Page 36 of The Broken Heart Playlist
“Uh-oh,” Tess declares when she opens her front door and takes one look at Lisset’s tear-stained face and my strained one.
“Sorry we’re late,” I tell her.
“No problem,” she reassures me. “It’s only twenty minutes. We’ve been chatting to Gideon.”
“Chatting?” I ask wearily. “Or interrogating?”
She winks at me. “Aaron and I are warming up. The spotlights and chains will be brought out later.” Her gaze moves over my face.You okay?she mouths.
I shake my head no.
My sister gives my shoulder a light squeeze, then turns her attention to Lisset. “Okay, what’s going on with my most favorite niece?”
Lisset’s lips wobble a little. “Mommy didn’t wash my favorite pink sweater that I really wanted to wear tonight.”
Tess widens her eyes. “Oh, thank goodness!” she exclaims. “Because this blue sweater you’re wearing right now is myabsolute favorite color on you. And look!” She points to her own blue knitted top.
Lisset’s expression instantly brightens. “We match.”
“We do,” Tess confirms, pulling her in for a hug. “Now why don’t you head inside and see if you can sneak up on Aaron and Gideon and give them a scare?”
“Okay!” With a mischievous giggle, she takes off down the hallway.
Tess reaches for the tray of food I’m currently gripping too tightly. “Let me take that from you before you snap it in half.”
Relinquishing the tray to her, I let out a sigh. “I don’t understand. Why does Aunt trump Mom?”
Tess smiles at me. “Moms might get the short end of the stick a lot of the time, but when that little girl is sick or scared, you can bet you’re the first person she’ll turn to.”
Only slightly appeased by her words, I follow her down the hallway to the kitchen. “It smells delicious.”
Tess texted yesterday to let me know she was cooking a seafood paella. At her request, I’ve made a light green salad and spicy Spanish potatoes.
I hear Gideon’s deep, warm voice talking to Aaron in the kitchen. Something dangerous flutters through me. Something that terrifies me a little.
I saw the man last night. So why am I now overflowing with anticipation and nerves? And why did I spend too much time wondering what to wear and how to do my hair?
In the kitchen, Gideon is leaning against the kitchen island, a glass of wine in his hand. His eyes spark with pleasure when he catches sight of me.
“Hey, Kate.”
“Hi, Gideon.”
“You look nice.”
I feel the impact of his admiration on every inch of me. “Thank you.” I’m wearing a well-cut, jade-green top, dark-denim jeans that hug my legs in all the right places, and a little more mascara than usual.
Aaron closes the oven door and flashes me a warm smile. “My favorite sister-in-law.”
I return his smile. “Your only sister-in-law.”
He places a brief kiss on my cheek. “It’s good to see you.”
Lisset puffs out her chest. “I scared them both, Mom!”
“Nearly gave me a heart attack,” Aaron declares.
“I’m still recovering,” Gideon confirms.
