Sisters by Choice (Blackberry Island #4)(12)

Kristine picked up her wine. “I can guess. Amber’s car was totaled in her recent car accident. Yesterday she came by and showed me her new ride. It’s a nice, late-model Subaru that had to cost way more than what she got for her insurance payout.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I doubt she makes enough to qualify for a very big car loan, which means she had to come up with the balance herself. You don’t actually think she has savings, do you? She had to get the money from somewhere and I’d say Heather is the most likely victim.”

Sophie sagged against the back of the sofa. She shifted, then pulled out a small model car from between the cushions.

“Poor Heather,” she murmured. “Why does she stay?”

“How can she leave? Amber would never forgive her if she tried. Plus, she’s only twenty. Amber is her mom—however badly she behaves—and we all know Amber raised Heather to take care of her. I’m sure Heather feels trapped and you know Amber never lets her get her savings built up before she ‘needs’ it for something.” Kristine made air quotes. “If there was something between mother and daughter, my guess is Heather is pissed. As she should be.”

“Family drama. I’d forgotten this part of being home.”

“You love us,” Kristine told her. “Now, what’s really happening at the warehouse? Are you doing okay? You’ve got to be overwhelmed. You’re basically starting from scratch.”

“I know. I try not to think about the big picture.” She put down her glass and turned the toy car over in her hand. “I still can’t believe no one came with me. Not one employee wanted to move up here.”

“That’s because they have no idea how great it is. They’re picturing some hick backwater instead of our cool, beautiful island.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Seriously? That’s your story?”

“Okay, it’s small, but Seattle is less than an hour away. It’s a thousand times better than LA. West Coast people are snobs.”

Sophie grinned. “Is this where I remind you we live on the West Coast?”

Kristine’s eyes widened. “Oops. I’m not good at talking trash.”

“No, you’re not.”

Kristine waved away the comment. “Regardless, I stand by what I said. It’s fear of small towns. I’m sure there’s a word for it.”

Even if there was, Sophie wasn’t sure it mattered. She couldn’t help thinking that the fact that not a single employee had been willing to move was a message, and one she should listen to, if only she could figure it out.

Later, she promised herself, only to have her thoughts interrupted by a loud shriek of “Aunt Sophie’s here?” followed by the sound of feet thundering down the stairs. Kristine’s three boys burst into the basement and flew over to the sofa. JJ and Tommy attacked from either side while Grant threw himself onto her lap.

She felt a little squished, but laughed as she hugged and tickled and felt skinny arms wrapped around her shoulders and neck.

Technically, she wasn’t their aunt, but since she and Kristine were cousins, and they’d been raised practically as sisters, making her the “aunt” made things easy for everyone.

“Hey, guys,” she said when the boys were relatively calm. “What’s going on?”

“I got an A on my spelling test,” Grant told her.

“Dad’s taking us camping for spring break,” JJ offered. “We’re staying in a cabin. Mom doesn’t want to come with us.”

“Three stinky boys in a small cabin?” Kristine wrinkled her nose. “I’ll miss you all so much.”

Tommy leaned against his mother. “We don’t stink, Mom. You have a sensitive nose.”

“That I do.”

Sophie looked at the brown-haired, brown-eyed boys. They looked enough alike that no one would have to guess they were brothers. If they were the same age, they could probably pass for triplets. And each and every one of them looked very much like their father.

“Jaxsen has some strong DNA,” she said, pushing JJ’s hair out of his eyes.

JJ sprang to his feet. “Dad, Aunt Sophie’s talking about sperm.”

Jaxsen sauntered down the stairs—looking as he always did, like an athletic man in his prime. He grinned at them. “Sophie’s a wild one.” He nodded. “Kids look good on you, Soph. You should find yourself a man and settle down.”

“Oh, please. I’m a fantastic aunt, but that’s as far as it goes.”

“It’s great to have you back in town.”

She nodded, thinking that she’d known Jaxsen nearly as long as she could remember. He’d been a couple of years ahead of her and Kristine in school. In high school he’d been the handsome, charming football player, with girls lined up around the block. Sophie had lost her virginity to him in the back of his car one summer night. The experience had lasted all of two minutes and had so grossed her out that she’d not only never told a soul, she’d also avoided boys and dating for another three years. She looked at her cousin. Kristine was happy—no doubt Jaxsen had improved with age and experience.

“What’s so funny?” Kristine asked, pushing Tommy to his feet.

“Just remembering when we were young.”