Page 53 of Worth the Wait

I prayed Matthew wouldn’t get up and walk us outside. I couldn’t have him trying to hook up with my sister. Not when Bella was in here, clearly pining over him. And not when my sister would attempt to eat him alive, but he’d probably only devastate her instead. The idea alone was too disastrous to even contemplate.

Our exit was quick and uneventful. Matthew stayed put. Bella’s tense shoulders actually relaxed as we headed out the door without him. And we were walking toward the general store on Main Street before anyone could stop us.

After almost two hours of wandering the aisles of the general store, we arrived back at our dad’s house with more packages than we could carry. Literally. We had to make multiple trips from the car to the house and back again.

“I see the shopping was a success,” Dad said as soon as he saw us with our arms full.

“Who knew?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

The general store had a variety of items, but I’d honestly never thought that Sarina would find so much stuff to decorate her room with. Then again, she had been fueled by alcohol and picking things I was sure she was going to question later.

The whole idea was silly, but it was also kind of sweet. Shopping for a room she wasn’t going to live in. Maybe she’d visit more often now that she’d seen what it was like here? I wasn’t sure, but I loved the very thought of it. As long as I was here too. It would definitely feel weird if Sarina came to Sugar Mountain without me.

“I might have gone a little overboard.” Sarina grinned as she hauled her treasures up the stairs and into her room.

Once she was gone, Dad shot me a look. “She really found that much stuff?” he asked, his shock as obvious as mine had been. “At the general store?”

“Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are.” I laughed.

“It’s really neat, having her here. Thanks for bringing her with you.”

Sarina was bounding down the stairs, halting our conversation.

“So, where else did you two go?” our dad asked, his dark eyes focused on Sarina.

“The saloon.” Sarina smiled, her full lips curving all the way up. She looked genuinely happy. “Bella makes good cocktails.”

“Ahhh.” My dad grinned, his body leaning against one of his crutches awkwardly. “So, you’re drunk then?”

“I’m definitely tipsy.” Sarina laughed as she put up a single finger and nodded.

“That explains all the bags,” he countered.

“Think I’ll have buyers’ remorse later?” she asked seriously as her smile dropped.

“It’s definitely possible,” I answered. “You bought some questionable things.”

I started giggling at the over-the-top glitter decor she’d grabbed from the party section of the store. The kind of items that were meant to be used one time, but Sarina had insisted that they werebrilliant. Her word, not mine.

She waved me off. “It’s fine. I’ll love it. And once I’m done, I’m going to post it up on my socials. Show the masses how you can make something simple and affordable still look chic.”

I started choking. “Please don’t post anything until you’re sober. Mother will murder me for allowing it.”

“She would definitely blame you,” Sarina said, and I turned to look at my dad.

“How is your mother?” he asked, but I could tell he was only doing it to be polite. As long as his daughters were safe and okay, the rest of it was of no concern to him, my mother included.

“Bossy,” Sarina answered at the same time as I said, “Mean.”

Dad’s eyebrows pulled together, and I watched as his face wrinkled with concern. “She’s mean and bossy?” he repeated.

“She’s opinionated. And concerned with appearances,” Sarina tried to explain, and I wondered if that’s how she’d always been.

“I can’t stand here like a flamingo anymore. Can we go sit in the kitchen?” Dad asked.

I hadn’t noticed him basically standing with his cast foot hovering inches above the ground.

He reached for the other crutch and hopped on them toward the kitchen table before sitting down in his chair at the head of it. Sarina and I followed behind. She took a seat, and I went to grab us all some waters. My sister definitely needed to hydrate. Pulling out a bottle of ibuprofen from the cabinet, I poured a few into my hand and gave them to her.

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