motioned that they were leaving. Jesse nodded, a little surprised that even they picked up on Nicole’s tension. Apparently it was obvious to people other than her.
“Do you want me to sign something?” Nicole asked. “A statement that if this doesn’t work out I won’t sell the brownies without your knowledge.”
Jesse forced herself not to react. Steal. Nicole meant steal. It was a not-so-subtle dig at Jesse for the chocolate cake incident from five years ago.
“I’m willing to trust you,” she said with a lightness she didn’t feel. Obviously she’d been an idiot to think her sister would welcome her with open arms. Nicole was determined not to make this easy.
“We’ve already cleared a space in the main case,” Nicole said. “You can take the brownie trays up whenever you’re ready. Maggie is putting up a sign about them and we’ll be handing out samples.”
“Thanks.”
Nicole started to leave. Jesse called her back.
“I missed you,” she said. “It was hard being gone. Having Gabe on my own terrified me, but it also made me understand what you’d gone through, having your little sister to take care of. You were a kid yourself. You shouldn’t have had the responsibility. I want you to know I appreciate all you did for me and all you had to put up with.”
Nicole’s mouth twisted. For a second Jesse thought—hoped—they were going to have an honest moment of communication. Then Nicole shrugged.
“We all do what we have to do. I’ll let you get back to your brownies.”
Then she was gone.
“YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?” Jesse asked.
Wyatt, Claire’s husband, dumped more containers of fat snap-together building blocks on the family room floor. “We’re making a castle,” he said with a grin. “The castle is our favorite.”
Robby, Claire and Wyatt’s four-year-old, and Mirabella, their two-year-old daughter, sank down next to Gabe, who was staring intently at the blocks and the possibilities they represented.
“He’s great with the kids,” Claire said, as she led the way to the living room and the relative quiet and privacy there.
“I remember how he was with Amy,” Jesse said, wishing Wyatt’s daughter had been around. But Amy, now a pretty, accomplished teenager, was off at camp for the summer. “I can’t wait to see her.”
“You won’t believe how much she’s grown,” Claire said with a laugh. “She’s beautiful and that’s making Wyatt crazy. Boys are sniffing around all the time. So far she’s not interested in dating, but it’s just a matter of time until that changes. We’re holding out for a couple more years of relative peace.”
“Good luck with that.” Jesse settled on the sofa and faced her sister. “You’re doing well. I read about you in the paper.”
Claire dismissed the compliment with a flick of her wrist. “I’m performing less and less each year. I take tours when it interests me and when the scheduling works out, but with three kids, it’s hard. I just don’t have the drive anymore.” She glanced at the gleaming baby grand piano in the corner. “I’ll always have music in my life, but not in the same way. Oh, I’m teaching Eric and Robby together once a week. If you’d like Gabe to join them, I’d be happy to have him.”
“Sure,” Jesse said. “What mother doesn’t want her child taught by the famous Claire Keyes?”
Claire laughed. “Don’t expect much. We play more than we learn, but I want them to appreciate music and find it thrilling, not be a grind. If they’re interested, they can work on scales and technique later.”
“You’re the expert. Just tell me when and I’ll have him here.” She paused. “Assuming it’s all right with Nicole.”
“Jesse, don’t.”
“Don’t what? Be realistic? Admit it.” Jesse kicked off her sandals and tucked her feet under her. “She doesn’t want me to be successful, Claire. She’s sorry I’m back.”
“She’s not sorry. She’s dealing with a lot.
“Do you want me to sign something?” Nicole asked. “A statement that if this doesn’t work out I won’t sell the brownies without your knowledge.”
Jesse forced herself not to react. Steal. Nicole meant steal. It was a not-so-subtle dig at Jesse for the chocolate cake incident from five years ago.
“I’m willing to trust you,” she said with a lightness she didn’t feel. Obviously she’d been an idiot to think her sister would welcome her with open arms. Nicole was determined not to make this easy.
“We’ve already cleared a space in the main case,” Nicole said. “You can take the brownie trays up whenever you’re ready. Maggie is putting up a sign about them and we’ll be handing out samples.”
“Thanks.”
Nicole started to leave. Jesse called her back.
“I missed you,” she said. “It was hard being gone. Having Gabe on my own terrified me, but it also made me understand what you’d gone through, having your little sister to take care of. You were a kid yourself. You shouldn’t have had the responsibility. I want you to know I appreciate all you did for me and all you had to put up with.”
Nicole’s mouth twisted. For a second Jesse thought—hoped—they were going to have an honest moment of communication. Then Nicole shrugged.
“We all do what we have to do. I’ll let you get back to your brownies.”
Then she was gone.
“YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?” Jesse asked.
Wyatt, Claire’s husband, dumped more containers of fat snap-together building blocks on the family room floor. “We’re making a castle,” he said with a grin. “The castle is our favorite.”
Robby, Claire and Wyatt’s four-year-old, and Mirabella, their two-year-old daughter, sank down next to Gabe, who was staring intently at the blocks and the possibilities they represented.
“He’s great with the kids,” Claire said, as she led the way to the living room and the relative quiet and privacy there.
“I remember how he was with Amy,” Jesse said, wishing Wyatt’s daughter had been around. But Amy, now a pretty, accomplished teenager, was off at camp for the summer. “I can’t wait to see her.”
“You won’t believe how much she’s grown,” Claire said with a laugh. “She’s beautiful and that’s making Wyatt crazy. Boys are sniffing around all the time. So far she’s not interested in dating, but it’s just a matter of time until that changes. We’re holding out for a couple more years of relative peace.”
“Good luck with that.” Jesse settled on the sofa and faced her sister. “You’re doing well. I read about you in the paper.”
Claire dismissed the compliment with a flick of her wrist. “I’m performing less and less each year. I take tours when it interests me and when the scheduling works out, but with three kids, it’s hard. I just don’t have the drive anymore.” She glanced at the gleaming baby grand piano in the corner. “I’ll always have music in my life, but not in the same way. Oh, I’m teaching Eric and Robby together once a week. If you’d like Gabe to join them, I’d be happy to have him.”
“Sure,” Jesse said. “What mother doesn’t want her child taught by the famous Claire Keyes?”
Claire laughed. “Don’t expect much. We play more than we learn, but I want them to appreciate music and find it thrilling, not be a grind. If they’re interested, they can work on scales and technique later.”
“You’re the expert. Just tell me when and I’ll have him here.” She paused. “Assuming it’s all right with Nicole.”
“Jesse, don’t.”
“Don’t what? Be realistic? Admit it.” Jesse kicked off her sandals and tucked her feet under her. “She doesn’t want me to be successful, Claire. She’s sorry I’m back.”
“She’s not sorry. She’s dealing with a lot.
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