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Dad found Mom. They fell in love, married, had a family. The usual.
Mom probably had other boyfriends before Dad. Of course, she didn’t have a child he didn’t know about. But Dad didn’t know about Summer, either, so this would probably all work out.
She hoped.
Her dad sighed, like what happened in the past didn’t matter. “I was twenty. She was eighteen.”
“So this is true.” Natalie’s eyes narrowed. “You have another daughter.”
Dad looked across the breakfast bar at Mom. “I have another daughter.”
“What are you going to do about it now that you know?” Mom asked.
Haley wondered that, too. She really, really wanted to meet her sister.
Dad didn’t hesitate. “I’m going to find her.”
Haley cheered on the inside, because everyone still seemed concerned about something that felt really great to her. Summer was family.
Mom turned away from Dad and left the kitchen. Dad put the laptop on the counter and went after her.
Uh-oh.
Haley hoped they didn’t fight. They rarely disagreed about anything. But this was definitely something.
Natalie glared at her. “Nice job.”
Haley looked at Cody, hoping for support. “I got excited. I didn’t think about what it really meant. I thought I’d find out we’re related to a serial killer and help capture him, like on all those cool podcasts. I never expected another sister.”
Cody tried to hide a grin. “Putting away a serial killer would have been really cool.” Cody turned serious. “It’s a surprise to everyone. Once the shock wears off and your mom and dad talk about it, everything will be fine. Obviously, this happened before they met. He wasn’t hiding it from her.”
Haley frowned. “Why doesn’t he know about her?”
“Who cares?” Natalie interjected. “I say leave it alone. She obviously wants nothing to do with him or us, or she’d have found him by now. I mean, she has his last name, so she knows who he is.”
Cody’s eyes narrowed with concern. He grabbed the laptop and typed something in, his eyes filling with surprise and something she didn’t understand. “Here she is.” Cody turned the computer toward them.
Haley’s smile made her cheeks hurt. “She’s beautiful. Look at her. She kind of looks like Dad, a little. Maybe even a little like me.”
Natalie stared at the picture. “Looks like a spoiled rich girl to me. Look at what it says about her. Heir to the Sutherland Industries fortune, inherited her great-uncle’s real estate holdings, one of Texas’s elite.” Natalie rolled her eyes. “I bet her conceitedness is as big as Texas, too.”
Look who was talking. Natalie loved being the oldest, the most spoiled. She had to have everything her way. She loved to be the center of attention.
Natalie hadn’t met Summer yet, but she was already jealous.
“That dress is killer.” Haley wished she looked like her big sis.
“Probably costs more than she gave at the fund-raiser she attended.” Natalie pretended not to be interested in Summer at all. But, come on, Summer was pretty and sophisticated and rich.
Cody couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the screen.
Haley bumped her shoulder to his. “What do you think? Do you think we’ll get to meet her?”
Cody met her gaze. “I’m not sure. But I know your dad is going to want to track her down and get some answers.”
Chapter Two
Nate followed his wife into their bedroom, closed the door, went to her, and took her by the shoulders. “I swear to you, Miranda, I didn’t know anything about Summer.” Anger shot through him again like a lightning bolt. He released Miranda and paced their room. “I can’t believe Jessica kept this from me.” They hadn’t parted on good terms. She’d packed up and left while he was at work. But things hadn’t been so bad that he wouldn’t have supported her and their daughter—if only she’d let him know.
