Most Precious Blood by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page A

isn’t anything serious,” Val said.
    â€œIt won’t be,” Rick replied. “Not after a little friendly conversation.”
    Val nodded. “Did Jamey have anything else to say?” she managed to ask.
    â€œHe was in a funny mood,” Rick said. “Distracted like. I don’t think he would have brought Amanda up if I hadn’t. He talked a little bit about Kit, how proud he was of her and how concerned. He usually doesn’t do that, talk about his kids. I brag about you all the time, but Jamey keeps that stuff to himself. He said Kevin’s doing real well at Notre Dame, but that’s no surprise. That boy has a real head on his shoulders. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a lawyer. Like father, like son.”
    â€œI think Kit wants to be a lawyer,” Val said. The Farrells suddenly seemed like a nice, safe topic.
    â€œDaughters are different,” Rick said. “You want different things for them. Homes, families. They don’t have to have careers like men do.”
    â€œSo you don’t expect me to take over your business one day?” Val asked.
    Rick laughed. “I expect you to marry a smart Italian boy, and he’ll take over the business,” he replied. “Kevin Farrell can be his lawyer, just like Jamey’s mine. And you’ll give me lots of healthy grandchildren.”
    â€œWhat does Kit do?” Val asked.
    â€œThat’s her lookout, not ours,” Rick said. “She’ll probably drink like her mother.”
    â€œDaddy!” Val cried. “How can you say that?”
    â€œSorry, honey,” Rick said. “I’ve seen a little more of the world than you. I shouldn’t be so cynical first thing in the morning.”
    Connie brought in Val’s breakfast. “I made the eggs just the way you like them,” she said, although she always made Val’s eggs just the way she liked them. Connie did everything exactly the way she was told, including keeping secrets. She and Bruno certainly knew where their security came from.
    â€œThanks, Connie,” Val said. She took a bite of the eggs and convinced herself she’d be able to finish them.
    Connie poured Rick another cup of coffee, then left. Rick sighed contentedly.
    â€œThere’s no place like home,” he said. “I miss it when I’m away from here.”
    â€œI missed you,” Val said, because she knew he expected her to.
    â€œLikewise,” Rick said. “I also called Terry last night. Had kind of a strange talk with her too.”
    â€œWhat was strange about it?” Val asked. She bit into the toast as a form of protection.
    â€œShe was in a mood too,” Rick said. “I said to her maybe we’d come over tonight, make up for that dinner we both missed on Sunday, and she gave me a real song and dance why we shouldn’t. This kid’s busy doing this, and that kid’s busy doing that, and the house is a mess, and she doesn’t have anything decent to feed us. It didn’t make sense to me. She’d have all day to straighten up and buy something and rearrange the kids’ plans. Besides, we’re family. She shouldn’t feel she has to make a big fuss over us.”
    â€œIt was short notice, Daddy,” Val said. “Maybe we could get together over the weekend.”
    â€œThat’s something else,” Rick said. “Jamey mentioned maybe we’d get together for brunch on Sunday. Him and Kit and you and me. What do you think?”
    â€œThat sounds nice,” Val replied.
    â€œI guess that means we go sailing on Saturday,” Rick said. “The days are getting too short to go after brunch. Especially if Jamey starts talking. We’ll never get out of there.”
    â€œSailing Saturday, brunch Sunday,” Val said. “It sounds like a nice weekend.”
    â€œI agree,” Rick said. “And I’m glad you think so, because I’m going