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“Behave,” he whispered.
Twyla nodded and waited for Forrest to close the door. She’d then move down the hall to Norma Rose’s office, which was where she was sure to find her sisters. Both of them would no doubt be ganging up against her.
Something snagged her attention and she leaned sideways, in an attempt to glance around the closing door. The door clicked shut and she frowned. In the background, over Forrest’s shoulder, she could have sworn she’d witnessed her father grin and wink at her. She tried her best to recall that very moment. Even closed her eyes briefly. Yes, it had happened. She wouldn’t have dreamed that up.
A smile tickled the corners of her mouth and she gave it free will to appear. Her father was proud of her for all she’d done lately, had told her so more than once. Smiling fully, she nodded to herself, happy there was one less person she had to prove herself to.
With Forrest’s advice and her father’s silent, simple encouragement, Twyla entered Norma Rose’s office with more confidence than ever before.
“What were you thinking?” Norma Rose asked as soon as Twyla pushed open the door.
“About what?” Twyla asked calmly while closing the door behind her.
“Don’t be smart with me,” Norma Rose snapped. “Do you have any idea how dangerous flying is?”
Twyla refrained from saying she wasn’t being smart, not in the way Norma Rose implied, and that her sister knew nothing—absolutely nothing—about flying. Instead she sighed. “I know how marvelous it is. How freeing and utterly fantastic. You should try it someday.”
“I will not,” Norma Rose said.
“Suit yourself.” Twyla sat down in the chair at the table near the window, where Josie sat in the opposite chair. Norma Rose was behind her desk, making herself as superior as ever. Biting back a smile, Twyla said, “But Forrest is an excellent pilot. He’s never crashed. Not once.”
“There’s always a first,” Norma Rose said. Her attitude had calmed considerably. “And Forrest should have known better than to take you flying without my permission.”
“I don’t need your permission, Norma Rose,” Twyla answered. “Just like Josie doesn’t need your permission to attend her Ladies Aid meetings.”
“Don’t bring me in on this,” Josie said, holding up both hands.
“I’m not bringing you in on anything,” Twyla said. “I’m merely making a point. None of us need to ask permission from one another.” Twyla held up her hands. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t talk about things and get each other’s opinions, especially when it comes to running the resort.” She pointed to the snow globe sitting on Norma Rose’s desk. “But when it comes to going to the amusement park with a man, or flying with an old friend, we don’t need to ask for permission. None of us are children anymore.” For added weight, she said, “Not even Ginger, who’s younger than all of us.”
Norma Rose’s gaze had settled on the snow globe. “I guess you’re right.”
“Thank you,” Twyla said sincerely, shocked as she was that Norma Rose had given in so quickly. Not about to lose the opportunity, she continued, “I want us to be more than sisters. I want us to be partners. We need to be, in order to keep the resort in tip-top shape with all the changes happening.” Lifting her chin, she added, “In order for that to happen, we need to treat each other like the adults we are.”
Josie, always the most quiet, nodded as she glanced between Twyla and Norma Rose. “Most of the time.” Glancing back and forth again, she added, “Most of the time we act like adults.”
Twyla had to agree with that.
Norma Rose nodded, too, but then she lifted her gaze, which was very somber and sincere. “Speaking of resorts, did Forrest tell you his father is being paroled?”
Twyla felt as if she’d been hit with a ten-pound hammer. “No,” she whispered, more in protest than in answer. “No, he can’t be.”
“He is,” Norma Rose said. “Forrest told Father last night. Father asked Ty to investigate, make a few phone calls. Father talked to people, too, and it appears as if Galen will be given a new trial if the repeal his lawyer submitted is accepted. The lawyer claims to have new evidence.”
Twyla pressed a hand to her forehead and then to her mouth. She fought a silent battle as the room turned eerily quiet. Under most circumstances, she’d never share a secret, as she had many of them herself, but in this case, when it came to Forrest’s safety, she had to tell her sisters.
