Only a Millionaire (The Sinclairs #6.5)(29)

I was her waitress; she was a customer.

That was pretty much the extent of my knowledge about my new sister.

“She’s nice,” I told Jade. “She’s beautiful. And I can tell she loves her husband. They’re quite a power couple, but you wouldn’t know that either one of them is megarich.”

Jade shot me a doubtful look. “They were both billionaires before they got married,” she reminded me.

“They aren’t like that, Jade. Hope is a nature photographer, and she’s good at it.” I’d seen my newfound sister from a distance taking photos many times over the last year. “None of the Sinclairs in Amesport have an attitude. They’ve donated millions to help the town, and most of them are a lot less intimidating than Evan. Hope just looks . . . happy.”

The few times I’d seen her and her husband, Jason Sutherland, in Liam’s restaurant, they’d been just like any other couple who adored each other.

Jade nodded. “Good. I was hoping none of them would be stuck-up. Evan tries to act like he doesn’t care about anything or anyone, but I know he does.”

“He adores his wife,” I said thoughtfully. “Actually, every single Sinclair marriage seemed happy to me.”

“What was Xander Sinclair like?” she asked curiously. “His career was so tragic. I loved his music.”

I’d been a fan of Xander’s music, too, so seeing him as a real person had been a little daunting. “He’s funny, but he didn’t used to be. From what I understand, he was pretty much a recluse in recovery when he met his wife, Samantha.”

“But he’s okay now?” she said anxiously.

It was going to take me a while to recognize Xander as my brother, but I could see that Jade was already past that point. She was worried about someone she didn’t know because he was family.

“He’s good. He’s one of Liam’s best friends. They razz each other constantly, kind of like our brothers do, but you can tell there’s a bond between the two of them.”

“I’d like to meet them all,” Jade said in a melancholy voice.

I shifted in my recliner, trying to get comfortable. I’d barely had time to adjust to being back in my apartment before Jade had flown through the door in tears, distraught because she’d had to keep the truth from me for months.

“I’m sure you will meet them,” I responded. “Evan said he was going to break the news to them right after he told me. They probably know by now.”

Jade eyed me carefully. “Look, I know how you’re feeling. We all went through this together while you were gone. It’s pretty surreal. Don’t feel like you’re alone. You’re not. None of us have gotten used to the whole thing.”

They’d gone through it, and were now at least over the initial shock. I was still trudging along in disbelief by myself. “I still can’t believe that Mom didn’t tell anybody.”

“We were kids,” Jade pointed out. “Her kids. I think she was trying to protect us.”

“She didn’t even have the chance to confront him about being a bigamist,” I considered. “Evan said his father probably died before Mom knew the truth.”

“She was really alone,” Jade murmured.

“I like to think she would have told us eventually, but Noah was already out of high school when she passed away, and she didn’t tell him,” I said.

“I don’t think any of us knows whether or not she would have eventually told us the truth,” Jade responded.

“It’s hard to believe she never recognized him. He was always one of the wealthiest men in the world,” I said, wondering how my mom would have missed seeing him in the media.

“She didn’t exactly operate in those circles, and when did she have time to read the news on rich people? She was always working,” Jade said wryly. “I thought the same thing until Noah pointed out that she never watched TV, and Evan’s father didn’t really show his face outside of the world of finance often. It’s not like he was a generous or philanthropic kind of man.”

“You’re still calling him Evan’s father,” I said, slightly amused. “He’s our father, too.”

Jade crinkled her nose. “Maybe I don’t really want to claim him,” she admitted. “He was a sleaze.”

I crossed my arms. “Then you wouldn’t have any connection to Evan.”

“Okay . . . since you put it that way, I’ll claim the bastard if I can still have all those new siblings,” she teased.

I laughed. “God, I missed you.”

I’d come home with a ton of anger, but not nearly as much as I’d had when I’d left Amesport. I’d had a lot of time to reason things out while I flew home, and I couldn’t stay angry at Jade or my brothers. It really wasn’t their fault. I’d just been so confused, and so afraid for my family. Halfway through the flight, I’d regretted leaving Liam without talking to him. Yes, I was planning on returning, but he deserved so much more than the fumbling information I’d given to Tessa.

I wrapped my arms around my body, feeling vulnerable and wishing I had Liam’s strong presence here in Citrus Beach. Maybe he didn’t talk a lot, but I could always feel him there for me. He was so solid and real that I’d come to rely on him being with me.