Christmas Steele by Vanessa Gray Bartal Page A

still looking at yourself with
an old mirror, honey. That was a long time ago. Since then you’ve
blossomed into an incredibly beautiful woman and you don’t even
know it. That and the fact that you’re naturally aloof and reserved
drives men crazy. You’re a challenge without even trying to be
one.”
    She blinked at him in surprise, sure he was
exaggerating. Her, a challenge? What was challenging about her?
They swung in silence for a few minutes as Lacy tried and failed to
process the new information. At last she gave up, sure her father
was exaggerating. If Riley was jealous of her then it was because
she was jealous of every other woman on the planet. Riley was one
of those women who had a lot of friends but still couldn’t seem to
get along with anyone.
    “Dad, I have to tell you something,” Lacy
blurted, not even knowing she was going to unload on her father
until she started.
    “What is it, honey?” he asked.
    “Mom’s adopted.” She dropped the bombshell
and waited for it to find its mark.
    “I know,” he said mildly.
    “You know?” she exclaimed.
    He nodded. “Your grandfather, your adopted
grandfather, told me when Frannie and I were first married. I think
he was dying to get the weight off his chest, and he also wanted to
know if I thought Frannie should be told. I didn’t think so then,
and I still don’t. It would kill her. I also know Mr. Middleton is
her real father. I’m glad he and Lucy have found each other, and
I’m glad you and he seem to have developed a bond. He’s a good
man.”
    “Do you think Mom will ever come around?”
    “I don’t know, honey. You’re mom can
be…difficult.” His tone was strained, making Lacy wonder if there
was more going on between them than the current problem with Mr.
Middleton.
    “Dad, is everything okay with you and Mom?”
Lacy asked.
    “Sure it is,” he replied unconvincingly.
“Don’t worry about it.” He gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze
and, despite the fact that she knew the words weren’t true, she
allowed herself to be reassured. She couldn’t handle any more
emotional turmoil right now.
    “I’m also a millionaire,” Lacy said.
    He sputtered and choked, coughing. Apparently
he hadn’t known that part of the story. “What?” he croaked.
    She filled him in on Barbara Blake’s murder
and her subsequent inheritance. “It’s funny,” Lacy said, though her
voice lacked humor. “She wanted me to inherit because she thought I
was the most like her. But I only looked like her; Riley’s the one
who inherited her personality, by all accounts.”
    “I don’t know about that, Lacy,” he said. “I
think you probably each have a little of her inside you, and a
little of Lucy, and me, and your mom, and Mr. Middleton. Life’s not
only about nature, there’s nurture, too. That’s why there’s good
inside your mom, because she’s not only part of her biological
mother, but part of Lucy, too. Riley may do hurtful things that you
don’t understand, but she has a big heart, too. Someday maybe
she’ll surprise you and show you that there’s more to her than a
selfish and spoiled brat.”
    She looked up at her father in surprise. She
had never heard him speak so disparagingly about her sister
before.
    “I’m being unbiased for once,” he said.
“Riley got away with far too much when she was little. If there was
one thing I wish I could change, that would be it. I can only hope
that hidden somewhere deep inside are all the good character traits
I tried to instill.”
    Lacy nodded, wishing she could offer more
encouragement, but the truth was that she wasn’t sure about Riley.
She wanted to believe what her father said--that Riley had goodness
buried somewhere down deep below the selfishness. But right now
Lacy was too hurt to be charitable. “’Truth will come to light,’”
Lacy said absently, thinking that one day, for better or worse,
Riley’s true character would reveal itself.
    Her father chuckled, giving her