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“If it’s okay with Mom, I want to go with them.” Her brother knew as well as she did that their father needed the support as much as their mother. Cancer never got easier, but they’d learned to lean on one another. God was faithful.
“That’s a good idea,” Trent said. “Call if you want me to go, too.”
They ate in comfortable silence for nearly a minute. “We just want you to be happy, Vi. We know how much Ryan hurt you when he took off without much warning.”
Stabbing a bite of her salad, Violet hesitated. “It’s been almost two years. I’m a big girl, and I’m pretty sure I’m over it by now.”
“Truth, please. No sarcasm. Did you love him?” Trent’s brown eyes, slightly deeper in color than hers, bore into her.
She swigged down a drink of her water. “What does it matter now?”
“You can’t keep everything bottled up inside.”
First Hayden, now her brother.This was getting ridiculous.
With a sigh, Violet rested her fork on the side of her plate. “I thought I did, but…no. I was enthralled with the idea ofbeingin love, but I’m a complete and utter failure when it comes to understanding what love even means. Ironic, huh? The radio host who dishes out relationship advice has never been in love. Talk about a fraud.”
“You’re not a fraud.” Trent’s tone was sympathetic but firm. “You have a deep capacity for love. We shared a womb, so I know a thing or two about that. You didn’t hog all the oxygen, and I turned out okay.”
Violet laughed. “I don’t know if that’s gross or hysterically funny, but yes, you did.Betterthan okay.” She wiped away a stray tear. “Trent, how did you know Maddy wasthe one?”
“Well, let’s see. I’d been working insane hours at work for weeks, and I was stressed out over a project. To my shame, I neglected Maddy. Not on purpose, but—”
“By design?”
“Ah,” he said, shaking a breadstick at her. “A little engineering humor. Very good. Maddy showed up at my office late one afternoon with a basket filled with smoked prime rib roast and all the trimmings—my favorite meal she makes. Next to Mom, and no offense to you, my fiancée’s the best cook in the world.”
“No offense taken. This bodes well for your impending marriage.” Violet sipped her water. “It reallyisall about food with men, isn’t it?”
Trent chuckled. “Not always, but it doesn’t hurt. I’m blessed, and I know it. Maddy loves doing thoughtful things like that. I was in a meeting at the time, but when I got back to my desk, this unbelievable feast awaited me. I’m talking china, silver, crystal, a cloth napkin, even a red rose in a vase. Along with a sweet note. And no, I’m not sharing what it said—even with you.”
She grinned. “Not a problem. Maddy didn’t stick around to see your reaction?”
“No, but my desk was covered with food. Pretty ingenious when you think about it. In her own way, she made sure I ate a good meal.”
“A method to her madness,” Violet murmured. “Maddy’s an amazing woman.”
“Yes, she is. You’d be proud of me, Vi. The next day, and every night since, I’ve left the office by six. No weekends, either.”
“Thatisa miracle,” she said.
“I know, right? By the way, Maddy’s trying out a bunch of family recipes on both sides and wants to put together a cookbook. If she hasn’t hit you up for a recipe yet, she will.”
“I’m happy for you, Trent.” Violet lowered her voice. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, and don’t tell Mom, but can we talk about Hayden some more?”
He chuckled. “I get it. Sometimes you need a bird’s-eye view. You’re into psychology, and I’m into engineering, so let’s figure this out together.”
“Meaning?”
“You pick people’s minds, and I like to build things. And, in order to build things, you need to start with the basics. Have at it. Tell me the good and the bad, whatever’s on your mind.”
“Thanks.” This was one of the many reasons why she loved her brother so much. “For reasons I can’t explain, we’ve been at odds ever since he started at the station last November.”
He continued with his meal. “Keep talking.”
“On the plus side, Hayden’s funny, and smart, and he has a positive approach to life.”
“Sounds like a real ogre.”
