My Highland Lover (Highland Hearts)
Page 32
“So when do we leave?” Lilia asked. She sniffed the contents of her glass, wrinkled her nose, and set it back down. “I’m not gonna drink that. It smells like cough syrup.”
“We don’t leave.” Kenna licked her lips and refilled her glass with an even more generous splash of Italy’s best. “I do.”
Mairi intercepted the glass just as Kenna raised it to her mouth. “No more. Not until you’ve shared what’s going on. After that, you can drink all you want and sleep beside the toilet.”
The idea of retching the night away stayed Kenna’s hand. Mairi had a point. Making matters worse by self-induced misery was not the solution. “Granny says it’s time for me to jump back. Alone.”
“She wants you to leave us? Alone?” Mairi gathered up all three glasses and set them in the sink.
“I can’t believe Granny would have you leave us.” Lilia leaned forward, propping her chin atop her fists. “What are we supposed to do without an older adult to make sure we don’t do anything stupid? I know we’re not considered minors anymore, but until we turn twenty-one, we’re still kind of limited when it comes to business dealings. Nobody wants to deal with a couple of kids. What if we need a loan or something to expand the shop? How are we supposed to support ourselves?”
Kenna stood on tiptoes and shoved the ancient brandy bottle back to its place on the high shelf. So much for fueling herself with liquid courage. “She says she’s sending a friend to look after the two of you until it’s your turn to jump back. Someone named Eliza. Do either of you remember Granny ever mentioning her?”
“A friend named Eliza.” Lilia straightened on the stool. The dubious look on her face said it all. Lilia didn’t like this sudden upheaval any more than Kenna. “I don’t remember Granny ever talking about some woman named Eliza.”
“Is she a time runner too?” Mairi leaned against the counter beside Kenna. Her dark brows puckered with a worried look and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Mairi struggled when it came to meeting new people, because all the Sinclair siblings had learned at a very young age that their survival depended on knowing who they could and couldn’t trust with their family secrets.
“I don’t know.” Kenna closed her eyes and bowed her head. She suddenly felt a great deal older than twenty-three years.
“How much time do we have left with you?” Lilia slid off the stool and scooped up the sweater she’d tossed across the back of the couch. She hugged the fuzzy gray garment against her chest and stared down at the floor. “I don’t want you to go. I’m tired of our family being split up across centuries. It was bad enough when Trulie and Granny jumped back.”
Kenna’s heart ached at Lilia’s words. She felt exactly the same way. “I don’t want to go either, Lilia.” She rounded the counter and hugged an arm around her little sister’s shoulders. “But Granny sacrificed so much for us. How can I refuse to go? I owe it to Granny to at least give whatever she’s got cooked up a chance. Look how happy Trulie is. Granny’s grand plan worked out great for her.” Kenna struggled to keep her tone upbeat and convincing. Quite a feat, since her spirits were currently sagging so low they could wipe out her footprints.
“We’ll be fine.” Mairi’s voice cracked with emotion and she turned away.
Kenna blinked hard against the threat of tears as Mairi ripped a paper towel from the roll and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
“You’re right. We have to do this for Granny.” Lilia brushed the back of her hand across her cheeks and sniffed.
Kenna blinked faster and swallowed hard against the unshed tears aching in her throat. When had her two little tomboy sisters grown into such mature young women? Kenna coughed and turned away. “Well. We’ve got a week to get me ready to meet my sexy Highlander. So we best stop all these tears and be gettin’ after it.”
Lilia’s sad smile slipped a notch as one corner of her mouth trembled. “So, I guess this means I get to keep this shirt?”
Love stories you’ll never forget
By authors you’ll always remember
eOriginal Romance from Random House
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