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Bruno came toward her and wanted his turn as well. “I love you both so damn much.” She felt the tears start to well in her eyes.
Everyone in town knew about her sister and Grant. The rumor had spread faster than any gossip she could recall. She didn’t have a clue who had said anything. Was it Grant? Was it the club?
Someone must have heard them arguing, or Grant told them. Either way, it was so humiliating to have the town know her business. The pitying looks, the giggles, and of course the snide comments were all a little too much. She had stopped going to the diner. Beatrice had threatened to expel anyone who made her feel uncomfortable but Aria refused to allow that to happen.
So, she stayed at the veterinary practice. She either ate her lunch inside at her reception desk if there were no customers, or she made her way out to the car if there were some.
Lidia also tried to have lunch with her at every available moment. She had wanted to go and kick Grant’s ass, but she wouldn’t let her friend do that. What was the point? Nothing would change. The whole town knew her business.
Getting to her feet, she breathed out a sigh, and then wrapped her jacket around herself even tighter. Snow was set to fall any day now. Christmas was around the corner. Aria hadn’t even bothered with lights or a tree this year.
She wouldn’t be going home. For the first time ever, she planned to spend Christmas on her own.
Arriving back home, Aria paused when she caught sight of her sister standing on her doorstep. She’d not seen or heard from Isabella at all.
“Isabella,” Aria said.
“Aria, thank God, I was starting to worry when you didn’t answer your door. I didn’t know if I should call the sheriff or an ambulance.” Isabella rushed over to her and hugged her. “I’m so pleased you’re all right.”
“I don’t know why I wouldn’t be.”
“Mom told me what she did. Ugh, I can’t believe she did that.”
Aria pulled away. It was way too cold to be having this conversation outside on her doorstep, and way too many nosy locals lived nearby who pretty much fed themselves on local gossip. She wouldn’t give them any more ammunition.
She invited Isabella into the house. She had already switched the heat on before she went for a walk so it would be nice and warm by the time she and the dogs got home.
The dogs went to their water bowls, took a nice big drink of water, and then like all the other times before, took themselves over to the sofa in the living room and snuggled in. They wouldn’t leave their cushions until food was served up. They were so predictable and cute.
Hanging up her jacket, she took Isabella’s and then headed toward the kitchen to make them both a hot drink.
“Tea? Hot chocolate?”
“Do you have whipped cream?” Isabella asked.
“No, I have tea and hot chocolate.”
Isabella pouted. “I’ll have the hot chocolate.”
Aria chuckled.
She would have the fruit tea that Jase had insisted tasted nice. She’d been drinking it for over a week and so far, the taste was still nasty, but Jase had told her it takes some time to get used to.
“Mom has been to see you?”
“Yeah, she told us what happened and, well, I’ve come to invite you for Christmas,” Isabella said.
This made her pause and quickly spin around to face her sister. “What? Won’t you be going to Mom’s?”
“Hell, no, and I mean that. This year, Michael and I will be cooking Christmas dinner and we’re doing the works. A huge turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, maple roast parsnips, pigs-in-blankets, and I won’t have anything green on my plate. Oh, roast potatoes as well, and I’ll be making the gravy.” Isabella looked so excited and happy.
“Sounds amazing.”
“It will be.”
“You’re not here to berate me over what happened?” Aria asked.
“The gossip? No. Why would I? It’s not like you spread the rumor yourself, did you?”
