Arm in arm, they went to the living room. Smiling at her sister, Ginny ran her hand over Trudy’s baby bump.
“You’re lucky I’m too far along to kick your ass.”
“Do you really think I would have been able to stay away when you went in labor? Or not being here to babysit? We’ve missed out on so much, Trudy. I couldn’t take losing another minute.”
“Something is better than nothing. You could have been killed, Ginny! What if Reaper is right, and Allerton does try to kill you?”
“No one is getting by Gavin,” Ginny reassured her.
Trudy reached out to touch her cheek. “Someone already did.”
Ginny pressed her hand over Trudy’s. “He was busy saving his own life. We don’t have to be afraid of Allerton anymore.”
“That isn’t exactly what Reaper was saying.”
“He’s just being overprotective.”
“Are you really sure?”
“I’m positive.”
Trudy searched her face. “What happened while you were there?”
Lowering their hands, Ginny kept Trudy’s hand in hers as they sank down onto the couch.
“First things first, what’s wrong with your blood pressure?”
“Nothing, my readings are slightly higher than normal. I’m watching it carefully.” Trudy made a comical face, but it didn’t eliminate Ginny’s concern.
“Unfortunately, so are Dalton and Dr. Price. I don’t want to talk about me anymore. I want to know why you didn’t tell me what you were going to do?” Trudy pressed. “Don’t say you were afraid I’d talk you out of doing it. Once you make up your mind, you never go back.”
“I would have for you.” Ginny brought her hand to Trudy’s bump again. “It would have broken me if I couldn’t get you to see it was the right thing to do—and I knew you wouldn’t. My safety has been your highest priority since I was three. It was time to unlock the chain that bound us together with all the lies we’ve had to tell to deceive everyone. You wouldn’t even tell Dalton that I was your sister, even when he found out your sister hadn’t died in the plane crash. You don’t have to lie to him anymore, and I don’t have to hide who I am either.”
“Sex Piston is furious with you.”
Sex Piston wasn’t the only one. Trudy was just as angry, but she was containing herself.
“I had a small preview from Killyama this morning. I’m dreading seeing her again.”
“She’s on her way.”
“Darn.” Ginny wondered how long Gavin would be gone. She wanted to escape before Sex Piston arrived.
“Nuh-uh, you’re not going to get out of it that easy. Besides”—Trudy gently touched the bruises on her face—“she might take it easy on you since you’re already covered in bruises.”
Ginny snorted. “I’m not going to hold out hope for that.”
“I wouldn’t either.” Trudy gave her a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I want to know how you got those bruises.”
Ginny started from the beginning, telling Trudy about the DNA test and the agreement with the FBI. Trudy didn’t interrupt as she talked, even when Dalton came into the living room to tell them lunch was ready. They moved into the dining room where Dalton joined them, and she continued to recount what had taken place.
“I was terrified when I called Soleil, but I just couldn’t take it any longer without knowing you were safe. I just did basic pleasantries with her. I didn’t tell her anything of substance. I used the excuse to tell her about the baby. The only reaction from her was how nice and keep me updated.” Trudy sat back in the dining room chair taking a deep breath before continuing. “I’ve only called her twice after the plane crash; once when Granny died and the other was when Dalton and I were on our honeymoon. I don’t know what I was expecting by telling her and I’d gotten married, though I guess I’d hoped there would be some sort of motherly response. I never heard from Jasper, which I guess isn’t a surprise, considering he was never home when we lived there,” she said on a sigh. “You know, I’ve had that number since our last Christmas with Granny, but since never hearing from them I couldn’t bring myself to maintain a relationship they clearly never wanted.”
Ginny recognized the emotional turmoil Trudy was feeling. Trudy’s reaction was compounded by her pregnancy and wanting a maternal bond as this new phase of her life began. Trudy was Thirteen years old when they left Clindale, so her memories of their mother were greater and the cut deeper by Soleil’s disregard of them.
“She was nothing like what I remember her being. There was no connection between us emotionally or physically. When I was around her, I could see she didn’t want me there and wanted me gone.”
“Do you think it was because Soleil was afraid you would tell Allerton that Dad was the one who planned our escape?”
Trudy was as puzzled as she was by their mother’s behavior.
“I’ve always assumed Soleil was aware that Dad organized my disappearance. What if she doesn’t know it was him?”
“When they came in for our grandmother’s funeral,” Trudy added, “she was just as cold and standoffish as you are describing, and Allerton wasn’t there.”
“How did Jasper act?” Ginny delicately probed. She needed to let her sister know that the FBI and Gavin believed Allerton had their father killed. Taking into account Dalton’s concern for Trudy’s blood pressure, she decided to wait until after the baby was born to share that information. They didn’t have definite proof, so there was no need to upset Trudy until they found out the truth.
“Sad,” Trudy said, and then her eyes widened. “Angry, now that I think about it. Looking back, I assumed his anger was directed toward me. I’ve never understood why they cut off all ties with me after the plane crash, especially since Dad made the arrangements to save us. During Granny’s funeral, I assumed they were angry with me. What if it wasn’t that? What if they were angry at each other?” T.A. pressed her fingertips to her forehead, as if she had a headache. “What if she still doesn’t know Dad was the mastermind behind our escape and she’d blamed me for your death? That could certainly be why she’d be angry with me, and maybe Jasper was acting in order to keep protecting the secret?”
Seeing Dalton’s body tensing, Ginny abruptly switched the conversation to a happier topic. “Are you going to keep me in suspense, or do I have to ask Dalton?” Ginny teased.
Trudy dropped her hand back to the table. “About what?”
“You told Gavin I would be the first one to find out if you’re having a boy or a girl?”
Smiling, Trudy got up from the table to take her hand. “You coming?” she asked Dalton.
Dalton rose and gave her a kiss. “You two go ahead. I’ll do the dishes and load the dishwasher.”
Ginny wanted to reach out and hug Dalton for being so kind to her sister. In the past, Trudy’s boyfriends wouldn’t spring for a box of popcorn, much less make her lunch or do the dishes for her.
“You’ve got a winner this time,” Ginny told her sister.