Page 107 of An Investigator For Ivy

Of course River, Emma and Raine were going to be there. The fact everyone was available this weekend was why there was a rush when River tended to work nights and weekends at times.

“They are more excited to meet you,” he said.

“I’ve met Raine already,” she said.

“What?” he asked. “When?”

“I just thought I should tell you in case it came up.”

“Now I need to know this,” he said.

They were at his house and she was changing out of her sweats and into jeans. They’d go to his parents’ and then he’d bring her back here before she went home. His parents didn’t live that far out of the way.

“Don’t get mad at your sister. She didn’t want you to know, but I think since it’s been a few months I could tell you. I don’t like secrets.”

“Secrets?” he asked.

“Not lies. Just secrets. She came to see me at the store the week of Christmas.”

He wanted to growl but didn’t. He should have figured his sister would do that. “She was nosy,” he said.

“She wanted to meet me. She just said you weren’t acting yourself and that she was interested in what was going on.”

“I’m sure it was a lot more than that,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I don’t want to break your sister’s trust, but I just wanted you to know. I’d hope you wouldn’t let her know I just said this.”

“No,” he said. “It’s fine.”

“Good,” she said, moving closer to him for a kiss. “Are you sure brownies were good to bring?”

“It’s fine,” he said. “You didn’t need to bring anything at all. My mother is used to doing the cooking.”

“Being used to it and having to do it isn’t the same thing,” she said.

He remembered now how her mother did it all for five kids in a foreign country with limited resources. Shit, maybe he should help his mother out more than just buying things.

“I know,” he said. “Again, sometimes someone else gets you to see something. Emma will bring something and Raine too. They always do.”

“And you would have let me show up empty handed,” she all but shouted at him.

“Sorry,” he said. “You’re a guest.”

“So what?” she said. “You never go places empty handed.”

“And you’re not,” he said. “What’s the big deal?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I wanted to get flowers too.”

“My mother likes flowers and candles.”

“Geez, Brooks. Now you tell me that! I’ve got that stuff unlimited at my disposal!”

“Well,” he said, wincing. “Raine does too, but if you brought it for my mother, then Raine would get jealous.”

“We are going to the store right now,” she said firmly.

“What?” he asked.

---