Her Surprise Sister

by Marta Perry

  His heart seemed to be twisting in his chest. Quickly, before he could think about what he should or should not do, he went and knelt next to her.

  “Violet.” He said her name gently, his throat thickening at her pain. “What is it? Can I help?”

  She gestured toward the item in her lap, seeming unable to speak through her sobs. Taking that as an invitation, he bent over to look. It was a photo—old and faded. He had no trouble recognizing Brian Wallace, though. Clearly the photo was of Brian and Belle with all four of their children.

  There were no more questions about who Brian’s first wife had been. He could have Dave stop pursuing that missing link, although they still didn’t know the Why.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “You just found this?”

  Violet nodded. “They…they look so young. So happy.” The sobs overtook her again.

  He couldn’t help it. He drew her into his arms, stroking her hair. She wore it loose today, and it flowed through his hand like silk. He murmured any sort of nonsense that came into his head that he thought might be soothing.

  It probably wasn’t a good idea, holding her this way, but at the moment he didn’t care. He dropped a light kiss on the top of her head.

  “I understand,” he said. “You’ve just had too much to bear lately, and now this. You don’t have to be brave all the time, you know.” He stroked her shoulders, feeling them shake with her weeping.

  Violet drew back a little, sniffling as she tried to contain her tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart. When I looked at the picture, I realized something.” She pressed her palm to her chest. “There’s always been an…an empty place in me. In my heart. Now I know what it was. It’s the space where my father should have been.”

  His own heart seemed to be ripping apart. “I’m sorry, so sorry for what they did. It wasn’t fair to you.” He wanted to touch her cheek, but he held back, fearing he’d cross a line and not be able to get back.

  “I can’t let myself go like this. I can’t. Mom and Jack always tried to take care of me. Now I have to be the strong one.”

  Landon felt an irrational surge of fury toward her missing brother. “You have Maddie,” he said soothingly. “And me.”

  Violet wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You’re kind, Landon. But you’ve done enough. I can’t involve you in my grief.”

  “I think it’s too late for that,” he murmured, and he knew it was too late for him, as well. He caressed her cheek, and then cradled her face in his hands.

  Violet’s eyes widened, and her breath seemed to catch. He could feel her skin grow warm against his palms.

  Unable to resist, he lowered his face to hers and kissed her. Her lips were soft and warm, and she leaned into the kiss as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  Landon’s pulse thundered, and the longing to draw her more fully into his arms was so strong he could barely fight it off.

  But he did…he had to. He drew back, but even as he did so, he knew he could no longer pretend he didn’t have feelings for Violet.

  He brushed his fingers gently along the sweet curve of her cheek and then sat back on his heels. He couldn’t seem to stop looking at her the way she was at this moment…her cheeks pink, her lips soft, her eyes a little dazed.

  He cleared his throat. “Is this where I should say I’m sorry?”

  She shook her head, turning away as if to hide her face. “No.” She put her hand against her cheek in what seemed an instinctive gesture. “But maybe we should go downstairs and forget about what just happened.”

  He took her hand and helped her to rise. “We can go downstairs. As for forgetting—that’s something I can’t promise.”

  * * *

  Violet felt reasonably sure her cheeks were red when they reached the living room and found Maddie curled up in the corner chair that seemed to have become her favorite. She’d already dressed for the trip to Amarillo in tan pants and a silky turquoise top. Next to her twin, Violet felt grubby and disheveled.

  Maybe Maddie would assume Violet’s flush was from the two flights of stairs. But from the way Maddie glanced from her to Landon, Violet doubted it.

  What had she been thinking of, letting Landon kiss her that way? Worse, kissing him back? True, Maddie insisted that her relationship with Landon was over, but Maddie was angry with him right now. What happened when she got over that?

  “Look what I found in the attic,” she said hurriedly, before Maddie could speak.

  “A shawl?” Naturally Maddie focused on the larger object Violet held.

  “This.” Maybe she should try to soften the impact, but she couldn’t think how to do that. “I found it in the bottom of Mom’s trunk.”

  Maddie took the tattered photograph, holding it carefully by the edges. She stared at it for what seemed a long time, and her eyes glistened with tears.

  “Our family,” she murmured, her voice growing husky. “It’s all of us.” She stood and threw her arms around Violet, enveloping her in a fierce hug. “Our family,” she repeated.

  Violet held her tight. “It’s going to be all right.” Her voice sounded husky, too. “Now that we know for sure, we’ll figure the rest of it out.”

  The precious photo trembled in Maddie’s hand, and Landon rescued it. “Maybe when the two of you are finished being so mushy with each other, we can figure out if there are any clues in this photo.”

  Maddie released her, blinking the tears away. “That’s Landon. Always businesslike.”

  “I see that,” Violet agreed. But Landon hadn’t been so businesslike in the attic just a few minutes ago.

  “Do you have a magnifying glass, Violet?” He sounded calm and practical, but there was something in his eyes when he looked at her that brought the blood back to her cheeks.

  “I think so. Let me look for it.” She hurried out of the room, relieved to be away from his disturbing presence for at least a little while. There should be a magnifying glass in the desk in the den, but even after a prolonged rummage she couldn’t locate it.

  Lupita must have heard her, because she came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Violet? Are you looking for something?”

  “I thought there was a magnifying glass in the desk, but I can’t find it.”

  “It’s here, in the kitchen drawer.” Lupita produced it in an instant. “I use it to read the small print on labels. Why do you need it?”

  “We’ve found something.” She linked her arms with Lupita’s. “Come and see.”

  Now that her first emotional response had passed, Violet felt excitement rising. Who knew what this discovery might lead to?

  They went into the living room arm in arm. Maddie and Landon were standing together at one of the end tables, looking down at the photo, and a strand of Landon’s blond hair had fallen onto his forehead. She should not be feeling an urge to press it back into place.

  “Let me show it to Lupita,” she said.

  Landon and Maddie stepped back, and she led Lupita to the table. “Look.”

  “Ah.” Lupita let out a long exhale. She looked from Violet to Maddie. “There you are—such beautiful babies.” Her eyes filled with tears. “If only we could have known…” She stopped, shaking her head.

  “I know,” Violet said softly. “But at least Maddie and I are together now. Maybe soon we’ll know why they separated us to begin with.”

  Violet took the glass and bent over the picture, eyeing it carefully. “Magnifying it doesn’t really help much. The quality of the picture has deteriorated. It probably wasn’t very good to begin with.”

  Maddie took the magnifier. “Let me see.” She studied it for a long moment, but then she shook her head and handed it to Landon.

  Violet tried not to smile. Landon had obviously been itching to get his hands on the magnifying glass and see for himself, not content to take their word for it.

  Finally he straightened, shaking his head.

  “Isn’t there some
thing we can do with it?” Maddie asked impatiently. “Can’t we use some photo software to make it clearer?”

  “That’s not a job for an amateur with a fragile photo like this one,” Landon said. “I know a little about it, but not enough. But I do know someone who could at least restore the photo and make copies for you, even if he can’t bring out any more details. Will you let me take it back to Fort Worth with me and have him work on it?” He was looking at Violet for permission. “I promise I’ll take good care of it.”

  Much as she hated to part with the photo, that solution made sense. “All right. Are you going back to Fort Worth right away?” She tried to sound as if it didn’t matter to her when he left.

  “Tomorrow,” he said. “I do have to go back then so I can meet with a new client on Monday morning, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. Maybe I could take you two out to dinner tonight, if you like.”

  Violet exchanged glances with Maddie, but she didn’t seem to object. “That would be nice. But it will have to be on the early side. I need to be at Teen Scene again tonight.”

  She gave Landon a defiant glance, wondering if he had anything else to say on the folly of inexperienced volunteers working with teens.

  But he just nodded. “Great. I’ll make a reservation, then. Any suggestions?”

  She smiled. “There aren’t a lot of options in Grasslands, trust me. Sally’s Barbecue is probably best. She’ll be pleasantly surprised to have someone actually call her for a reservation.” Obviously, Landon was accustomed to far more fancy restaurants than anything Grasslands had to offer.

  Landon nodded, glancing at his watch. “I’d best get out of your way so you can head up to Amarillo. I’ll meet you at Sally’s at around 5:30, if that gives us enough time before Teen Scene opens.”

  Us, he’d said. She decided not to read anything into that. “It’s fine,” she said. “We’ll see you there.”

  Chapter Nine

  Violet was smiling as she unlocked the side door at the church that evening. After the emotional strains of the day, supper with Landon and Maddie had been surprisingly relaxing. She and Maddie had come straight to the church after supper, but Landon had stopped by the hotel to change into something more casual.

  “That was fun, wasn’t it?” Maddie, entering the church in her wake, seemed to be on the same wavelength. “Landon was more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time.”

  “You sound as if you’ve gotten over being mad at him.” Violet tried to keep her voice casual as she switched on the lights.

  “I guess I can never stay mad at him for long,” Maddie said. She gave Violet a second glance as they went down the stairs to the gym area. “Why?”

  Violet shrugged. “He’s a nice guy. I know you said your engagement was over, but…”

  “I meant it,” Maddie said firmly. “Why is that so hard to believe? Yes, he’s a great guy, but he’s not the one for me. The only time we even kissed was that night he proposed, and there wasn’t a single spark. We were both dumb to even consider marriage. Landon was trying to help me, because that’s who he is, and I was feeling sorry for myself and lost. But I’m not anymore.” Suddenly she grabbed Violet’s arm and pulled her around to face her. “You’re interested in him, aren’t you?”

  It might have sounded accusing, but Maddie’s face was lit up, her voice filled with mischief.

  “No, no, I…”

  Violet let that trail off, because Maddie was grinning at her knowledgeably.

  “Come on, admit it. You’re interested.”

  “You’re not upset?” She clutched her sister’s hand, looking into her eyes. “Please, Maddie, you have to be honest with me about it.”

  “Upset?” Maddie rolled her eyes. “Why would I be upset? I think it’s great. I don’t want Landon for a husband, but I wouldn’t mind having him for a brother-in-law.”

  “Stop.” Violet made a gesture of covering her ears. “It’s nothing like that.”

  “Then what is it?” Maddie teased. “Come on, you can tell me. I’m your twin.”

  She shouldn’t, but the urge to confide in someone was just too strong. “We…well, we kissed. That’s all. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

  Maddie shook her head decisively. “I don’t think Landon would kiss you unless it meant something. Not under the circumstances.”

  “That’s just it. This isn’t the right time for…well, romance. Not with everything that’s happening.”

  “There is no right time,” Maddie declared. “Promise me that you won’t discourage Landon just because of what happened between him and me.”

  Someone was knocking at the outside door she hadn’t unlocked yet, maybe Landon.

  “All right,” Violet said hastily when she saw the unrelenting look on her sister’s face. “I promise. Now let go. I have to open up.”

  Maddie grinned triumphantly. “Don’t forget. And tell me everything.”

  She wouldn’t promise that, Violet decided as she hurried to the door. Not everything. She unlocked the door and swung it open, prepared to face Landon.

  But it was Sadie Johnson, the new church secretary, standing there peering in anxiously.

  “Sadie, hi. Come in, please.”

  Sadie sidled a few inches forward, clutching that drab sweater around her. She wore it like a protective coating, it seemed to Violet.

  “I won’t take up much of your time. He…Pastor Jeb, I mean…he asked me to come by and see that you have all the help you need tonight. He said to tell you he can come if you need him.”

  Maddie had moved next to her, and Violet felt sure Maddie hadn’t missed the awed note in Sadie’s voice when she said Jeb’s name.

  “Come on inside, Sadie.” Maddie put her arm around Sadie and propelled her onto the balcony that overlooked the gym floor. “So tell us, do you like working for Pastor Jeb?”

  Violet gave an inward sigh. Apparently there was no end to Maddie’s matchmaking urges.

  “He’s…it’s very nice,” Sadie said, her eyes wide behind the oversized glasses.

  She had lovely eyes, Violet realized, a deep, translucent green. What a shame that they were hidden behind those ugly glasses.

  “Pastor Jeb is a sweetheart,” Maddie declared.

  Sadie blushed, but didn’t answer. Violet decided she’d better intervene before teenagers started piling in on them. That would probably scare Sadie to death.

  “I think we’re okay for volunteers. Tell Pastor Jeb I’ll call for help if I need it.” In fact, Tim and Lynn Cole had just come down the stairs, and Violet waved to them. “Thanks for coming by, Sadie. I’d love to have coffee with you one day next week so we can get better acquainted.”

  She didn’t have a spare minute in her schedule at the moment, but the spirit of welcoming newcomers had been thoroughly inculcated by Belle and Lupita between them.

  “That…that’s nice of you, but I don’t think I can. I mean, my new job…” Sadie let that trail off, maybe realizing how silly it sounded.

  “I’ll call you,” Violet said, and turned away to check in three teenage boys with a basketball who were eager to hit the court. When she looked back, Sadie was gone.

  “She likes him,” Maddie whispered in her ear.

  Violet smiled, shaking her head. “Pastor Jeb has that effect on women,” she said. “When he came the number of female volunteers for church activities soared, according to Mom.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Maddie replied. “He’s sweet. And Sadie could be attractive if she’d do something with herself.”

  “Don’t matchmake,” Violet warned. “That always backfires.” She pointed to the small table and chair next to the door. “Here’s your duty station. Get names when kids come in. They can leave anytime they want, but they have to check out with you. Mark down the time. Once they leave, they can’t come back in.”

  The rule had been Pastor Jeb’s idea, and it was a good one. It discouraged kids from telling their parents they were at Teen Scene and then h
eading for less worthwhile activities.

  “Yes, boss.” Maddie gave her a mock salute. “I’ll man the gates until relieved. Landon should be here soon.”

  She sounded a little too innocent with that comment, Violet decided.

  “Don’t you dare say anything to him about what I told you,” she warned.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” Maddie replied, but her eyes twinkled. Deciding that saying anything else would just invite more teasing, Violet fled.

  * * *

  Landon glanced at his watch. Another hour and the teen center would be closing. He wasn’t exactly longing for this evening to be over, but he had to confess to a sense of…what was it? Inadequacy? As much as he’d done to support missions to teenagers, donating generously and serving on the boards of two projects, he’d never had quite this up-close an experience.

  It was one thing to donate money in Jessica’s memory. It was quite another to see her face in the young girls who pressed together in close-knit circles, giggling, talking, eyeing the boys who pretended to be oblivious of them. Being here brought his grief to the surface—grief and guilt. If he had paid more attention to Jessica, she might be alive. He’d known from an early age that they couldn’t count on their parents for that attention. He should have intervened.

  He didn’t belong here, Landon thought suddenly. He could play a pick-up game of basketball with the boys, of course, but what good did that do?

  Maddie seemed to have adapted to this activity with surprising ease, he realized. Right now she was at a corner table, talking to a slight young teenager over a couple of sodas. The girl had long, glossy black hair and a delicate face. It was the girl he’d seen crying.

  Was this the girl Maddie had meant in her tirade against him this morning? The one about whom Violet was worried? If so, Maddie seemed to be making some progress with her.

  He sensed someone beside him and turned to see Violet watching the pair, just as he was.

  “Maddie seems to be fitting right in,” he said.