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“I thought you might like it,” her father said.
Ivy took the small box out of her brother’s hand and opened it up. She realized it was jewelry and then flipped the lid to see a necklace. It was sterling silver and looked to have the charm of a small tiger face outline on it.
“It’s so pretty,” she said. She took it out of the box and put it on.
“I know it’s not like the necklace that was stolen. I’ll admit I don’t remember what it was.” She tried not to be hurt by that. She wondered at times if her mother bought the things and said they were from her father. Plus he had three daughters and he didn’t seem to keep them straight.
“It was a baby polar bear in the arms of its father,” she said.
“Oh, that’s right,” her father said. “Well, you’ve outgrown that too. You’re an adult. This is more appropriate.”
“The tiger is a symbol of strength, courage and determination,” Mei said. “What a lovely and honorable gift.”
“It is?” she asked, her eyes getting a little watery.
Chase put his hand on her shoulder and rubbed it.
“Tigers are also known as symbols of awareness, protection, and confidence,” her father said. “It seemed to fit at this stage in your life.”
“Are you sending this to protect me?” she asked.
“You can protect yourself now,” her father said.
She was getting all excited thinking he was stepping up to do what she’d always wanted from him and yet it didn’t happen.
The thought was still there though and, damn it, she was going to try to do it herself too. That meant protecting her heart and maybe this was more perfect than anyone in this room realized.
Not that she’d admit to anyone. Not when she wasn’t sure if she’d hear from Brooks again or not.
“Thank you, Dad. I love it. I’m not ever taking it off.”
18
Double Standard
“The furniture looks great,” Brooks said when he walked into his parents' living room on Christmas morning.
It was the first he’d seen it since Raine had taken their mother shopping and charged it to his card.
His younger sister had argued when he wouldn’t accept a third of the cost, but he’d told her that had never been the plan. River and he paid for the bulk of it, Raine a smaller portion. Just like he knew his sister wouldn’t be able to keep herself from buying her mother a few other things.
He wasn’t one for shopping so this was much easier for him.
He picked up some candy for Raine and a gift card to a clothing store she liked. River got some beer and a gift card. Emma chocolate and a gift card too. Easy enough and he was done.
“Thank you again,” his mother said, coming into the room. “You really shouldn’t have done this.”
“Mom wouldn’t settle on anything,” Raine said. “She kept saying it all cost too much.”
“Then how did you end up getting this?” he asked.
“I knew she liked the couch. It looks great in here. I sat on the chair for Dad. It was easier for her to pick out his chair than her couch. When I ordered the chair I added the couch without telling her.”
“Raine was always a brat that way,” his mother said, “but I do love it.”
“Then we are glad,” he said.
Brooks turned when the door opened and River came in with Emma carrying a few bags. His brother always bought gifts and put more thought into things than he did. It just wasn’t him.
