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“Jonas,” a soft voice stated as a curvy young woman with shoulder-length purple hair walked right up to them.
The voice caused Jonas to turn to the woman, who looked them up and down and folded her arms. Jonas stiffened and frowned at her.
“Frances? What are you doing here?” he asked the woman.
The woman rolled her eyes at him. “You mean, picking up my sister after mother decided she wasn’t good enough either? She called me a few days ago about Mom and some guys. Anyway, I finally got time enough to come and get her, so I’m going to take her back to Chicago.”
Jonas frowned at her. “I’m taking her home; she doesn’t need you. She belongs with Dad right now.”
“Cute redhead.” The woman nodded at Buzz as she said it. “Louisa needs to get away from everything right now. She needs a fresh start.”
Instantly, Jonas dropped Buzz’s arm and moved to block the door from the woman. Buzz couldn’t decide what they were to each other, except that they didn’t get along. That much was very obvious.
“Bea Lovely.” She put her hand out to the woman in hopes of distracting her.
“Cute, you are lovely. Frankie Rowley.” The woman took her hand and smiled. It was completely fake, and Buzz knew. She had seen that smile a million times over the years.
“My stepsister,” Jonas provided but didn’t seem very happy about it.
“Stepsister?” Buzz looked from one to the other.
“Soon-to-be ex-stepsister. I really like the sound of that, though I’ll still be related to Judith in the end. You and George weren’t the worst part of the family,” the woman stated with a smile.
Buzz’s mind was reeling. There was no doubt who this woman’s mother was. “Holy fuck, how many kids did Judith have? How many more are there?”
“Just the two,” Jonas answered the question. “Frances has been at reform school for the last few years.”
“Frankie has not been at reform school; she’s been at the U in Chicago, but do not tell my mother. I have no need for her in my life. Have you seen how well that turned out?” she argued.
Behind them, the door swung open, and a blast of warm air washed over Buzz. Harper stuck her head out and looked at the group, mostly at Frances, before saying, “I’m setting the table. How many are staying?”
“Nobody,” Buzz said.
Frances shrugged at the invitation. “Just here for Louisa.”
Harper yelled back into the house that three were staying and came out and shut the door to the house behind her. “What is she to you?”
It seemed that Harper was taken with her new little sister and was going to be as protective as she was with the rest of her sisters. It was cute to see, and she wished the girl herself was out here to see it, to know she was instantly part of the group.
“Her sister,” Frances informed Harper.
Harper barely suppressed a laugh at the answer. “I don’t believe you.”
“Doesn’t matter what you believe or not.”
“Yes, yes it does. I’m Harper.”
“Frankie.”
“Full name, please,” Harper demanded, as if there was a specific list of people who could enter the house.
“Frances Rowley.”
“How old are you?” Harper barked out, as if the kid was trying to pull something over on her.
“Twenty-one, and you?” Frankie was not happy with the sudden inquisition.
“Thirty.” Harper stared at her and then looked at Buzz and Jonas, then back to the young woman. “Well, come inside. Might as well get to know everyone.”
“Why?” The woman asked her but followed. Probably because it was the easiest way into the house and to get her sister out of it.
“It’s cold outside; only an idiot would stay in the cold. Don’t be too overwhelmed.” Harper smiled at Buzz and put her arm around Frankie, shutting the door behind them, leaving Buzz and Jonas alone again.
“What was that all about?” Jonas just looked at the closed door.
“Family stuff,” Buzz said, loving how welcoming Harper was to their new sisters. Any number of them.
