Secrets Of The Tulip Sisters. Susan Mallery

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       6

      Kelly lowered the seared pot roast into the pressure cooker, then added broth and the vegetables. While most people were Crock-Pot fans, she’d never taken to it. The thought of having to get up first thing in the morning and dice or chop or even assemble was too daunting. A pressure cooker gave her the same kind of flavor in a significantly shorter period of time.

      She put on the lid and set the timer. In ninety minutes they would have pot roast—one of her dad’s favorites.

      She supposed a psychologist would have a field day with the fact that she was still living at home at the ripe old age of twenty-eight. Every now and then she thought about moving out. She just wasn’t sure when that was going to happen. Or if there actually was a reason to. In some societies, multigenerational families were the norm. She and her dad could start a trend.

      She smiled at the thought, then rinsed off the cutting board. A quick glance at the clock on the wall told her that dinner would be ready at six. She was halfway to her dad’s study to tell him when the front door opened and a semi-familiar voice called, “Hi, Dad. It’s me. I’m home.”

      Had Kelly been holding more than a dish towel, she would have dropped it for sure, because standing right there in the living room was her sister, Olivia. The same Olivia who had left at fifteen and never returned.

      Okay—that wasn’t fair—Olivia had been sent away. As for not coming home, at first she’d refused to come back for holidays and summer vacation. Kelly remembered that. What she couldn’t recall was if or when she and her father had stopped asking her to come home.

      Kelly took in the stylish, beachy, wavy hair, the perfect makeup, the casual-yet-elegant tunic over leggings and the brightly colored athletic shoes that were obviously all about style rather than sports. She was acutely aware of her own battered cargo pants and faded University of Washington sweatshirt.

      On the surface, she and Olivia looked a lot alike. They were the same height, with brown hair and eyes. At least they’d started out that way. Today Olivia’s hair was more golden than brown and her eyes had a distinct hazel cast to them. Kelly realized she wasn’t the before picture so much as the cautionary tale.

      Her sister stared at her. “Kelly? What are you doing here?”

      “I could ask you the same question.”

      “I came to see Dad.”

      Just like that? As if she hadn’t been gone over a decade? Because although Jeff made regular pilgrimages to see his daughter and Kelly had tagged along more than once, Olivia had, to the best of Kelly’s knowledge, not been back to Tulpen Crossing in over a decade.

      “I’m making dinner,” Kelly said.

      Olivia frowned as she glanced around the kitchen. Her expression cleared and she laughed. “Oh, that’s right. Dad told me you were still living at home.”

      Jeff walked into the kitchen. “I heard someone...” He stared at his youngest daughter. His eyes widened and his mouth formed a happy grin. “Olivia! When did you get here?”

      “Just now. Hi, Dad.”

      Jeff held open his arms. Olivia rushed into his embrace. Kelly fought against a sense of resentment and foreboding.

      “I’ve missed you so much,” Jeff said as he held her tight. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

      “I’ve СКАЧАТЬ