Page 30 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
Emma hesitated but then...why not? Derek was as much a part of their family as anyone. It came out quick and ineloquent. “Did Mom know that Frank had other daughters?”
His silence was her answer.
She fought a surge of hurt that left her winded.
“She knew about his first daughter. The one he had with his high school girlfriend.” Derek’s voice was low and gentle. “She only found out about the others when you did.”
Emma pinched the bridge of her nose to hold off tears. “Why didn’t she tell us we had a sister?”
Derek sighed. “We didn’t think you’d ever need to know about her.”
“But she’s my flesh and blood.”
“Who we never thought you’d meet,” Derek said. “Look, sweetheart. From what your mother told me, Frank was a strange man. Very closed off and hard to communicate with.” He hesitated and she could just imagine the frown that would be furrowing his brow and making his gray, bushy eyebrows come together like a muppet’s.
The thought had a wobbly smile forming. She and Lizzy had been so lucky to have Derek in their lives. And she had to wonder what life was like for her sisters who hadn’t been so lucky. She assumed by the bitterness in Dahlia’s tone that they hadn’t been blessed with a loving stepfather in their lives.
What were their stories?
She was torn between desperate curiosity and the urge to turn her back on this whole thing.
“Your mother really tried to make things work with Frank, for your sake and Lizzy’s. But when he offered to leave after Lizzy was born, she just didn’t have the fight to tell him to stay.” Derek sighed. “He disappeared out of your lives and became nothing more than a birthday card each year. Your mom didn’t want you to face any of this heartache. She wanted you to have a normal, happy life and we’ve had that, right?”
“Yeah, Dad.” Emma paused to swallow the lump in her throat. “I mean, yeah. Of course. Our life has been great.” She rubbed at the bridge of her nose again. “I just feel so bowled over by this. It hurts that you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m sorry,” Derek said softly. “We obviously should have.”
A long silence followed as Emma breathed through another wave of hurt and anger. But what use would it be to throw out accusations now?
What was done was done, right? She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The past was in the past—dead and buried right along with Frank. Now all she could do was face what was ahead of her.
“Seven. There’s seven of us.” Emma closed her eyes, exhausted at the thought of the work ahead, the calls she still had to make. “Dad, I don’t know if I’m cut out for this.”
“Yes, you are. I’m sorry it’s landed in your lap, but you can do this, Emmy Girl. You’ve got all the skills required. You’re a kind, caring person and you can relate to anybody.”
She let out a little snort of disbelief. “I certainly couldn’t relate to this Dahlia lady. Dad, she was awful. Rude and bossy. Her tone was caustic.”
“There’s always a reason behind bad behavior,” Derek said. He was using his ‘principal of a high school’ voice, the one she and Lizzy always teased him about. “We’re both in education, Emma, so we know this implicitly. Maybe Dahlia is hurting, but can’t express it. Maybe she’s having a busy day or work troubles. You don’t know the full story, and the other sisters might all be delightful.” He paused, a smile clear in his voice as he added, “You and Lizzy definitely are.”
Emma grinned. “Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“Love you too, Emmy Girl.”
She hung up with a sigh. That call hadn’t exactly given her the clarity or the answers she’d hoped to find, but as she headed out of the bedroom toward the sprawling meadows outside, she let herself relax and enjoy.
Her time here was limited, after all. She’d do well to make the most of every second.
10
Nash was grinning like a fool when he pulled the side-by-side to a stop in front of the house.
Dirt was swirling around the open off-road vehicle as it bounced over some rocks, but that just made his passenger laugh harder.
She’d been doing a lot of that on this tour, and the sound was music to his ears. They’d been out exploring the range for over an hour, and he’d watched her relax more with each passing minute.
Emma turned to him with a wide smile, her eyes twinkling. “You did that on purpose.”
She meant the last rocky bump. He put a hand to his heart. “I would never.”
