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“I hope Stadler and his new fiancée don’t leave before they can see our gorgeous baby girls,” Helen said.
“Bite your tongue!” Lucy cried. In the ensuing silence, she realized how rude she’d sounded. She shook her head, aghast at her uncharacteristic show of temper. “I—I don’t know how long I can carry off this lie. The sooner Stadler leaves the better.”
“Your muscles are all knots, honey.” Elissa rubbed and massaged, glancing at Jack. “Do you think— maybe—this trick we decided to play on Stadler is too much for Lucy?”
“You finally figured that out?” Lucy admonished, jumping up. “Fine timing! Now that it’s too late!”
The redhead looked stricken at her sister’s rare explosion of fury. Her lips moved, but no sound came, and her green eyes began to glisten. It was clear from her expression that she finally understood what an ordeal this was for Lucy. Tears shimmered on Elissa’s lower lashes. “Oh—oh, honey, please forgive me. I sometimes forget...” She stopped and swallowed as though trying to steady her voice. “I didn’t understand...”
When Lucy saw how badly her sister felt, she began to hurt right along with her. She knew Elissa well enough to understand that she rarely cried, so her turmoil was deep and real. Unable to stay angry in the face of Elissa’s distress, she rounded the chair and hugged her. “It’s okay, Liss,” she murmured brokenly. “He’ll leave—soon. I can manage.”
Elissa hugged her back, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand.
Damien cleared his throat, sounding uneasy. “So, Jack, how long are you going to be in Branson?”
Lucy was grateful for the subject change.
“I’m not sure,” Jack said. “I have a real-estate man looking at properties for me. I’m thinking of opening a Gallagher’s Bistro here.”
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