CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN #2
After they’d put the bags into the back seat of his truck, they climbed into their seats and Jude started it up.
“Would you like to stop for a hot drink?” Jude asked, angling himself to look at her.
“That sounds great.”
With a nod, Jude put the truck into drive and pulled out of the parking spot. It didn’t take long for them to get to a coffee shop, where Jude went through the drive-thru and ordered them each a drink.
“Here you go,” he said, handing her the mocha he’d gotten for her.
“Thank you.” Angela wrapped her hands around the cup, appreciating the warmth, but also loving the fact that Jude knew what drink she liked.
That was probably due to his attention to detail as a security person. But still, it made her feel special.
They passed the ride back to the estate talking more about the morning service, then Jude shared a bit more about his friendship with Cooper and Melanie.
It was such a perfect time. The two of them in the warmth of the truck, with no one else to interrupt or distract them.
But all too soon, they reached the estate. Jude pulled his truck up to the back door of the house. He got out and helped her carry her bags up to her room.
Angela found the chocolate bars she’d bought him, then went back down to the mudroom with him.
“Thank you for such a wonderful day,” she said. “Church. Friends. Shopping. It was all just what I needed.”
“I’m glad. I really enjoyed it too.”
“Here.” She held out the chocolate bars. “Your chocolate.”
There was a smile on Jude’s face when he took them from her. “Thank you.”
“Will you think of me when you eat them?”
“Oh, that’s a guarantee.”
“Really?”
Jude chuckled. “To be honest, you’re always in my thoughts, so I think it’s a given I’ll be thinking of you when I eat these.”
His words filled Angela with so much emotion that she had to swallow before she could respond. “I think of you lots too.”
An alert sounded on Jude’s phone, and he frowned as he read it. He glanced back into the house.
“I need to go see Duncan.” Jude turned his attention back to her. “Sorry to cut things short.”
“It’s fine,” she assured him. She really couldn’t complain because she’d had a lot of time with him that day.
Together, they walked out of the mudroom and toward the stairs.
At the base of the stairs, she said, “Will I talk to you later?”
Jude nodded. “I’ll definitely call you.”
“Coming to talk to Dad, Jude?” Julian asked as he appeared at the top of the stairs.
“I am.”
“Talk to you later,” Angela said, then headed up the stairs, passing Julian on the way. He gave her a curious look but didn’t say anything.
At the top, she glanced back to see Jude watching her. He gave her a smile, then turned to walk with Julian in the direction of Duncan’s office.
It wasn’t quite how she’d wanted their time together to end, but she couldn’t really complain. Their time together that day had been perfect.
She went to her bedroom and transferred all the bags onto her bed to sort through. As she picked up the last two bags, Kiara appeared in the doorway.
“You’re home,” she said. “How was your day?”
“It was good,” Angela said, tipping her head for Kiara to come into the room. “I got stuff for you.”
Kiara flopped onto the bed beside the bags Angela had placed there. She pulled one onto her lap and started to go through it.
“So what all did you do today?” Kiara asked as she sorted the stuff in the bags.
“We went to Jude’s church,” Angela said, settling on the bed and crossing her legs. “Then we went to the house of a couple of Jude’s friends for lunch after the service. When we were done there, we went shopping.”
“And you enjoyed all of it?” Kiara asked.
Angela smiled. “Yes, I did.”
Kiara just nodded as she set aside the bottles of shampoo and conditioner that she’d asked Angela to get her. Angela sensed that she wasn’t very happy.
“What did you do today?”
“Not much. Shot some hoops with Benji. Read for several hours. Did some more searching for school stuff on the laptop.”
“Oh, I asked Jude about getting you a new laptop,” Angela said.
Kiara perked up at that. “Really?”
“I told him that you were thinking of doing online school and needed a better one.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he’d get us each one.”
“I’d love a new laptop,” Kiara said. “The one we have has served us well, but it really is a piece of junk.”
Angela pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. “It’s so weird to ask for something—especially an expensive item—and have it be handed over. Just like that.”
“I know,” Kiara said. “At least you’re entitled to it, being Duncan’s daughter.”
“Duncan apparently feels that you’re entitled to it as well.”
“I have a feeling he’s just throwing money at me to keep me here,” Kiara said, her gaze distant as she stared at the window.
Angela didn’t know for sure whether that was true or not. But if it was, she thought it was a good thing.
Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like Kiara agreed.
“Regardless of his motives, I’m very glad you’re here with me.”
Kiara smiled at her, but to Angela, it looked forced. “I am too.”
In the past, though they’d both had times where they’d felt down, Kiara’s had been less frequent. Angela had struggled more with worry and angst. But since coming to the estate, Kiara had had more moments like the one she was currently experiencing.
It worried Angela. Plus, it didn’t feel right to be so happy when Kiara was down in the dumps.
Maybe things would even out for Kiara once she had some purpose in her life. Hopefully, the laptop would help with that.
Angela just hoped that Kiara wouldn’t feel like she would be better off away from the estate. She was happy with Jude, but that didn’t mean she didn’t need her sister anymore.
She just didn’t want to have to choose between the two.