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“Don’t forget the cattle, horses, and pigs. But they’re all castrated,” Abby observed dryly.
The candles on the table flickered, and I crossed my legs under the table. Tightly.
“Dessert, anyone?” Pippa asked, standing.
“Yay! Brownies!” Claire cheered, moving to the kitchen with Pippa.
Erin smiled, and even Abby gave a hearty thumbs-up. She didn’t seem too pleased to have to share with me, but hey. I wouldn’t stick around to bother her for long.
My eyes wandered over to Erin, then jerked away when she glanced up.
What if she wants us to?my dragon whispered.Stay longer, I mean?
I folded and refolded my napkin, avoiding her eyes.
“Voilà. Chocolate chunk fudge brownies.” Pippa set the pan on the table with a flourish.
Was it that motion that made the candles flicker, or was it something else? The fire crackled at the same time, sharing Pippa’s glee. And I was sure the candles brightened a little when Claire wiggled back into her seat and started on her brownie.
Pippa dabbed hers with Nutella, ignoring her sisters’ pointed looks.
“It’s not like I’m ruining a super-healthy dessert here,” she pointed out.
Erin frowned. “Yes, you are.”
Abby stuck her hand in front of Claire’s eyes. “This is one of those things you shouldn’t learn from Aunt Pippa.”
“Anotherthing?” Pippa protested. “What else is on that list?”
“Where do I begin?” Abby sighed.
Claire giggled, while Erin shook her head in exasperation, but her love for her sister still shone through.
Every tease, every reprimand, and every laugh they shared came with a merry wobble of candlelight, and any tension that crept into the conversation came with an ominous crackle from the fireplace.
I looked at Roscoe, then around the room. What was it with this family? Or was it something about the place?
“Seconds, anyone?” Pippa offered.
“I probably shouldn’t,” Erin sighed, though she held out her plate.
“Break it into pieces. Fewer calories that way.” Pippa winked, invoking one of those special laws of chemistry they didn’t teach in school.
“Delicious,” Abby announced when she finished her second portion.
“You can thank me, Claire, and Betty Crocker.” Pippa grinned.
“Roscoe helped too,” Claire insisted.
I looked at my brownie. God, I hoped not.
My offer to do the dishes afterward was enthusiastically accepted, and I was glad to help — and avoid any awkward after-dinner talk. But awkward was probably inevitable, I decided once everyone broke up for the night. Abby and Claire lived in the main house, with Pippa in a converted barn and Erin in her cabin a good quarter-mile away.
“Well, good night, everyone,” she announced.
“Good night,” I echoed, ignoring Pippa’s amused look.
I was sure Erin had made it clear to her sisters it wasn’t likethat,but Pippa had no mercy.
