The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(41)

“I’ll help with dinner,” Sedona said.

“Cal’s making dinner tonight. Family only.”

“I’ve got it,” Cal yelled from the kitchen.

So Sedona had a glass of wine, visited with Maggie and Sierra, was caught up on all the family gossip—like how Sierra met and fell in love with Connie—and then when she could stand it no longer, she migrated to the breakfast bar, where she could watch Cal at work.

“Will you be turning the flame down on those potatoes pretty soon?” she asked. “You aren’t going to boil those beans, are you? Because if you steam them...” Cal glared at her. “Point me to the good dishes and I’ll set the table.” Then, less than three minutes later, she asked, “Are you sure these are the good dishes?”

Thus, Sedona was banished from the kitchen. But by a unanimous vote, she was elected to clean up.

Sedona was indefatigable. When Dakota arrived, they hugged and greeted each other; he asked about her husband, Bob, and the kids, then she said, “So, what’s this about you being a garbage collector?”

“It’s an excellent job with great benefits and pay,” he said.

“And when will you put your education and experience to use?” she asked.

Sierra called Sully. “The sooner you can get over here and occupy Sedona, the less likely one of us will kill her.”

Sully arrived at Cal and Maggie’s a little earlier than he had planned, but it became obvious right off that it was not so much to be helpful as to figure out what was going on. He had met Sedona briefly when Cal and Maggie got married but he’d never seen the Jones siblings gathered like this, without a lot of other people around. He asked for a tall iced tea, then sat back and observed. Sedona was telling Cal how to make the dinner, quizzing Dakota about his future plans, insisting that Sierra go over her plans for the wedding day. After a little of this, he took Sedona’s elbow in his grip and escorted her to Cal’s patio.

“Sit down here and tell me about yourself,” Sully said. “I’ve had a lot of time with your brothers and sister but I hardly know you at all.”

Sedona sat in a lawn chair and proceeded to tell him about her husband, Bob, her son, Travis, and daughter, Rayna, about Little League and swim club and her husband’s business, which was a successful architecture firm that designed everything from skyscrapers to luxury homes. She elaborated on the kids: one had glasses like his father, the other scared her to death with her love of diving from the high board. She didn’t stop talking for twenty minutes.

“You must have a lot of experience in a lot of things,” Sully said.

“I suppose,” she said. “Why do you say that?”

“You’re full of advice,” he said. “I know a little about your folks. They sound like pretty interesting people. Why do you suppose each one of you four kids is so accomplished? I think someone should know the formula and write a book about it,” Sully said.

“Well, there’s no good explanation. We weren’t exactly raised to be independent as much as we never had much parenting. Your story is probably more interesting. How do you explain raising a neurosurgeon?”

Sully laughed. “Girl, I take no credit for that whatsoever. Maggie’s mother and stepfather saw to her schooling and her discipline. I counted myself lucky if they let her come for a visit. My ex-wife left me when Maggie was only six and kept us separated for years. She said I was a terrible father and she was probably right. I think Maggie is who she is in spite of me, but thank God I didn’t hold her back too much.”

And just like that, tears gathered like storms in Sedona’s eyes and she started crying. Rivers flowed down her cheeks and she used her napkin as a tissue to mop up the tears and blow her nose.

“Here, now,” Sully said, reaching out and patting her knee.

Sedona babbled something unintelligible.

Sully opened the back door and called to Maggie. Maggie came to the door with a perplexed look on her face but then took in the sight of Sedona sobbing.

“Oh dear God,” Maggie said in aggravation. “What did you say to her?”

“I just asked her about herself. She was telling me about her husband and kids, who, by the way, are perfect and exceptional.”

Maggie crouched beside Sedona, pulling her into her arms. “What is it?” she asked gently. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

With a hiccup of emotion, Sedona looked at Maggie. “We’re separated!” she said in a stressed whisper. “Bob moved out, left me and took the kids. He said my perfectionism was going to be the end of us all. I don’t know what in the world I’m supposed to do.”

“Oh, my,” Maggie said, hugging her and patting her back.

Sully stood by the back door. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t be a proper wedding if someone weren’t bawling.”





   A man must first govern himself ere he be

fit to govern a family.

   —SIR WALTER RALEIGH





9

“I SHOULDN’T HAVE COME,” Sedona said. “It’s Sierra’s special weekend and I’m just going to ruin it.”

“No, that’s not going to happen,” Maggie said. “You stay right here with Sully. I’m going to make you a cup of tea. We just won’t talk about this right now. We’ll talk about it after dinner, when the house quiets down.”