Page 95 of Unexpected Entanglement

“I’m aware, Alex.”

“She also doesn’t have the same memory of your father that you do,” Alex pushed on.

Rowan stopped short of entering the house and turned to Alex. “When did you become Dr. Alex?”

“I’m just trying to protect you, Ro.”

“Me? Sounds like you’re more concerned about Rae.”

“It’s not a competition. The three of you will deal with a lot of emotional shit.” Alex threw up her hands in the air. “I mean, just look at how you reacted when you first saw her. Both of you were fuming.”

“We had a misunderstanding. We’ve cleared that air.”

“I’m just saying, tread lightly. You can run a little hot when you’re stressed.” Alex patted Rowan’s arm. “Like you said, she’s here. You don’t want to lose her.”

Rowan took a deep breath and digested Alex’s words. That was why Alex was her best friend. She really understood Rowan.

“The upside of having a chef as a best friend. You don’t break under pressure.” Rowan grinned.

“Oh, really? That’s the upside? I thought it’s all this delicious food I cook you and shit.”

“That, too, because Alex, you’re the shit.”

Alex burst into laughter. “Don’t you forget it!”

“Never,” Rowan promised. “Now, where is my sister? I wonder where did Chris send her to.”

“Check with Kieran,” Alex suggested.

“God.” Rowan pulled out her phone and called her brother.

Kieran picked up after a few rings.

“Is Rae with you?” Rowan asked.

“She’s here at the farm.”

“You didn’t put her to work, did you?” Rowan asked.

“She wanted to help. She said it reminded her of the time she worked at vineyards in Italy,” Kieran said. “Did you know she’s pregnant?”

“She told me.”

“Did you see the pictures of her daughter?” Kieran asked. “Maya’s cute.”

“Wow. I never thought you cared much for children.”

“She kinda looks like me when I was a baby,” her brother said.

“She does. You were kinda pretty as a kid.” Rowan laughed, relieved to hear Kieran seemed to forget his stand to never accept Rae as a sister.

What a difference a day made.

thirty-one

Four days to the wedding

The sun was barely a sliver on the horizon when Rowan poured coffee into a travel mug the next morning. She’d been wide awake since before five, as if her body knew she needed to gear herself for an earlier day soon. Instead of burrowing herself into Chris’ warmth next to her, she’d rolled out of bed.

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