Page 73 of Challenged By You
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“Who was involved with your decision to interview Trina?”
“Karlson and her boss, Mia Palazzo, one of the co-owners of the Seduction Restaurant Group.” Julian’s wince reflects my own inner turmoil. “Yeah, that’s exactly how I’m feeling. I’m not going to lie, I’d take the blame in a heartbeat before I’d let anything happen to her.”
“Anything happen to who?” Ah, fuck. Karlson opens the door just on the tail end of our conversation. Then his face softens seeing us frame the window. “I know you both don’t like to talk about her, but your mother…” He clears his throat.
“What about Mom?” I ask.
A spasm of pain crosses Karlson’s face. “Are you really asking me about Doria?”
Julian gapes at me. “I’m in as much shock as you are.”
Dropping my gaze to my shoes, I contemplate them a moment before conceding their amazement. “Recently, someone pointed out to me I misunderstood quite a bit about my childhood.”
“What’s that?” Karlson asks tentatively.
“That I thought something I did caused Mom’s accident.” Even whispering the words sends a shaft of pain deep inside.
“What? No, Jonas. How could you think that?” Julian is incredulous.
“It doesn’t matter now. Recently, it was pointed out to me that Mom loved me—us—enough to do anything.” I meet my brother’s eyes, which are damp with unshed tears. “That part of the reason I’ve held back emotionally is because my last memories are of being a brat, not of telling her how much I love her.”
Julian’s face twists before he turns to Karlson and says, “Jonas is in a bind, Karlson.”
I straighten to full height. “Jesus, Jules. We’re talking about Mom, not Trina.”
“The hell we’re not. She’s the one who got through to you about Mom. Tell me I’m wrong?”
I clamp my lips together, because I can’t. Julian nods knowingly. Turning to our uncle, he says, “Jonas needs help.”
And that’s when I notice Karlson’s face. It’s flushed deep red with tears sliding down. “Karlson? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Jonas. Not a damn thing. Now, I’m allears. Tell me what I can do to help.”
“Oh,snap.” Twenty-nine years and it hits me, and I laugh. I knew my love of food puns had to come from somewhere. “Karlson, thanks forpuddingup with me. You’ve gone above and beyond being an uncle.”
“I’ll second that,” Julian agrees.
“That’s because no matter what, I love you both verymochi.” Karlson drops into the abandoned chair. “Now, what kind of apickledid you get yourself into?”
“Oh, it’s kind of a bigdill,” I continue our pun war.
Karlson sits up straighter. “Well,spill the beans.”
I can’t prevent the twitch of my lips. I haven’t had this much fun with Karlson since before Mom died—yet another thing to thank Trina for. “I don’t want to spill them. I feel like I’vebeanlooking my whole life for her.”
Dropping all foolishness, his face takes on a serious cast. “Who is she, Jonas?”
“Chef Trina Paxton. The executive dessert chef at Seduction.” I wait for him to flip, so I’m surprised when an understanding smile crosses his face.
“Chelsea mentioned it, but it wasn’t my place to ask,” he demurs.
“Chelsea mentioned it?” I ask incredulously. Julian chortles behind me. I turn and growl, “This isn’t funny, Jules. What if Trina loses her job? What if she can’t support Annie and Chris? She’d be devastated.”
“She has children?” Karlson asks. Then as an aside, he complains, “Chelsea failed to mention that.”
“Twins,” I confirm. The next thing I know, I’m rubbing my arm. “What the fuck was that for?” I glare at my brother, who just punched me.
