A dish clattered from around the corner. “I just don’t want to regret my choice,” Grace said.
Thomas’s deep voice answered. “I know, honey. Me neither.”
Nick stilled.Regret a choice…big decision…
Were they talking about selling the property?
“See.I told you something was up with Mom.” Olivia turned and stuck her tongue out at Kat. With her tangled hair and smiley-face slippers, she didn’t look much older than her sister. “I’m not paranoid.”
“You have been before.” Kat moved to face them both, crossing her arms over her bulky, polka-dotted robe.
Nick straightened. “This seems like a family matter, so—”
“I’m a mother.” Ignoring Nick, Olivia mirrored Kat’s defensive posture. “We have the right to stay a little paranoid.”
Kat opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap. Her dark brows furrowed on her angular face. “Here’s an idea. Ask Mom.”
“If she wanted us to know, she’d have told us.” Olivia frowned as she glanced back toward the kitchen door. “That’s what’s worrying me. It must be something serious. Something big.”
They were getting way too close to the truth. Nick slowly backed away from the sisters. Maybe the coffee could wait. “I’m, uh, just going to head back—”
Suddenly, the front door flung open, letting in a burst of icy morning air.
Nick jumped. Kat squealed, then clamped her hand over her mouth. Olivia gasped.
A young, attractive brunette with a deep tan, wearing a puffy white jacket and holding a Starbucks cup, stood framed in the doorway, the early morning sun lighting the sky behind her. “Guess who’s home from UCLA?” She held out both arms like a cheerleader.
Nick’s eyes widened. That had to be—
“Chloe!” Olivia and Kat simultaneously exclaimed, though Kat’s voice held a more dismal note than Olivia’s joy-filled tone.
“Hey, little sis.” Olivia rushed toward her. Kat lagged a few steps behind.
“What? Chloe’s here?” Grace bustled around the corner, stopping short at the sight of three of her daughters and Nick crowding the living room. “What are you all doing standing here in the dark?”
She flipped the switch and light flooded the room. Then her gaze landed on Chloe. “And what areyoudoing?” Her tone burst with joy as she scrambled to hug her daughter.
“I wanted to surprise you.” Chloe dumped her bag on the entryway floor and bounced up and down in her furry boots. At least someone had managed to get some caffeine. “We caught a red-eye.”
“There’s my baby girl!” Thomas emerged behind Grace, arms open as he approached his youngest daughter. His short beard broke around a wide smile. “Who’s this ‘we’?”
“Hey, hey, hey, happy holidays!” A college-aged guy withhighlighted blond hair stepped through the doorway, holding up two fingers in a “hang loose” surfer’s greeting.
Oh boy. Two more people to keep his secrets from. And where was everyone going to sleep?
“Daddy, this is Axel.” Chloe pulled out of her father’s embrace and beamed. Her eyes were practically shooting little red hearts.
Axel dropped his duffel bag on the floor and grinned as he tugged the front of his thin athletic jacket over his track pants. He had to be freezing. “Nice to meet you all.”
Thomas stiffened as he looked the young man up and down. “What’s an Axel?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Mom.”
“I believe what my husband is trying to say is welcome.” Grace stepped closer, taking Axel’s hand in both of hers and darting her husband a look over her shoulder.
Thomas cleared his throat. “This is a…surprise.” He lifted his chin, clearly trying to please his wife yet failing to hide his scowl as Axel’s free arm wrapped around Chloe’s waist.
“Anicesurprise,” Grace corrected him as she stepped back.
