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“She’s my sister. I’m not gonna sit here and let her keep rotting from the inside out,” he said through his teeth. “Thatwould make me an asshole.”
“She’s still hurting. You know that.” Andrew took Trish’s hand as if he needed the support.
“Yeah, and I can’t stand it. I lived with her a few weeks, remember? I’ve cried more in my life than she has, but I heard her every night. So if you two want to keep skirting the issue, fine. But I can’t keep watching my big sister slowly die.” Holt glanced around behind us. “What does it take to get a drink around here?”
He shoved out of his chair and went straight to the bar.
“You’re all right,” I said, the two Dixon men blinking at me with the same surprise I felt. I should stay out of this, yet I couldn’t help myself.
“I agree.” Trish backed me up, and I gave her a grateful smile.
“This isn’t the time or place to dredge it up,” Mr. Dixon said with a sigh. He looked toward the restrooms and clenched his fist around the stem of his wine glass. “It kills me to see my little girl hurting.”
“Wonder where she learned to keep it all in?” There was no malice in Holt’s tone as he dropped back into his seat.
He slid a glass of red wine toward me and took a long pull from his beer.
“If she doesn’t come back soon, we’re all gonna have to go get her out of that bathroom,” Andrew said, looking like he was ready to do just that.
“Here she comes.” Trish pointed her head behind me.
Neither Marlow nor Patrick appeared particularly happy as they returned to the table. She plunked back down in her seat and gave us all a glare to keep our mouths shut. Everyone except Holt. She refused to look at him.
“This wasn’t the place to bring him up,” Holt said.
The look she fired at him was nothing short of lethal. “Then why are you doing it again?”
“Because I love you.”
She fisted her napkin in her lap, her pain palpable. “I love you too.” The words were spoken through gritted teeth, but the truth was in them.
“How’s the makeup line going?” Mr. Dixon leaned forward and looked at me.
I shifted in my seat, surprised and pleased by his interest in me. I’d always felt invisible with my own family. We’d been lucky if we sat down at the holidays. Both of my parents had high-ranking government jobs and that was all they cared about. I'd have given anything for this kind of attention.
“Pretty good. I’m still learning, trying to find my footing.”
“The women at Paths can’t get enough. And I can’t keep the lip gloss in stock on my truck.” Trish beamed at me.
“Have you formed a company yet?” Patrick popped a piece of a garlic knot into his mouth. “I know a good lawyer to set you up.” He winked at me.
“I thought that was a Dixon move.” I winked back.
He shrugged. “Guess it is.”
My breath caught at the implication. I wasn’t a Dixon. And neither was he.
“No, I haven’t even thought of it. It’s just a hobby,” I brushed off.
“Don’t do that.” Holt gripped my thigh.
“What?”
“Diminish your business. Maybe it’s small now, but you’re going places.” His expression was so open and honest, I had to look away. I craved his confidence in me, but it was too much.
“Want me to give out samples to the women at church?”
All eyes went to Marlow.
