Page 28 of An Adventure For Aster

“Aster has been pretty open about his life and past. What brought him here. Those things.”

“What did bring him here? I just thought Zane found out he was out of the service and offered him a job. Kind of like Luke followed Zane here when he left.”

She didn’t want to say things that many might not know. “That was some of it,” she said. “I don’t feel right saying more. He’ll tell his side of things when he wants to, I’m sure.”

“I think I know,” Ivy said. “I just was told not to say anything so don’t want to say it if it’s not the same thing. And now you’re going to think he’s hiding something if I don’t tell you.” Ivy took a deep breath. “I’m not as bad as I used to be in having to find things out and then share with everyone. I’ve matured.”

It was the tongue-in-cheek way it was said.

The truth was, Raine had never known the side of Ivy that her older sisters did and used to judge her on, so she didn’t see much of a change one way or another.

“I’m sure it’s the same thing, but I’ll let you keep your secret for now so there is no stress or worry. How is that? Anyway, he said a lot and I said a lot. But we got talking about the whole gender equality thing. He actually asked if I was mad that he’d paid for dinner Friday and everything on Saturday.”

“Were you? Your brother never let me pay for anything for a long time. It drove me nuts.”

She laughed. “I said I was but saw both sides of it. I explained that River and Brooks were the same way and why. That it was a respect thing that I’d seen growing up. He said it had nothing to do with being sexist on his end. He said he had a great job and the money. I don’t know what he meant other than he probably had a lot of money put away from being in the service. He’d said before that he’s wanted to help his sister and she won’t take it.”

“Sounds like she is independent like us,” Ivy said.

“It does,” she said and wouldn’t say anything more about Aster’s family. “He is the one who read between the lines that I might have had someone in my past who felt like because I made less I should do more to make it equal. Or give up things because they might not be equal. He wanted me to know he didn’t feel that way. My job took as much time or more than his, and what we were paid meant nothing. People could even it out by doing things just as much as paying for things. I told him I did all the baking as appreciation, not making it even.”

“That’s such a great way to put it. Sounds like you guys have some good communication going. Unlike your oldest brother and me when we started out.”

Ivy was giggling when she said that. “I like to think so. There you go and you’re caught up to date. You can tell Brooks, which means I better call and tell my mother when I hang up with you.”

“Yes, don’t let Patty find out from Brooks. She’ll be upset.”

Raine loved how Ivy and Emma were so attached to her mother and concerned about hurting her feelings.

“I’ll call her now,” she said. She hung up with Ivy and then hit the button to call her mother.

“Hi, Raine. How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well,” she said. “I’ve got some news.”

“What’s that?” her mother asked. “Something with school?”

“No,” she said. It was pretty sad that it was expected it’d be work news over personal news. Her pathetic life and all.

“Then what?” her mother asked.

“I’m dating someone. Well, it will be a week tomorrow, but it’s been three dates. And I met him a few weeks ago.”

“Tell me all about it,” her mother said. “Let me get my tea and settle in.”

“How about I come over and share it with you instead and we can have some tea together?”

Her mother would enjoy that more. And maybe she wanted to have that mother-daughter talk that she’d been missing too.

“Oh,” her mother said. “That would be lovely. Are you sure you’re not too tired after your day? I know you run around all the time and then do work at home.”

“All my work is done and I’m never too tired to spend time with my mother. I’ll bring over some apple pie I made on Sunday. A piece for you, me, and Dad.”

“Even better,” her mother said. “I can’t wait to hear all about this young man you’re dating.”

She laughed and hung up and couldn’t believe how excited and giddy she was over this so soon.

She’d dated other men much longer and never felt the anticipation and body tingles she did with Aster.

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