses an ability, another will surface and compensate for the loss. Her newfound sibling may have Down syndrome, but she truly had a gift—a special connection with the horses. Would Angel have the same bond with the dogs and other animals?
“Here.” Her sister placed an apple in Jenna’s hand. “Watch me. You put the apple in your open hand and hold it under the horse’s mouth.”
“Are you sure he won’t bite me?” She was a little nervous about her hand being so close to the animal’s large teeth.
Angel laughed. “No, the horse wants the apple, not your hand.” She guided Jenna’s arm, moving it slowly until the apple was close enough.
As promised, the horse didn’t bite her, but it left a little more slobber than she would’ve liked. She grimaced at her hand. “Ew, gross.”
Angel giggled.
“Oh, so you think that’s funny, do you?” Jenna held her hand out as if she’d wipe it on her pretty white blouse.
Her sister squealed and stepped back.
She moved toward her playfully, and Angel walked backwards, step for step.
“No don’t. I’ll give you a towel.”
She winked. “No, that’s okay, you’ll do just fine.”
Angel screeched and ran out of the stable, laughing as Jenna followed, holding her sticky hand out in front of her. Next thing she knew, they somehow tripped over each other and fell to the ground, lying on their backs in the grass, laughing until they both held their sides.
“Oh my, you didn’t hurt your arm, did you?” Jenna gasped for breath.
Unexpectedly, Angel turned on her side and stared into her eyes.
“I should have known better.” Jenna reached for her. “Does it hurt?”
“I think you must really be my sister,” she said in all seriousness, seemingly oblivious to her concern.
Jenna gazed at her through a veil of tears. “I think those are the most beautiful words I have ever heard.”
Angel got up on her knees, prompting her to do so as well. When her arms awkwardly wrapped around Jenna, it was like the huge void her mother’s death had left within her was suddenly filled with warmth.
“I love you, Angel.” Her voice cracked.
Angel pulled back a little and hiccupped, her nose red from sniffling. “I love you, too, sister.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
It warmed Charles’ heart to see Jenna so happy. Angel’s acceptance of her as a sister meant the world to her.
“She wants to come here so we can sort through some of our mother’s things.”
“That’s wonderful, Jenna. I couldn’t be happier for the two of you.” He noted the glint in her eyes. “Okay, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
“You know me better than anyone.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “I’m going to brighten things up around here. It still feels like a mausoleum the way it is now.”
Charles winced. “That bad, huh? What exactly do you have in mind?”
She jumped up from the sofa and padded across the room to the heavy brocade drapes. “Well, for starters, get rid of these.” Dust particles danced in a stream of sunlight let in when she parted the curtains.
“I’m with you on that.” He winked. “What else?”
Jenna opened her arms. “How about we take down those tapestries? They’re beautiful, and probably cost a small fortune, but they’re not for here. I think a fresh coat of paint would breathe life back into this old place.”
He held up his hands. “Okay, okay, whatever makes you happy. Design is definitel
y not my forte.”
She stood behind his chair and planted kisses across his baldhead. “Thank you, thank you. Did I ever tell you just how much I love you?”
Charles brushed her hands away and wiped his head as he stood. “I’m outa here before the waterworks start.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “You know you love me.”
“I never said I didn’t. Why don’t you go look at paint colors or something?” He left the house with a smile on his face and walked toward the garages that housed his newly acquired antique cars. Just as suspected, John had the Rolls out, buffing the chrome.
“She’s looking mighty purty, ol’ man.” Charles whistled long and low as he looked up and down the length of his car.
“Yes, sir. She’s quite the lady.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he quickly answered the call.
“Charles.” Twyla breathed heavily as if she’d been running.
He froze in place. “Twyla? What’s wrong? Why are you out of breath?”
“I ran to my car, and I’m on my way home.” She swallowed audibly. “After Jenna left, I take a tray to one a girl that is sick. Angel skips right to me and hugs me. She tells me she has a sister now.”
“Well, that’s good news, right?”
“Yes, it is, but then Daniel came out of his office with Buffy. Angel, she… sono impazziti…um, she go crazy.”
“What do you mean by crazy?”
“She march over and stop so close, right in Buffy’s face.”
“Shit.” Charles swiped a hand over his head. “Please tell me it didn’t get physical?”
“No, Angel put hands on hips and shout at Buffy.”
He splayed a hand over his rapidly beating heart. “Why don’t we talk over coffee? I’d rather have this conversation in person.”
“Yes, me, too.”
“How about we meet at your place? We can discuss this more openly there.”
“Yes. I be home in twenty minutes.”
“Okay then, I’ll see you in half an hour. Twyla? Is anyone in urgent need right now?”
“No. We have time.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.” Charles tucked his phone away. His heart beat somewhat back to normal. “I have to go out for a while.”
John smirked. “Yes, I heard. Don’t worry. If Jenna asks, I’ll tell her you’re on a date.”
Charles stroked his jaw. “You know what? I never missed having a woman in my life, until Twyla came along. There’s something mighty special about that lady.”
“You better snatch her up, my friend. A gal like her won’t be available forever.”
He waved a hand in the air. “Yah, I know. See you later. I got my cell if anything comes up and you need me.” He hurried off to fetch his Mustang.
Out of all his newly acquired cars, Charles loved driving the convertible the most. Having the roof down made him feel young and alive.
As does Twyla.
A vision of her wearing her sunny-yellow dress flashed in his mind.
Maybe it’s time to find out if she feels the same way.
His attention swayed to the reason he was headed her way, and an image of Buffy and Angel, nose-to-nose, flashed in his mind. “Shit.” What did Angel say to poor Buffy? He sped up a little. Why can’t things go smoothly for a change?
Twyla’s car was already in the driveway when he arrived. She stood at the door, still wearing her uniform and visibly upset.
Charles stooped to kiss her cheek. “Nice to see you.”
She squeezed his hand and led him through her cozy little house to the kitchen.
“You’ve got a real nice place here.”
“Gracie. Coffee?” She opened a cupboard and glanced back over her shoulder.
“Yes. Coffee sounds good. So, are you okay?”
She smiled sweetly at him. “I am good, just worried.” Twyla nodded her head in the direction of French doors. “We go sit on the back porch, okay?”
He left the table and opened the doors for her. His gaze narrowed on the swing of her hips, and he smiled, appreciating the fact she looked good coming and going.
The seriousness in her tone put his thoughts back where they should be. “You said Angel faced off with Buffy?”
“I never did see Angel angry before.”
“Is Buffy okay?”
“Angel shouted to stay away from Daniel. She sprayed from her mouth in Buffy’s face.”
“Ouch. I’m sure I’ll hear all about that.”
“Buffy did not move. Her mouth is open like she does not believe this happened.” Twyla took a sip of her coffee. “Daniel stood in the middle, so Angel steps back.” She shivered. “His eyes are black when asks what Angel is doing. He say it not good to talk to Buffy. He tells her to say sorry. But Angel cross her arms and sticks up her nose at Buffy. She says, ‘Daniel is mine. Go away.’”
“Wow. Didn’t they see you standing there?”
“No. I stand with my back on the wall.” She shook her head. “Daniel’s face is red, and he say Angel to go in his office and stay. She sticks up her chin and pushes Buffy out of her way to the office. Daniel says sorry to Buffy. His hand goes down her back and stop too low, touch her bottom two times. Buffy smiled and takes his hands away.”
“I can just imagine what was going on in her head. Buffy did well.” He was actually surprised she kept it together, normally a fire cracker, she’d be up one side of him and down the other in seconds flat.
“Daniel is not happy at this and does a… hissy fit? He points down the hall and tells her to go to kitchen and stay there.” Twyla snickered behind her hand. “Buffy walked away. I saw her mouth say, ‘asshole.’”
Charles tilted back his head and laughed. “Now, that’s more like the Buffy I know.”
“I saw her one more time before I go. She tell me she will check to see Angel is good.” She glanced at her watch. “She will phone me to say what happens.”
Just then, several solar lights came on. The garden was beautiful in the coming darkness. They sat in amiable silence, watching the backyard transform from day to night.
Charles stood and offered his hand. “Come, take me on a tour of your amazing garden while we wait for Buffy to call.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jenna listened to Twyla and Buffy recant their day at the ranch. It was a good thing they started off by telling her Angel was okay, because she could hardly believe they were talking about the same girl she’d left earlier.
“I don’t know what went on in his office, but before I left, I found her in the craft room with one of the younger girls. She was laughing and carrying on.” Buffy tucked her feet up under her on a deck chair.
“What do you make of it all, Twyla? You probably know Daniel better than any of us. Is he the kind of man who’d take advantage of girls like my sister?” She clenched her teeth together in wait of her answer.
“I don’t know him that way. He keeps…er, private? The one time I say no to him, he never try no more after.” She heaved a sigh. “The girls on main floor try hard to make him happy. Is it sex? I say no, not with little girls. Maybe the big girls, but I never see this.”
“All I know is that it was crystal clear Angel felt I was a threat. In her eyes, Daniel belongs to her.” Buffy picked up her drink. “I seriously thought she was going to hit me.”
Charles put his feet flat to stop the swing from moving and cleared his throat. “I hate to play the devil’s advocate, but isn’t it possible she thinks of Daniel as a father figure? Maybe after her mother passed, she became a little obsessed with not losing him, too.”
More confused than ever, Jenna didn’t know what to think. “I pray that’s true. Nothing would please me more than being proved wrong about things.”
He put his arm across Twyla’s back and rubbed her shoulder with the pad of his thumb. “Are you cold?”
She snuggled to his side. “No, this is good.”
Jenna smiled. It warmed her heart to
see her dear friend finally find someone who thought he was as wonderful a man as she knew him to be. As happy as it made her, she couldn’t stop a twinge of jealously; Jack wasn’t there to comfort her.
“I don’t know about any of you, but this working deal has me all tuckered out.” Buffy stood and stretched her arms above her head. “I’m going to crash here. So, what’s the game plan?”
“Well, I think if you two ladies keep an eye on things on the ranch, I’ll try to see if I can get my sister to tell me how she really feels about Daniel.”
Charles left to drive Twyla home, and Buffy took the guest room next to her bedroom. Alone on the back deck, Jenna tried to make sense of everything. She wished Jack was there so she could lose herself in him, even for only a little while.
We need to get to the bottom of things quickly so I can go home.
Her phone buzzed and skipped across the beveled glass of the side table. Jenna startled. “Who could be calling at this hour?” Her jaw dropped upon seeing Jack’s name flash on the screen.
“Jack?” Her heartbeat raced.
“Hey, Jenna. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Why is your name on my screen?” She heard the tell-tale tremor in her voice and made a concerted effort not to break down.
“What, you’re not happy to hear from me?”
“Oh, Jack, of course I am. I just didn’t think there were towers close enough to catch a signal from our house.”
He snickered. “Well, there’s a tower now. It’s funny what a little money and persistence can do.”
“It must have cost you a fortune!”Dammit! I should’ve taken care of this long ago. I’ll have to find a way to make him let me pay for it.
“Don’t worry about all that right now. How are things going there?”
“Angel wants to come here for a visit, so I’ve hired a crew to brighten up the place.”
“That sounds encouraging.”
“Yes, I’m pretty sure after a couple more sessions with her psychiatrist I’ll be able to come home.”
“I know you’re excited, but be careful not to rush things. Make sure your sister is in a good place before leaving her.”
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