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“I have a small apartment in the same quiet neighborhood where I grew up.”
“How long have you lived in your apartment?”
Jordan swore under his breath.
“Four years. Would you like references?” Dan sounded amused but Rosie was glaring at her.
“Stop it! What is wrong with you, Katie?”
“She’s checking whether I’m on Santa’s naughty or nice list.” Dan winked at Katie and she found herself smiling. At least he seemed even-tempered.
“I’m getting to know Dan, that’s all. In less than a week we will be related by marriage. I like to know a little about the people I call family.”
“Well, it’s coming across as interrogation.” Seemingly mortified, Rosie took a slug of wine and Dan covered her hand with his.
“It’s fine. Relax. Our relationship moved pretty fast. It’s natural that your family would have questions.”
“Mum and Dad asked you virtually no questions.”
Katie sipped her drink. Why not? Still, at least he seemed kind to her sister, she’d say that for him.
“Sorry if it came across as interrogation. That wasn’t my intention.”
Jordan made a noise that sounded like a growl, but when she looked at him his expression was blank.
She smiled sweetly at him.
She still hadn’t made up her mind about Dan, but Jordan was definitely on the naughty list.
Rosie
Rosie was awake early after a sleepless night.
She rolled over in bed, hoping for a cuddle and then remembered she wasn’t in bed with Dan. She was in the tree house with her sister. It was supposed to have been a cozy night catching up on gossip like the old days, but it hadn’t turned into that.
Instead of hot chocolate and pajamas, there had been a tense atmosphere and Rosie had felt utterly miserable.
“You don’t like Dan,” she’d said as Katie had cleared the kitchen and made her way to bed.
“I never said I don’t like him. I don’t know him, that’s all.”
“Why can’t you get to know him over time, the way normal people do?”
“Because there is no time. You’re marrying him in a few days.”
“Exactly. I’m marrying him. I’m the one who is going to be spending the rest of my life with him, so why does it matter to you?”
“Because I love you, and I want you to be happy. I’m scared you’re making a mistake. You can’t know someone in three months.”
“It’s exactly the same amount of time Mum and Dad knew each other before they were married.” And she was using that fact to support her belief that her relationship could work and wasn’t doomed from the start. “They’ve been together more than thirty years, Katie. You know how happy they are. They were virtually ripping each other’s clothes off in the back of the car on the way from the airport, which isn’t something I particularly want to relive if I’m honest, but it’s proof that they’re still blissfully happy after all these years. If they can do it, why can’t we?”
“I’m sure you can.” Katie had looked exhausted. “I’m sorry. Ignore me, Ro. I love you, that’s all. You’re my little sister, and the thought of you being unhappy terrifies me. It’s possible I overreact a little occasionally.”
Rosie had felt a rush of love. “A lot. You overreact a lot.”
“I’m tired. Long journey. Forgive me?”
“Of course.” Rosie had hugged her then, relieved. The last thing that she wanted was to fall out with her sister. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow we’re joining everyone for a big family breakfast at Snowfall Lodge, and then we’re going for a snowmobile ride into the forest.”
