CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Angela felt the tension she’d been holding bleed out of her as Kiara wrapped her arms around her. They were seated on Angela’s bed, both wearing the pajamas Angela had bought the previous day.
For the first time since coming to Serenity, they’d slept in the same bed. Both of them had needed the presence of the other, and the king-size bed was plenty big enough for them to share.
“Let’s go get some breakfast and then see what Duncan wants,” Kiara said. “Jude won’t be around, so you’ll be able to relax.”
That should have been a good thing, but part of Angela wanted to see him. Regardless of how they’d parted ways after their shopping trip.
“Yeah. Until we have to practice driving this afternoon,” she said.
“Oooh, right.” Kiara straightened. “I can’t believe we’re finally going to be able to drive.”
“Knowing how to drive won’t do us much good without a car.”
Kiara waved her hand dismissively. “They’ve got enough cars around here that we could probably just borrow one whenever we need to go somewhere. Maybe even to our jobs. And if we don’t have to pay for rent and food here, we’ll be able to save up enough money for our own car even quicker.”
Angela hadn’t told her about the conversation she’d had with Jude, nor about the phone call he’d made to Duncan in her presence. She still needed some clarification before she told Kiara that they might not have to work.
“Let’s get dressed,” she said, getting to her feet. “And maybe we need to dress a little nicer since we’re meeting with Duncan.”
It was a bit odd to dress up to go see the person who was her dad, but it felt like the right thing to do.
Kiara nodded, then headed for the door. “See you in a few.”
Alone, Angela headed to her bathroom to begin her morning routine. Picking out what to wear was a bit of a challenge. For her whole life, she’d dressed for practicality or comfort. However, she didn’t think she should show up to a meeting with Duncan in a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt.
Though she didn’t have a lot to choose from, it still took her a few minutes to decide which of her sweaters she’d wear with black slacks. After she was dressed, she curled her hair and put on a little makeup.
Kiara poked her head into the bathroom. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
As they walked down the hallway to the stairs, the aroma of coffee grew stronger the closer they got to the kitchen. They found Julian still in the breakfast room when they got there.
“Good morning,” Angela said when she spotted him.
Julian looked up and blinked at them blearily. The man had clearly over-indulged yet again the night before. “Morning.”
Angela moved over to the buffet, where there were warming dishes containing their breakfast options. She still wasn’t used to having so many choices for breakfast.
“How are you this morning, Julian?” Kiara asked as she sat down across from him with her plate.
Angela set hers down at the seat next to Kiara, then went to get them coffee. She carried the carafe back to the table.
“Do you want a top-up?”
“Sure.” Julian lifted his mug toward her. “Thanks.” He glanced at Kiara. “I’m doing… fine.”
Kiara looked skeptical, which Angela definitely understood. She had no idea why Julian was such a heavy drinker, when no one else in the family drank much at all. And if he had a problem with alcohol, why did Duncan keep it in the house?
“What do you do to fill your days?” Kiara asked, bolder than Angela was when it came to starting a conversation with her newly found brother.
“Work.”
“You can work remotely?”
“A lot of the time.” His gaze shifted to Angela. “Are you excited to meet Mom?”
“Um… I guess? To be honest, I don’t really know how I feel.”
“She’s excited to see you.”
“Does she wish that Annie was with us for the meeting?”
Julian paused, his gaze dropping to his mug. “I think she’s just focused on you right now. There will be time with Annie later.”
Angela was unsettled by the thought that Jill—she still couldn’t think of her as Mom—could put aside her desire to see Annie just because Angela was back. Had their mom played favorites when they were little?
“What happens if I’m not really interested in having a relationship with her?”
Julian’s features tightened for a moment, then he sighed. “Nothing, I guess. I just hope that you’ll tell her that to her face. I’m tired of having to be the middle person. It’s been that way with Annie. I don’t need it with you too.”
Angela couldn’t imagine anything worse than having to tell Jill that she wasn’t interested in a relationship. But this was something she couldn’t rely on Kiara to do.
She knew it probably wasn’t fair that she was going into this meeting with the woman already thinking she didn’t want a relationship with her. But given how she’d treated Annie, Angela had a hard time believing that she’d be the sort of woman she’d want for a mother.
“Don’t forget you have a meeting with Dad this morning,” Julian said as he got to his feet.
“I won’t,” Angela assured him.
“See you later.” With that, Julian left the room, coffee cup in hand.
“That’s a tortured soul if I ever saw one,” Kiara said when it was just the two of them.
Angela figured that was a good description of the man. He had an edge to him that was lacking in Duncan and Jude.
Neither of them talked as they finished their breakfast, then left the room to go to Duncan’s office for their ten o’clock meeting. It was weird to think that she had an appointment with her father, but she knew he was a busy man.
“Come in,” Duncan said when she knocked on his office door.
The space was decorated just as she’d expect of a powerful man. It was all leather and polished wood with a large stone fireplace at one end of the room. A wall of glass looked out on the snow-covered lawn, which faded into the trees that filled the estate.
“Good morning,” Duncan said as he got to his feet. He started to come around the desk to them, then seemed to check himself. Instead, he smiled and gestured to the cluster of chairs that grouped together near the fireplace. “Let’s have a seat over there.”
It was definitely more comfortable than sitting opposite him at the desk. Yet Angela couldn’t seem to quell the nerves that were fluttering in her stomach.
“How are you doing?” Duncan asked, his gaze on her. “Is everything going okay?”
“Everything is fine. Thank you.”
“Good.” He reached for a couple of files that sat on the end table next to him. “I suppose you’ll be seeing Jill soon.”
Angela nodded. “On Wednesday.”
“I believe you’re meeting her at the resort?”
“Yes. Julian said that’s where she’s staying.”
“I want Jude to go with you,” Duncan said. “The resort should be safe enough, but I’d feel better if he was there.”
Angela couldn’t deny that, despite the tension of their last conversation, she’d feel better too. But she kept that to herself.
“Are you going too, Kiara?” he asked, turning his attention to her.
Angela exchanged a glance with Kiara. They’d talked a lot about it. Kiara wasn’t sure it was her place to go, but Angela was adamant that she wanted her there with her.
“Yes, Angie wants me there.”
Duncan nodded. “I think that’s a good decision.”
“You do?” Angela asked.
“Yes, I do. Kiara is an important part of your life. It’s best Jill knows that right from the start.”
From what she’d heard about Jill, Angela wasn’t sure she’d feel the same way.
“Don’t let Jill manipulate you into anything you don’t want,” Duncan said. “I’ve never interfered with her relationships with the children we share, but I also have no problem stepping in when necessary.”
“Have you done that with Annie?”
“Yes. Annie has had difficulty in the past with expressing how she feels about her mom. She’s better now, but since this is your first time meeting her, if you have trouble expressing yourself, I’m prepared to step in and help you communicate with her.”
Relief filled Angela. “Julian said he didn’t want to be caught in the middle.”
“And I don’t want that for him either,” Duncan said.
“Unfortunately, Jill has put him in that position frequently by asking him to get Annie to meet with her. She should have been talking to me about Annie, but she knew that I wouldn’t guilt Annie into talking to her like she could get Julian to do. ”
“I don’t know how I feel about her.”
“I know it probably isn’t easy to reserve judgment since you’ve already heard how she treated Annie,” Duncan said. “But going into your meet-up with no expectations might be helpful.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.” Duncan gave her a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes and made them shine.
There was a kindness that radiated from him that she’d never experienced with Jim.
“And now let’s talk about something more pleasant.
I realized that I have been remiss in helping the two of you settle into life here by making things clear. ”
Angela glanced at Kiara, wondering what they were about to hear.
“Like my other three children, you will receive a monthly allowance. You are free to spend it as you wish. We’ve set up bank accounts for you as well as debit and credit cards.” He looked from Angela to Kiara. “This also includes you.”
Kiara’s eyes widened. “Me? But I’m not one of your kids.”
“No, you’re not a biological child. However, you are Angela’s sister in all the ways that count, and because of that, I consider you a daughter as I do her.”
“Really?”
Angela slipped her arm around Kiara’s shoulders and leaned her head against hers. She knew Kiara would be moved by Duncan’s declaration, and Angela was more grateful than she could say.
“These have all the information about the allowance and the debit and credit cards,” Duncan said as he held out a folder to each of them. “Also, if you have a need that this money doesn’t cover, don’t be afraid to come talk to me about it.”