Page 96 of Unexpected Entanglement

Rowan had to prepare mentally for life without Chris. She’d been relying on him too much. When he was gone, she only had herself to rely on.

Why am I so twisted up over losing a practical stranger?

Except the stranger seemed to understand her more than her boyfriend for five years.

“Good morning,” a soft greeting jolted Rowan from her meandering thoughts. She turned and found her half-sister, Rae, standing by the swinging kitchen door.

“Good morning,” Rowan replied. “What are you doing awake so early? Is the room not comfortable?”

“The room is beautiful. I slept like a baby.” Rae chuckled, then added, “Whoever came up with that idiom is an idiot.”

She walked to Rowan. “I can’t seem to sleep in anymore since I have a child.”

“Would you like some tea?” Rowan asked, her innkeeper mode kicking in.

“Coffee, please. I can enjoy one cup of coffee a day, and I look forward to it every freaking morning.”

Rowan grinned at Rae and was about to get her a mug, but then asked, “I was about to walk to the water. Would you like to join me?”

Rae nodded with a smile. “That’ll be nice.”

Rowan got another travel mug and poured her some coffee.

“Give me a lot of room for cream, please,” Rae asked.

“That’s where you and I differ.” Rowan handed Rae the mug and got her the cream and sugar.

Rowan watched Rae doctor her coffee until it was almost beige with an astonished look, but she chuckled when Rae took a long sip and sighed with ecstasy. “That’s heaven. Excellent coffee.”

“Roasted locally,” Rowan said as they exited the kitchen. “Chris Sullens approved.”

“Did he? He would know.” Rae chuckled. “Where is he, by the way? I noticed I’m the only one upstairs.”

Rowan’s brain spun for an answer that didn’t involve telling Rae her friend was in her bed. “He’s probably still asleep, like most people. On this side of the property, anyway. Kieran and his early crew are already preparing for the day.”

Rowan opened the door, and the morning chill hit them.

“Ooh, that’ll wake you up faster than coffee,” Rae commented as she zipped up her sweatshirt.

“You grew up in Minnesota, right?” Rowan asked as she led Rae down the steps and across the vast lawn. “You must be used to chilly mornings.”

Rae’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Great. Remind her about her shitty childhood, will you?

“I’ve lived in the South long enough now that my blood has thinned out,” Rae said.

“I’m sorry,” Rowan quickly said. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t be silly,” Rae replied. “Let’s address the white elephant right here, right now, Rowan. Neither you nor Kieran were to blame for my childhood. I might’ve been angry at our father for leaving my mother and me. I might’ve blamed him for my mother’s depression. But at some point I asked myself what does being angry do except rob me of more chance of happiness?”

“I just wish I’d known sooner,” Rowan said. “If Dad had told us—”

“But he didn’t.” Rae shrugged, regrets heavy on her face. “I stopped wishing and started accepting what I couldn’t change. That was how I moved on with my life.

“He made his choices. I don’t know if he had any good choices, you know. If he’d chosen to stay with us, you and Kieran would be in my place,” Rae continued. “He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don’t know what I would do if I were him.”

“I don’t think you’d put yourself in that situation in the first place,” Rowan stated. “I know I wouldn’t.”

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