Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

She heard footsteps in the hallway and got another mug from the cabinet, then handed coffee to her father as he walked in the kitchen.

He looked tired, as if he, too, hadn’t been sleeping well. She supposed if she were a better person, she would be sympathetic, but she wasn’t. Right now she had to be Team Helen all the way.

“Dad, we need to talk.”

Her father sat at the kitchen table and sighed. “I figured we’d get to that. You found out what your mother said.”

She settled across from him. “Let me be clear. What you do in your personal life is your business. I get that. You’re an adult and you’re my father. There are things we don’t talk about. Which is fine, but I’m not here as a member of your family right now, I’m here as Helen’s friend.”

She stared at him. “She’s my best friend, Dad, and you hurt her. You led her on and humiliated her. How could you do that? She’s wonderful and doesn’t deserve that.”

He hung his head. “Nothing happened. Not that night, not any night. I haven’t so much as kissed your mother. She’s staying here for you and Olivia, not me.”

Kelly desperately wanted to believe him, but she wasn’t completely sure. “Then why aren’t you at a hotel? You told Helen you’d move into one a few days ago.”

His head snapped up. “Because I can’t get a goddamn room. Do you think I haven’t tried? It’s summer, Kelly. We might not be a tourist destination here in Tulpen Crossing, but everywhere else is. It’s warm and sunny and I can’t get a room for thirty miles. Don’t believe me? You go spend an hour on any travel website you like. Find me a room and I’ll move out.”

Sweet relief eased some of the tightness in her chest. “Really? That’s the reason?”

“Of course it’s the reason. Otherwise I would have been gone. I told Helen I would—I care about her. I’m not going to lie to her. She matters to me. I figured it would be okay—that your mother would get bored and leave.”

Kelly stared at him. “Then tell Mom to go.”

He shook his head. “Her being here isn’t about me.”

“Oh, my God! Are you serious? Are you still trying to give me time with my mother? I don’t want time with her. I don’t even like her.”

“Kelly Ann, don’t say that. She’s your mother.”

“Don’t ‘Kelly Ann’ me. She’s a horrible person. The only reason I don’t say I hate her is because she’s my mother, but that’s all she gets. I’m going to tell her to get her ass out of this house right now.”

“No, you won’t.” Her father sounded sterner than she’d ever heard. “You will not. Tonight, when everyone is up, we’ll have a family meeting and discuss it. You’re not going to go yell at her on my behalf. Not when you’re upset about Helen.”

Kelly glared at him. “You’re still defending her. I don’t get it.”

He touched her hand. “I’m not defending her. I’m making sure you don’t say a lot of things you’ll regret later. The last thing you want to have to do is apologize.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. There was the tiniest possibility that he might be right. Which was annoying.

“Fine,” she grumbled. “I’ll wait until tonight.”

“Thank you.”

She sighed. “Relationships are hard.”

“Tell me about it.”

“You have to make things right with Helen.”

“I’m still working on that one.”

*

Sven put a plate in front of Olivia. “You have to eat.”

She stretched and yawned. “I don’t but I will. I’m still tired.”

“You’ve been doing too much, getting everything ready.”

“Maybe, but it was worth it.” She looked at the perfect omelet with fluffy eggs, cheese, avocado and bacon. “You sure know how to dazzle a girl. Thank you for breakfast.”

“Thank you for coming over.”

She took a bite, then wrinkled her nose. “I wasn’t very good company.”

The event had ended just after nine, but Olivia had stayed until nearly eleven to help with the cleanup. Sven had driven her back to his place, where she’d crashed on his bed and hadn’t stirred until about twenty minutes ago. Probably not the romantic evening he’d had planned.

“Just let me eat and I’ll rally and then we’ll go back to bed and have some fun.”

He crossed to the table and sat across from her. His blond hair was mussed, his blue eyes concerned. Even more upsetting, the man was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. She liked her Sven cooking naked.

She was about to say that when he spoke first.

“This isn’t just about sex, Olivia.” His voice was low and stern. “Don’t you know that?”

“I, ah, just thought...”

“You were wrong,” he said firmly, returning to the stove and flipping his own omelet.

He wanted her for more than sex? Wasn’t that nice to hear? She tried to remember the last time a man had said that to her only to realize the reason she couldn’t was no one had. Not ever. She wasn’t the girl you took home to meet your folks. She was the girl you did in the back of your car.

Emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She carefully pushed them down to be dealt with another day. She was tired and this wasn’t the time for any kind of serious discussion. Her entire goal for this particular Saturday was to do as little as possible, then start fresh tomorrow.

“Thank you,” she said, then deliberately switched topics. “I think we’re going to clear over a hundred thousand dollars.”

“That’s wonderful. More than a roof.”

“A lot more than a roof. I’m sure the tourism board has some thoughts, but I’ve prepared a list of ideas anyway.”

He chuckled and joined her at the table. “I’m sure you have.” He picked up his fork. “When we first met I thought you were nothing like your sister, but I’ve started to see similarities. You’re both strong and creative, in your own way.”

And while she appreciated the compliment, it was kind of a strange thing to say.

“Kelly? Really? Do you know her that well?” She waved her hand. “I get it’s a small town and all, but are you two friends?”

She’d never seen them together and couldn’t remember her sister mentioning Sven more than in passing.

He stared at her. “What are you talking about? Of course I know Kelly. We were together for five years.”

The fork slipped from Olivia’s fingers and clattered to the plate. Her mind went blank, then regretfully rebooted and she was forced to absorb the information.

“Wh-what?”

“We dated.” He frowned. “We broke up six months ago. It was common knowledge, Olivia. I thought you knew.”

“I didn’t.” She sprang to her feet. The bit of omelet she’d eaten sat heavily in her stomach. The room spun a couple of times before settling down. “Oh, God. This is bad.” She glared at him. “You never once thought to mention it, just to be sure?”

“Like I said, I thought you knew. Why is this a problem?”

“Because she’s my sister. I can’t date her ex. I never mentioned you—not that we were...” She waved her hand between them, realizing she had no idea how to characterize their relationship.