Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(56)
Author: Donna Grant

 

“Fine, I will.” Her sister sat up in her chair and parted her lips, but she didn’t speak.

 

Elodie leaned her forearms on the table, concern replacing her ire. “I can’t take back the past and my actions, but I want to move forward to a different place. You’re my sister. You can tell me anything.”

 

“Can I?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Do you share everything with me?”

 

Elodie reached across the short distance and covered her sister’s hand. “Other than the specifics of my sex life, aye,” she said with a grin.

 

Instead of reassuring Edie, it only seemed to anger her.

 

“Don’t,” Edie stated and leaned back, pulling her hand from Elodie’s. “I’m the one who has held this family together. I’m the one who went to visit Mum. I’m the one who kept in contact with you and Elias. Neither of you did any of that.”

 

So this was what was wrong. Elodie licked her lips and nodded in agreement. “I know. You’ve always been good at things like that. My life was a mess, Edie. You know that.”

 

Edie’s blue eyes were hard and cold as she stared. “And now it isn’t?”

 

“It’s better.”

 

“Why?”

 

Elodie hesitated. She couldn’t tell Edie the truth because her sister wouldn’t understand what had transpired between her, Elias, and their parents. It was better if Edie never knew the horrors of that day. If Elodie could save her sister from that, then she considered it a win. “Scott,” she finally answered. “Having you and Elias in my life again.”

 

“Even with Elias wanted for murder?”

 

Elodie was fast losing patience. How she wished Elias was here to help her handle whatever was going on with Edie. “I don’t believe our brother killed anyone. I know you don’t either.”

 

“Do you?” Edie asked and looked away. “I don’t know him anymore. I don’t think I ever did.”

 

Elodie struggled for a response as Edie rose and poured herself another gin and tonic. Elodie had no idea if this was normal for her sister, and that was on Elodie because she didn’t spend as much time with Edie as she probably should.

 

“How are my niece and nephew?” Elodie asked, changing the subject.

 

A smile played on Edie’s lips as she leaned a hand on the kitchen island. “Busy with school and friends. They’re always going. It’s a good thing I’m able to drive them everywhere. Their schedules are very busy.”

 

“If you ever need help, let me know.”

 

Edie’s gaze was soft and kind when she looked at Elodie. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”

 

“And Trevor? How is he?”

 

Edie’s lips pinched for an instant. “Working.”

 

Uh-oh. That didn’t sound good. “Why don’t the two of you plan a date night soon? Scott and I will watch the kids. Better yet, take a weekend. That way, I can have the kiddos all to myself for a wee bit,” she offered.

 

Edie nodded, her interest seemingly piqued. “That sounds like a good plan. Let me talk to Trevor. He’s been working entirely too much lately. I think that’s why we got into an argument this morning.”

 

Ah. So that was the problem. The few times Elodie had been around her brother-in-law, he couldn’t keep his hands off Edie. The love they shared was apparent to anyone who looked.

 

“It’s easy to get caught up in work,” Elodie said. “A weekend away, where the two of you can reconnect sounds like exactly what you need.”

 

Edie returned to the table and sank heavily in the chair. “Maybe. I’m just so angry all the time lately. I bit his head off this morning because he had to cancel our lunch yesterday and tomorrow. To top it off, there was a last-minute meeting he had to take in Oban today that goes into tomorrow, which means he’s away tonight.”

 

“Come have dinner with Scott and me.”

 

Edie shook her head. “Thanks, but no. I’ve already planned to get pizza. I need to sort myself out before Trevor comes home. Even the kids pointed out how I’m always snapping at them lately. Things just seem…off…and I don’t know why.”

 

“So much has changed,” Elodie said. “I returned to Skye and fell in love with Scott, Druids were murdered, and Elias came home. That’s a lot, sis. For anyone. Even you, Wonder Woman.”

 

That caused Edie to chuckle. “I’m far from Wonder Woman.”

 

“You say you don’t work, but you handle eight different rental houses and all the issues that go with them while taking care of two kids, your home, and your husband. Aye. You’re definitely Wonder Woman in my book.”

 

Edie laughed, a slight blush filling her cheeks. “Stop.”

 

With the mood lightened, Edie turned the conversation to the kids for a bit. It was only after they ate their grilled chicken salads that Elodie decided to bring up George.

 

“You’re doing that thing,” Edie said.

 

Elodie swallowed as she frowned. “What thing?”

 

“That thing with your eyes where you try to watch me covertly while determining when it’s the right time to ask me something. You’ve done it since we were kids.”

 

“Thanks for telling me.” Elodie wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I’ve been trying to talk to George for days about Elias, but she won’t talk to me.”

 

Edie shrugged as she lowered her fork. “I don’t think I’d want to talk to the family of the man I was accusing of murder.”

 

“I want to know why she thinks Elias did it. Don’t you?”

 

“If she had proof, the police would’ve already arrested him.”

 

Elodie rolled her eyes. “George should’ve gone to the Edinburgh police, but she didn’t. Why? That concerns me. Why come to Skye and make those claims?”

 

“The one thing I know about Elias is that he’s resourceful. He always has been. If he’s innocent—”

 

“If?” Elodie repeated, shocked that her sister would even suggest that.

 

“—he’ll prove it.”

 

But Elodie couldn’t let it go. “You got the same email I did from Elias. He’s innocent.”