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I snapped my head up. Daniel and Vivian stood hand-in-hand in the doorway. He looked like I’d slapped him. Again.
Chapter Eleven
Stone
I flippedon the hot water and pushed my sleeves up. That was hands down the most awkward dinner in the history of dinners here. We’d all attempted to be civil in light of the good news. Daniel wasn’t going to jail. He’d let Vivian back into his life, and together they’d solved his problems. On top of that, they were getting married. In New Zealand. And we were leaving day after tomorrow for the ceremony.
“You don’t have to do this,” Muriella said, even as she handed me a plate.
“Did I ever tell you what happens to Jacobs men who don’t help with the dishes after supper?” I scrubbed at some dried sauce.
“No.”
Her lips were turned down, and she didn’t sound all that interested either.
“They have to clean the floors of the whole house. With a toothbrush.” She stared at me. “I’m serious. We can call my mama right now and ask her.”
She silently put the plate I’d rinsed into the dishwasher.
“You ever cleaned hardwood floors with a toothbrush?”
“No.”
Shit. One word answers.
“I’m here to tell you, I only did it once.” I passed her a fork. “My brother tried to bring me some knee pads, but I was too stubborn for that. My knees were tender for a week.”
That earned me an incredulous look. “I can’t imagine you not doing your chores.”
“It didn’t take me long to learn I had a part to play on the ranch.” I snorted. “No pun intended.” She didn’t even crack a smile, so I continued. “Mama was harder on us than anybody, but I get it now. When I didn’t do what I was expected to do, I let everybody else down.”
She set down the last glass in the top rack. “I thought I knew my part in this family. I don’t know anything anymore.”
Multi-word sentences. I could work with this.
“You do know your role.” I turned off the water and dried my hands. “You take care of everybody. You’re the glue that holds the whole thing together.”
Her shoulders slumped. “They don’t need me. He’s not going to prison. They’ve got each other.”
“Yeah, they do. But they wouldn’t have one another if it weren’t for you. Do you honestly think Daniel would have ever stayed with one woman without your influence?”
“He didn’t have a choice. He’s meant to be with Vivian. That has nothing to do with me.”
She folded her arms over her stomach, that little handprint on her sweater reminding me of what I’d always believed I could have with Muriella one day. After our date, I wanted that even more, but after everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours, I was less sure than I’d ever been that it was possible.
“Darlin’, I know you don’t want to hear what I have to say, but this,”—I waved my hand in the air—“doesn’t work without you.”
“They could hire someone to do what I do.”
I flinched. I’d never seen this side of her, and I hoped never to again. “So let them. Why don’t you get away from here for a little bit? There’s plenty of room on the ranch. Three men to do the dishes. Five women to gossip with. If you think you’re only here for the domestic stuff, find out if that’s really the case.”
“You just said it wasn’t.”
“I know it’s not, but you don’t seem to.”
Her mouth flattened and she reached for that damn dishtowel. “That would be just perfect for you, wouldn’t it? Me and you out on a ranch in the middle of nowhere.”
“I won’t be there.” She gave me ayeah, rightlook. “I have to work.Here.” More than ever, I wished I didn’t. But I’d made commitments I had to see through. Once again, they seemed to overshadow my real priorities.
