Galen's Gemma - Dale Mayer Page 0,21
course.”
“No,” she said softly. “I’ve been racking my brain trying to think, but I’m not coming up with any answers that make sense.”
“Maybe it’s time to sit down and have a talk with Rebecca.”
Chapter 7
Gemma looked at Galen, gave him a sideways smile, and said, “Good luck with that.”
“Will she even tell me?”
“I don’t know if she will,” she said. “It’s not that she won’t tell you. It’s just that the answer isn’t always clear.”
“Yes or no isn’t clear?”
“She ends up throwing a fit before you ever get the information you want from her.”
“Well, that’s usually a diversionary tactic.”
“I know,” she said softly, thinking about all the times her sister had gotten away from punishment and not having to fess up because of her tactics. “It doesn’t mean that she’s involved though. I often think it’s just a game to her.”
“It’s hardly a game at this point though,” he said quietly.
Just then a knock came on their cabin door.
“Who is it?” she asked, reaching up and yawning.
“Zack.” He opened the door and stepped inside; Rebecca and Becky were right there beside him.
Becky raced over and launched herself into Gemma’s arms. Gemma gave her a tight hug back. “I just woke up,” Becky said.
“So did I,” Gemma added.
And with that, Becky crawled up on the bed, pulling Gemma’s blanket over her.
Gemma reached down and kissed the little girl on the cheek. “And here I thought you wanted to visit the rabbits.”
Immediately Becky bolted from the bed. “Real rabbits? With long ears and fluffy tails?”
“Exactly,” Gemma said with laughter. “Let me get my shoes on, and I’ll take you over.”
“How come you know about the rabbits?” Becky asked.
“Because I used to come here when I was growing up,” she said. “We always had rabbits here.”
“That must have been nice,” Becky said and immediately turned to her mom. “How come I can’t come here during my summers?”
“Why would you want to?” her mom asked, staring at her in distaste. “I mean, these animals poop everywhere.”
Gemma stared at her in shock. “Is that the best you can come up with?”
“Whatever,” she said. “I’m not looking at the rabbits.”
“That’s fine.” Gemma walked over to the big pitcher of water on the counter and poured herself a glass. “We’re expected at dinner in the long house tonight, by the way. I hope none of you have a problem with that.”
“I have a headache,” Rebecca said. “We still have plenty of food to make a sandwich. I’ll just have that.”
Gemma hesitated as she looked at her sister, realizing that the set look on her face was the same no matter what, and she nodded. “That would be fine.” In fact, it would be preferable. Gemma didn’t want to insult her host by having her sister be a petulant child at the dinner table. It would not be in anybody’s best interest. She looked at the two men. “What about you two?”
They nodded and said they would be happy to join them at the long house.
She gave them both a quiet smile. “Good,” she said. “I’ll make that arrangement while I’m out with Becky. I’ll find out what time we’re expected for dinner too.” She held out her hand to Becky. “Come on. Let’s go see the rabbits.”
Immediately the little girl raced over and chattered about what colors and how many there were.
Gemma turned, looked at the men, nodded toward her sister, and said, “This might be a good time.” She walked out, heading across to the rabbit hutches, leaving the cabin behind.
Becky asked Gemma, “A good time for what?”
“To ask your mom some questions.”
“She doesn’t like questions,” Becky said. “They make her feel terrible.”
“I don’t know if it’s the questions that make her feel terrible,” Gemma said, “but I imagine trying to find the answers might.”
“Yes,” she said, “I hate having questions when I don’t know the answers.”
“Especially in school,” Gemma said, laughing.
At that, her niece wrinkled up her face. “I can get most of those questions,” she said. “It’s all those other questions,” she said, with a big eye roll as she danced at her aunt’s side.
“And who are asking those other questions?” she asked.
“Daddy’s friends.”
Her niece answered so innocently, and yet Gemma was shocked by the answer. “When did you talk to Daddy’s friends?”
“Since Daddy died.” She stopped for a moment and asked, “Is Daddy in heaven?”
“Absolutely he is,” Gemma said instantly. “You know he wouldn’t have left you for anything, right?”
“I know,” Becky said sadly. “He loved me.”
“And he wanted to be here for