Bear snapped his gaze to Aasia. She looked like an annoyed rooster. He reached for the rag and cleaned his hands. “I think I should leave you two alone…”
“And miss this delightful conversation?” Aasia said with a dramatic saucy tone. “You wouldn’t want to miss the encore when Miss Texas here tells us why she disappeared like a midsummer breeze in the middle of the night.”
“Oh, stop being so theatrical, Aasia,” Phoebe droned. “You can’t expect me to have stayed in this godforsaken town. But I do see it paid off for you. You inherited the farm. That’s amazing.”
“Now who’s being dramatic? I haven’t inherited anything. After all, I stayed here and helped Pedora. You went off to check out brighter pastures.”
Bear could feel the tension radiate off both women. There was something different about Aasia as she interacted with her sister.
“Looked after her? What did you sacrifice to stay and help?” Phoebe muttered, kicking up a pebble with the toe of her boot. “Or is it possible you’re jealous that I got out and you stayed?”
Bear swallowed hard. He saw the irritation building in Aasia.
“Oh please, Phoebe. Your life is about as exciting as dry toast. Pedora kept me updated about all your…travels,” Aasia laughed. “Sorry about the divorce. There must be some world record for the shortest marriage. One month? Wow.” A bird squawked from a nearby tree as if in warning that things were almost at a nuclear level.
Phoebe’s eyes widened only slightly before a wide smile crossed her expression. “We were married three,” she said in a tartness that reminded Bear of nails down a chalkboard. “Secondly, we’re not quite divorced although the papers are signed, sealed and delivered.”
“I’m sure it’s only a matter of time,” Aasia said.
“I can’t believe you’re still angry with me. I made a mistake. You should thank me. If I hadn’t stolen Jerrod from you, you could have ended up marrying him, having three and a half kids, and living here. At some rundown farm.”
Something crossed Aasia’s features that Bear couldn’t decipher.Who the hell is Jerrod?
“Do you think this is about Jerrod? I went on one date with him so long ago I can’t remember what he looks like.” Aasia dropped her arms to her sides. “You’re delusional.” She started to walk past Phoebe and stopped when she was eye-to-eye with her sister. “I’m pissed because you left. No goodbye. No explanation. You disappeared. In your delusional world you might think that’s what family does. In my book, that’s a mother move.” Then Aasia continued toward Bear’s truck as if she’d had enough.
“Thanks for the welcome, honey,” Phoebe said to Aasia’s back then said to Bear with less sass in her expression, “Welcome to the Powers’ sister dramatics. Sorry you had to beprivy to that, but something tells me you already know all about our shenanigans.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Aasia said when Bear climbed into the truck.
The rain had started again, and Aasia watched the fat drops race down the window, focusing on the gray sky instead of his muscular arms exposed in the T-shirt. Pedora was right about him. Very much so.
“Don’t apologize. We can’t choose our family.” He didn’t start the truck. They sat in silence, watching the rain fall in silence until Aasia felt some of the anger leave her.
“She’s just so…so…”
“Feisty? Stubborn?” he said quietly.
She snapped around to look at him. “You can see that too, huh?”
“Nah. I’m guessing that’s why you two are butting heads. You’re a lot alike.”
She stared for a long moment then looked out onto the peaks of the pine trees. “You sound like Pedora.”
“She’s a smart woman.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in restless energy. “Don’t kill the messenger, but Phoebe asked me to tell you that she loves you and she’ll be ready to talk once you’re ready.”
“Is that really what she said?” Aasia cocked a brow.
He sighed. “She said once you pulled the cornstalk out of your rear you and she could talk.”
Aasia laid her head back on the headrest. “She had to get the last poke.”
“I think she was being genuine.”
“She has that way with men. Convincing them that the sky is purple and pecans are pronounced puh-cans.”
He blew out a long breath. “Is this family turmoil because of a man? Some Jerrod?”
