by Alexia Praks
Chapter 14
Remembrance of the Past
James was pleased Sakura had decided to join them for dinner this evening. He gazed at her across the dining table, noting she wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable with the brothers surrounding her as she had been this morning. Mary, who kept up a constant chatter, was sitting on her right. To her left was Conrad. The moment he’d seen Sakura sitting down, his youngest son had snaffled that particular chair before anyone had a chance to steal it from him.
Tara and Alaina, who were sitting on the far end of the table, were both glaring at Sakura as though they couldn’t stand to be in the same room as her. Sakura, on the other hand, paid them no heed. She continued to enjoy her meal and now and again gave some chicken to Toby who was sitting on the floor behind her.
“The wedding is going to be beautiful, Mary,” Brenda said. “The cherry blossoms by the pond will be in full bloom.”
“That’s why I waited until spring to get married. Sakura kept telling me how beautiful cherry blossoms are in spring,” Mary replied enthusiastically.
“There’s nothing special about some stupid cherry trees,” Tara put in, stamping her knife and fork down loudly on the table.
James frowned and said, “I disagree. I love cherry trees. They’re beautiful in full bloom, like lovely pink clouds in the air, and they smell divine.”
Sakura laughed, which turned the brothers’ heads. Tara was aware of this, and her temper flared.
“Do you really?” she asked. “I seem to remember differently.”
“Me too,” Brenda said. “I think there was some muttering and grunting about the whole thing for weeks.”
“I think there were some cheery trees being pulled out in the middle of the night too,” Sakura said. “I found some missing the next morning.”
James managed to blush at the reminder.
“Who planted the trees?” Nicolas couldn’t help asking.
“It was Sakura’s idea,” Brenda blurted out. “She bought two hundred cherry trees with her own money and planted them herself.”
“With Ned’s help,” Sakura put in. “He was such good help. It took us months. But it turned out nice.” She bent down and gave another piece of chicken to Toby.
“If I were here, I would’ve helped you,” Conrad said. “It sounded fun.”
“This is awful,” Alaina snapped. “Why are we talking about some stupid trees? And this meal is disgusting. I can’t take it anymore.” She clanged down her knife and fork too.
James frowned at his daughters’ rude behavior and then looked over to Beth. He noted the disappointed look on the housekeeper’s plump face and tightened his fingers around his cutlery. He said, his tone hard and frost cold, “Alaina, that was very impolite. Have you been away from home for so long that you forgot how to show some appreciation? I expect better from you.”
“I think this meal is delicious,” Sakura said loudly so everyone could hear her. She turned her eyes to the housekeeper, who was standing not too far away. “Thank you so much for preparing this wonderful chicken for us, Beth.”
Beth nodded at her in appreciation. That’s my Sakura, she thought, always there to help when anyone needs help.
“What do you think, Conrad?” Sakura asked her adopted brother.
Conrad was quite pleased that Sakura involved him in her solo conversation and gladly said, “Yeah. This chicken is awesome. Thanks, Beth.”
“It’s soft and tender,” Darcy added. “It’s perfect.”
Beth blushed and grinned widely. “Thanks, Master Darcy. But you know I’m better with baking. Now there’s my department. Perhaps I will bake some chocolate cake tomorrow. How does that sound?”
“Marvelous,” Tristan said. “I love chocolate cake. And your chocolate cake is the sweetest on the island, Beth.”
The housekeeper chuckled at his remark.
Alaina was fuming. She’d had enough of this stupid conversation. Why the hell did they have to praise the housekeeper when it was her job to cook them proper food anyway? She stood and then stalked out of the room, her temper hot. Tara stood up as well, gave out an outrageous puff as though to tell everyone they should be ashamed of themselves, and then left the room.
James and Brenda looked at each other.
Up on the second floor of the mansion, Alaina slammed the door shut and dumped herself on Tara’s large, soft bed.
“You were right,” she said. “I can’t believe that bitch.”
Tara turned to look at the pretty girl she’d been manipulating since they’d been children. “What?” she asked.
“That—that silly Sally girl,” Alaina snapped. “I can’t believe she’s back, and now Mom and Dad love her more than ever.”
“I think the brothers are beginning to as well,” Tara said, frowning. Please, she thought darkly, not Sebastian and Darcy. Not them. Don’t let them fall for her. Please don’t.
“What? No way!” Alaina said. “Not my brothers.”
“Conrad,” Tara put in. “He’s smitten with her. Or didn’t you see the look on his face?”
Alaina had noticed the look on Conrad’s face. He’d looked like a boy in love. But he was only twenty years old and so technically not yet a fully matured man. Sakura, on the other hand, was twenty-three. Aside from the age difference, they were also siblings—even though adopted and not at all blood related, but still.
“I want to go and stay at the hotel,” Alaina suggested eagerly. “We don’t have to be in the same house as her.”
Tara frowned. “No!” she snapped. Of course, there was no way she’d leave this house when all the brothers, especially Sebastian and Darcy, were under the same roof as Sakura. She had to be there to prevent certain things—she wasn’t sure what—from happening. Then her heart did a somersault as a sudden thought struck her. What if Sebastian fell in love with Sakura? Or Darcy, for that matter? What would she do then?
She’d have to kill Sakura, of course. She wouldn’t let the girl she despised most take the men she loved away from her.
“So what? We’re going to stay here and endure her presence?” Alaina asked angrily. “You know how much I hate her. I can’t stand her. If you’re not going, then I am.”
Tara noted the rage in Alaina’s hard voice. Shit! She really must calm the young woman down again if she wanted things to go her way. After all, she didn’t want Alaina to leave her here by herself. That just meant she wouldn’t have any support to fall on. Furthermore, Alaina was very close to both James and Brenda and hence a very good card in her hands if she needed help in her little game.
Tara moved over to the other girl and put her arm around her. “Do you really want Sakura to take everything away from you? First it was James and Brenda. Now it’s Conrad, your youngest brother. Then who would be next? Darcy?” She’d said the name ever so softly so Alaina understood what she meant.
Tara knew Alaina was very protective of her brothers, especially Darcy since they were twins, and of course this worked out to her advantage.
“No, of course not,” Alaina whispered.
“Good,” Tara said. “Then we’re staying here. Let’s work together to protect our brothers, why don’t we?”
Alaina chuckled. “Yes, let’s.”
