for the month to come, my breath left me. Sure, I had the creative thing going on, but my sister was good at this business thing.
Really good.
“Don’t look so surprised. I know you expect me to be stupid.” She snapped her purse shut.
“It’s not that, it’s just that—”
She smiled. “I know. You weren’t expecting it. Me, either. I mean sure, I’m good with shopping, and I got A’s in business school, but this is really my thing.”
You mean my thing. As usual.
I scratched my cheek.
“I mean your thing, of course. It’s your business, but I’m—forget it. I can’t make everything up to you, but I’m trying to do what I can.” She stared at the ceiling. “Trying to make you proud of me.”
I could almost hear that anonymous radio voice, saying, “This is a test. This is a test of the Christian response broadcast system.” For a moment, I thought it was a test I would fail. This was what Dahlia had been seeking all those times that she hurt me. Recognition. Approval. Love. Now, when she was seeking it in constructive ways, did I have the strength, the faith, to build her up? I didn’t. But Jesus did and He loaned me a little just before my little sister’s eyes clouded over.
I gathered my sister into my arms. “I’m very proud of you.” I stared across the room at Sierra, bouncing on Jordan’s lap. “You are trying to pull your family together, you’re working hard to help me and regardless of what’s happened between us, you came back to try and make it right.”
Her tears moistened my shoulder. “It was Trev who insisted we come back. But I’m glad we did. I need you.” She looked around the room and whispered, “All of you.” Just as quickly, Dahlia collected herself, wiped her tears, and nodded toward a handsome newcomer standing in the living room. “Who’s the hunk?”
I giggled, then stopped, swallowing my laughter. She was crying one minute and scoping the next. I had to remember who I was dealing with. “That’s Bob.”
Her mouth opened just a bit. “Bob?”
“The Visa guy who called the hospital when I had the stroke. Turns out he goes to the Spanish church down the street from ours.” I spoke the last words slowly, watching her watch him. Didn’t we have enough trouble? “Don’t get any ideas.”
She looked hurt. “I was just curious, Dane. It’s not like that. The last thing I need is another man. I realize now I’ve had too many. That’s my problem. I just want more of Jesus.” She stared over at Trevor, sitting on the couch between Adrian and Jericho. He looked tired. Drained.
Jesus had certainly been busy while I was away.
Sierra rubbed her eyes and started to whine, but Trevor crossed the room and picked her up before anyone else could. He walked her out, eying Dahlia as he went.
She ignored him, but moved to the edge of her seat when he disappeared down the hall. “One more thing. What’s the deal with this Tangela chick stiffing you for all that money? Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
Tangela? I covered my mouth then let my fingers slip away. “Oh, no. Her wedding. I forgot all about it.”
Dahlia narrowed her eyes as if I’d said the stupidest thing ever. “You had a stroke and you’re still worried about that woman? That’s how you got to the hospital in the first place. I know you love God, but business is business. When she showed up, I showed her the door. And don’t worry about the money she owed you. Lord willing, Trevor and I are still headed for the altar in a few weeks and you can be my maid of honor.”
Maid of honor. If I was going to do it, it should be for family, but it’d be easy to say that and just be doing it for the money. Despite the hugs and pie graphs, I knew Dahlia could easily hurt me again.
She pursed her lips. “Since you’re taking so long to even say anything, I’m sorry for asking.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m just surprised. You and Trevor don’t even look like you’re getting along, let alone getting married. Not that I wouldn’t be happy for you. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re doing penance or making things up to me. If I’m going to do something like that, I want you to mean it.”