Sisters by Choice

by Susan Mallery

  “Asking or telling?”

  Heather thought about the last conversation she’d had with her mother, how Amber would always resent her own daughter’s opportunity and success. She didn’t doubt Amber loved her, but the feeling was always mitigated by Amber’s own demons.

  “Telling,” she said softly.

  Sophie put her arm around her. “So here’s the thing. Amber always twists reality to suit her purposes. There’s a better than even chance that by the time you come back for Christmas break, she will have rewritten history. Kristine and I have been talking about planting a few seeds—you know, to smooth things out between you.”

  “Like what?”

  Sophie grinned. “We’re going to tell her how much she must miss you and how brave she is for letting you go. Later, we’ll talk about how she always wanted you to get away and how we admire that about her. It may not work, but we’re going to give it a try.”

  Because they loved her and wanted the best for her, Heather thought. “Thank you. Only you don’t have to rush. I don’t know if I’ll be coming back for Christmas. I don’t know how long our break is and with the mountain passes between here and there, I’m not sure about driving. Plus, I would be missing work.”

  Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Young lady, you are so coming back here. I will send you a ticket and you will get your ass on a plane. Is that clear?”

  Heather’s throat got tight as she nodded. “You’re really good to me, Sophie. Thank you. You’ve always been good to us. You bought the condo for my mom and I know that when Kristine and Jaxsen were buying their first home, you helped with the down payment. You’re a generous person.”

  Sophie shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not. I’m difficult and opinionated and right now I’m dating a guy who makes me insane. But I do love you and I want you to be happy.”

  She pulled an envelope from her back pocket. “Your grandmother sent this. I happen to know it’s to help you out with school.”

  Heather threw herself at Sophie and hung on tight. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now get going. You have a long drive ahead of you. Text me when you get to the hotel, okay?”

  “I will. I promise.”

  They stood. Heather looked around the room one last time before heading for the front door. She paused to pet Mrs. Bennet and Lily before walking to her car.

  As she pulled out onto the street, she thought about swinging by to see her mom, but knew there was no point. Amber wouldn’t appreciate the gesture and the odds of them getting into a conversation that would upset them both seemed incredibly high. There would be plenty of time for talking later.

  She drove to the main road, then went east until she reached the bridge separating the island from the mainland. Once across the Sound, she merged onto I5, heading south. She was about twelve hundred miles from her destination and the next chapter of her life.

  “I’m going to be okay,” she whispered, the words as much a promise as an encouragement.

  The sun peeked out from behind clouds. Heather slipped on her sunglasses and smiled. She had no idea what was going to happen next, but one thing she did know for sure—she’d escaped. For better or worse, she was going down a different path and whatever happened, she was happy and grateful.

  * * *

  “Everything is perfect,” Sophie said, adjusting a couple of mugs on open shelves. “The whole space is beautiful.” She glanced over her shoulder and grinned. “Which is good, because otherwise your new store would feel bad about not being the prettiest one in the room. You’re glowing.”

  Kristine sat on a stool by the front door and took it all in. The gleaming floors, the fresh paint on the walls, the display cases, the coffee carafes, mugs and plates and to-go bags and boxes, the little bistro tables and chairs for those who wanted to linger.

  In the kitchen the oven happily baked dozens of cookies at a time. She had brownies cooling, a banner announcing the grand opening in the morning and two hundred and twelve new orders from her website.

  “I’m happy,” she said simply.

  “I can tell.” Sophie pulled up another stool and sat. “Things are good at home?”

  Kristine thought of the counseling sessions and how Jaxsen was doing his best to be different. She was working on that, as well, but she had a feeling it was a little easier for her. She’d always been the one to adapt.

  Still, his effort thrilled her. He was helping more with the boys and together they’d revised the chore list for everyone. Jaxsen had insisted they hire a cleaning service to go through the house once every two weeks, freeing her of the task. Ruth had surprised her by asking if she could work in the store on weekends. Apparently, Paul wasn’t thrilled, but he was keeping his grumbles to himself. Ruth was already talking about using her salary to help pay for a girls’ weekend away with two of her friends.

  “It’s working,” Kristine said happily. “All of it. I’m putting in ten-hour days, but I’m loving it. Jaxsen is handling dinner two nights a week. It’s just takeout or rotisserie chicken, but that’s okay. Tommy has been looking at cooking videos online and has already made chili in the Crock-Pot.”

  “You might have a budding chef in the works,” Sophie teased.

  “I might. Or at the very least, the promise of a grateful daughter-in-law when she discovers the man of her dreams knows how to cook.” Kristine smiled at her cousin. “You talked to Jaxsen, didn’t you?”

  Sophie shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “He must have come to see you while we were apart. You told him to stop being a jerk.” She smiled. “Or something like that.”

  “Not me.”

  “There’s no way Jaxsen came to his senses on his own. I love him with all my heart, but that’s not his way. You don’t have to say anything, but thank you.”

  “I still don’t have any idea what you’re going on about, so whatever.”

  Kristine laughed. “You’ll never change, will you? You’re so warm and loving, yet you can’t take a compliment or accept a thank-you. Why is that?”

  “I have no idea.” Sophie’s mouth twisted as her shoulders slumped. “I’m just not like everyone else.”

  An unexpected shift in conversation, Kristine thought, leaning forward. “What’s wrong? Is it Amber? I thought she quit.”

  “It’s not Amber. It’s me. I’m so far from normal. It’s hard for me sometimes.”

  “Soph, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Sophie growled. “Dugan. He’s making me crazy. You know he won’t sleep with me anymore.”

  “What? No way. He’s crazy about you. He watches you during Tai Chi.”

  “Just so he can yell at me about my lack of form.”

  “He never yells. He adores you. I think he’s in love with you.”

  Sophie shifted in her chair. “I don’t know. Maybe. No. He’s not. It’s just...” She opened her mouth, then closed it. “When I found out who he was—the previous business success and everything, I totally freaked out. I told him I couldn’t have sex with him anymore because it was too weird.”

  “You’d do it with a beach bum but not a successful businessman? Okay, I’m sorry to have to say this, but you’re totally twisted.”

  “I know, right? Then I kind of figured out what he was saying was right and I stepped back and let people do their thing and it’s going better. I’ve even stopped putting up my sticky notes.”

  “What sticky notes?”

  Sophie brushed away the question. “It’s not important. My point is, I’m fine now, but he’s being difficult. He said he’s not putting out until I admit I’m in love with him.”

  Kristine burst out laughing. She knew it wasn’t the most supportive thing to do but she couldn’t help it. Her successful, hardworking, determined cousin had finally, finally met her match.


  “Good for him.”

  “What?” Sophie glared at her. “That’s not supportive.”

  “No, but it’s honest. I’m thinking Dugan’s the first guy you’ve ever met who’s willing to call you on your crap.”

  “Which is not funny. This is serious.” Sophie looked out the window. “I’m not like you. I don’t want to get married and have kids.”

  “I think we’re all clear on that.”

  “But what if I want Dugan and I can’t have him?”

  “That’s not what he’s saying. Of course you can have him. He’s telling you exactly how to make that happen.”

  “Sure, love. And then what?”

  “He doesn’t want to marry you.”

  Sophie shook her head. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better. You can’t know that. What if I tell him I love him and then he proposes?”

  “He won’t. He knows you. Have you ever discussed having kids?”

  “I told him I didn’t want to.”

  “And what did he say?”

  “That he was fine with it.”

  Kristine smiled. “But you can’t believe him?”

  “Men are known liars.”

  “Now you’re just looking for trouble. What are you so scared of?”

  As soon as she asked the question, Kristine wanted to call it back. She knew exactly what terrified Sophie—it had since her mother was unexpectedly killed and her whole world came crashing down on her. People who loved you broke your heart. Kristine knew she was one of a very few exceptions to the rule.

  “Sorry,” she said quickly. “Let me rephrase that. Dugan’s not going to take your money or lie to you or walk away. I won’t say he isn’t going to hurt you because he probably will. That’s what happens in a relationship. No one is perfect so every now and then someone gets hurt. But you know what? You learn from your mistakes and you keep moving forward and it gets better.”

  Sophie didn’t look convinced. “I don’t want to love him.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m afraid to love him.”

  “That I know to be true.”

  “Did I mention I’m not like you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can’t do normal.”

  “No one wants you to.” She paused. “Bear probably does, but I’m guessing he’s given up on it by now. Sophie, Dugan’s a great guy. You’d be a fool not to take a chance on him and while I know you have many flaws, being foolish isn’t one of them.”

  “I’m so scared he’ll propose.”

  “What if he doesn’t? What if he just wants to love you for you?”

  “Unlikely.”

  “That is such an Amber thing to say.”

  Sophie winced. “Now you’re just being mean.”

  “I’m telling it like it is. This October, when the kids are in school, let’s fly down to LA and spend the weekend with Heather. You can buy the airline tickets but we’ll split the hotel.”

  “I’d like that. I’ll pay for the hotel, too, but we’ll split the meals.” Sophie raised a shoulder. “I’m actually very well-off.”

  Kristine smiled. “Are you?”

  “Yes, and in a couple of years, you’re going to be well-off, too.” Her smile turned mischievous. “By the time that happens, Amber’s going to need a new car. Good luck with that.”

  Kristine grinned. “Unlike you, I have the backbone to tell her no.”

  “Oh, please. You’ll cave in two seconds. She’ll start in on how her hips hurt and how sad her life is and you’re realize it is sad and then you’ll feel guilty and before you know it, you’ll be at the car lot discussing which one she likes better.”

  “I hate it when you’re right.”

  “Then you hate it a lot.”

  Kristine laughed. “I love you, Sophie Lane.”

  Sophie hugged her. “I love you more. Thank you for being my family.”

  “Always. Now about that engagement party.”

  “Bitch!”

  Kristine laughed.

  * * *

  Sunday morning Sophie got up early. Not that she’d slept the night before. How could she? There was too much on her mind.

  Dugan was so annoying, she thought resentfully as she took care of Lily and Mrs. Bennet. Both girls were heading into the vet on Monday. With the kittens all gone, Sophie wanted to get them spayed so they could get on with their happy lives.

  As she drank her coffee, she thought that she was going to have to do something about her living arrangements. She didn’t want to stay in her rental forever. There was plenty of room, but she wanted something permanent. Plus, she wanted to build an outdoor “cat room” for the girls. Something with plants and perches where they could enjoy sunny days while safely contained.

  There was that side yard at Dugan’s, she thought idly. It would be—

  “No,” she said out loud. “No rearranging the man’s furniture.” She reminded herself she hated when women did that. It was his house. They weren’t even sleeping together. If she wanted a different place, she would find one for herself and buy it like a normal person. She did not need a man to make her complete or provide housing. What was next? His and hers towels? She shuddered at the thought.

  But now that she’d thought of Dugan, she couldn’t unthink of him, which she didn’t like. She showered and paced through the house, watching the clock. The grand opening was at eleven and she wanted to be there for that. It was barely eight, which left her plenty of time. She could head into the office for a couple of hours of work or she could settle the damn problem once and for all.

  Not that she knew how to do that. Or what to say. He was trying to force his will on her and she saw no reason to reward that. So no, she wasn’t going to go see him. Only... Only...

  “Dammit!”

  She headed for her car and drove across the island, then parked in front of his house. Before she could figure out what she was going to say or if it would be better to simply drive to the warehouse and move around some pallets with the forklift, she noticed there was some kind of wooden frame on the side of the house. What was he doing? The house was already huge. Was the man adding on?

  Her body went cold. What if it was something like a kids’ playroom with toys and pinball machines and other loud, annoying crap? What if it was some creepy unicorn pink monstrosity for a little girl? What if Dugan had lied about not wanting children?

  She hurried to the front door, which opened just as she arrived. Dugan stood there, looking really good in jeans and a T-shirt. His expression was more bemused than surprised.

  “Sophie.”

  She pushed past him and turned in the foyer. “No children.”

  “You mentioned that before.”

  “I mean it. No unicorns, no pinball machines. I don’t want to do that. I love running my business. I’m good at it. I have no desire to procreate.”

  “I said I was okay with that.”

  “Yeah, you say that now but what happens when your DNA starts pushing you to have a baby? Then what? I won’t do it and you’ll leave me and it will be horrible, so why even try to do this? What’s the point? It’s just a disaster waiting to happen. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Anything else?”

  He sounded so calm, she thought, wishing she could punch him in the stomach and have it hurt. Maybe she should be lifting weights instead of doing that stupid Tai Chi every damn Sunday morning like some grass-eating she-didn’t-know-what, but something.

  “I don’t want to get married. I’m not a wedding person and I know marriage isn’t about a wedding, but that’s how they start and I don’t like it.”

  He smiled. “You don’t care if you’re married or not. You’re worried about me taking all your money. Your heart says I wouldn’t but your head is less sure. Plus, you know
I’m smarter than Mark, which scares you. I think a strong prenup would take care of your concerns, but I can live without being married.”

  He smiled at her. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want to take anything from you and I don’t want to make you do anything you don’t want to do. I want you, Sophie. I want your work obsession, your love of cats, your prickly exterior and your giant sticky notes. I want you grumbling how you hate the world all the while you’re buying Amber a condo so Heather can get on with her life.”

  “You’re the one who told me to do it,” she grumbled.

  “Yes, but not a beautiful, waterfront unit. You could have bought something a lot cheaper, but you didn’t. Because you couldn’t help yourself. You’re a good person.”

  “Don’t say that.”

  He laughed. “You are. You’re smart and sexy and every time you walk in the room, my heart beats faster.”

  “You should probably get that looked at.”

  “I probably should. I love you, Sophie. I don’t want to change you. I just want to be with you.”

  “What’s that thing you’re building on the side of the house? You said you didn’t want kids, so why make the house bigger?”

  “It’s the cat room you were talking about before. It’s for Mrs. Bennet and Lily and all the other cats you’re going to drag home.”

  “I was just thinking about that. You should have put it on the other side of the house. It wouldn’t be so visible.”

  “Maybe, but this side gets more sun and cats like that.”

  Her legs trembled and she had the thought that she was going to collapse in a heap right there on the hardwood floors. This couldn’t be happening.

  “You’re too perfect,” she whispered.

  “No, Sophie. But I’m perfect for you. That’s the whole point. I’ve been looking for you for a long time and now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to let go. But you have to be willing to join me or it doesn’t mean anything.”

  Be brave. The words were whispered inside her head. She wasn’t sure where they were coming from, but she knew they were true. Be brave. Take a chance. If this was about the business, she would do the research, get as much information as possible, then jump without once looking back.