“Your sister,” Addie corrected. “That’s what she is.”
“My sister-cousin?”
“Just your sister. You were raised together. That’s all the distinction we need.”
“Decreed by Addie,” Callie said. “That’s good enough for me.”
“While I have you,” Addie continued, “I just rescued Kam. And, honey, it was a rescue. Shara has herself all wound tight about something. Poor girl was sobbing like a baby.”
Glory wrinkled her nose. “I’m guessing Kam consoled her?”
“He treated her like a friend, because that’s all she is.”
Tanner interrupted to say, “Kam’s calling me now. I’ll tell him you miss him.”
“Wait, no!”
Callie and Addie laughed.
“Sorry, sis,” Callie said. “He’s already gone. I’ll chat with you until he gets home, though.”
“No, thank you, you traitor.” Deliberately excluding Callie, Glory asked, “Addie, why is Kam calling Tanner?”Instead of me?
Callie’s snickers continued in the background as Addie explained. “Probably something to do with whatever had Shara sobbing. I convinced him to head out and call Tanner on his way home because I know he wanted to get back to you. Shara is still out front, so he likely wants Tanner to speak with her about whatever is happening.”
“Wait. What’s happening?”Callie demanded. Glory heard Callie muttering, her voice fading away.
With a huff, Addie said, “I swear. I raised good, honest boys, so neither of you need to worry about what they’re up to.”
A mother’s defense. Glory loved hearing it. Somehow, these three individuals had created the absolute best family ever. Would Addie be happy to be called Grandma? For a certainty, Liz wouldn’t like it. But Callie... She’d be the most wonderful aunt ever.
“Callie shouldn’t worry. She’s married and Tanner loves her.”
After a beat of silence, Addie asked, “Is that what you want, honey? To marry Kam?”
Oh, dear God. She shouldn’t have said that—especially not to Addie. A dozen replies came to her, some laughing it off, others full of denial, none of them appropriate. She finally settled on a small but honest truth: “I want Kam to be happy.”With me, she could have added but didn’t.
“He wants you to be happy, too. We all do.”
“I am.” Blast, she’d said that too fast, then had to laugh at herself. “Even with a few aches, I’m very happy, I promise.” Deliriously happy most of the time, especially when she was with Kam.
With a smile in her tone, Addie said, “I’m glad.”
To further cover up her faux pas, Glory added, “I was just worried when he didn’t return on time. You know, with everything going on.”
“I’d have worried, too. He should be with you shortly, but I’m happy to chat until he gets there.”
“No, that’s okay.” She didn’t want to take up more of Addie’s time. “Thanks for explaining everything.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do, okay?”
Always so generous.“I’m going to take PB out now. Maybe we’ll wait in front for Kam. That way, the dog can get her excitement out of the way before we come in.”
“You be careful now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Smiling, Glory ended the call. After hooking the long leash to PB, she worked her way off the couch. It seemed the more she moved, the easier it got. Still with a measure of discomfort, but loosening up all the other little aches gave her some relief.
To keep PB in a pattern, she went out the same door with her, let her piddle twice, and then shuffled her way to the front to await Kam. PB liked this new area to explore, and she spent some time investigating everything. When she finished, she came to stand beside Glory, her beautiful brown eyes so soulful, her flopped-over ears adorable.
