Stuck in the Middle (13 page)

A blush colored her cheeks and she looked down coyly, then back up at him. Joan’s jaw slackened. Gram was flirting with Ken! And judging by the look on his face, he liked it. She looked at Allie, whose chin dropped to her chest as she slowly shook her head from side to side.

Ken blotted his lips with his napkin. The dinner had been delicious, but this evening was not as enjoyable as he had hoped. True, Joan looked absolutely amazing. He suspected her outfit was new, and it pleased him that she would buy clothes for an evening with him. But she was acting strangely. And what was going on between her and Tori?

“Grace, that was a fantastic dinner. I could get addicted to those rolls.”

“They’re my specialty.” The old lady grinned. “Whenever my husband and I had a spat, I always made rolls for him. He loved them, and that was my way of letting him know I was ready to make up.”

Ken stood when Gram did and picked up his empty plate. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to spat with you.”

Her eyes twinkled at him. “You are a smooth talker, young man.”

Beside him, Joan stood abruptly, and Tori did likewise. “You’re our guest,” Joan said as she took the plate from his hands.

“That’s right,” agreed Tori. “You go into the living room with Eric and watch a boring old ball game or something while the women clean up.”

She batted her eyelashes as she cleared his bread plate and utensils. Ken returned her smile politely, and stepped backward so she had a clear path to get to the kitchen. She held his eyes as she walked by.

Tori was cute, without a doubt. But what a little flirt! Ken had never felt comfortable around girls like her. He always felt a little sorry for women who needed to behave so outrageously to get a man’s attention. He much preferred easygoing girls, ones who were maybe a touch shy.

Just then Joan returned from setting a stack of plates on the kitchen counter. She walked over to him and stood so close he got a whiff of her hair. She smelled good. None of that fake perfumy stuff, but a clean, sporty smell. Smiling, she tossed her head, which sent her hair flying over one shoulder. Discomfort settled in Ken’s stomach. A different gesture than her sister, but it felt the same as Tori’s eyelash batting. The smile on his face went stiff as he edged sideways away from her and escaped to the living room where Eric had claimed the recliner and the remote control. Until tonight, he had gotten the impression that Joan was a confident, no-nonsense sort of girl. But that sure wasn’t coming through tonight. Who was the real Joan Sanderson?

“What is going on between you two?”

Mom’s voice was low enough not to be heard over the television by those in the living room, but a note of concern came through loud and clear. Joan picked up the platter of pot roast from the table and placed it on the kitchen counter. Beside her, Tori grabbed the broccoli casserole and did likewise.

In front of the sink, Allie turned on the faucet. “Pretty obvious, isn’t it? They’re making a play for the same guy.”

“They’re making fools of themselves.” Mom gave them each a stern look. “You’ve made the poor man so uncomfortable he looks ready to bolt.”

“Well, it’s Joan’s fault,” Tori hissed, her blue eyes narrowed to slits.

“Shhh!” Joan pointed toward the living room. “He’ll hear you!”

Allie wore a wide smile as she squirted detergent into the water. It looked to Joan like her older sister was getting a little too much enjoyment out of the show. Whereas Gram, who stood looking from one of them to the other, had deep worry lines creasing her forehead.

“Outside,” Mom whispered in a voice that brooked no argument. “Both of you.”

Joan found herself being shooed through the back door, Tori right behind her. Moist evening heat slapped her in the face, a shock from the air-conditioning, as the cloying odor of Gram’s rosebushes replaced the yeasty smell of rolls inside the house. Mom followed them onto the wood deck and closed the door. Joan turned to find Tori glaring at her, arms folded across her chest.

“Don’t you dare try to blame this on me.” Joan pointed a finger in her sister’s face. “This is your fault for being such a little flirt.”

Tori slapped a hand to her chest. “My fault? You’re the one who horned in on my dinner.”

“Horned in? I live here, remember? You’re the one who practically stalked the guy to find out when he had a day off so you could play like a princess in a happy family scene.”

Her eyes slitted. “Yeah, well, you’re the one who bought True Religion.”

“Like you didn’t go out and buy that?” Joan shielded her eyes from the setting sun as her gaze dropped to Tori’s suit. “It’s so new it still smells like the mall.”

Tori’s chin shot into the air. “For your information, this didn’t come from the mall. It came from a very exclusive shop downtown that you can’t even afford to walk into.”

Joan gasped an outraged breath. “Oh no? Well, maybe I’ve got too much sense to spend my money on an outfit that makes me look like Professional Barbie.”

Tori’s arms dropped to her sides, her hands clenched into fists. Her chest heaved as she drew breath to fire back a retort when Mom stepped between them.

“Girls, that’s enough.”

“But she—”

“Mom, you don’t—”

“I said that’s enough.”

Mom’s glasses magnified the sternness in her stare, commanding their silence. Joan folded her arms and looked out across the backyard.

“Honestly, with three girls so close together in age, I expected you to fight over boys when you were younger. But look at you! Grown women acting like immature children.”

Joan tightened her lips and heard Tori give an injured sniff.

“Now,” Mom continued in a level voice, “I want you to discuss this like adults. It appears that you’re both interested in Dr. Fletcher. Obviously he won’t date you both. He’s too much a gentleman for that. So how are you going to handle this situation?”

Tori spoke first, her tone one of calm reason. “I think Joan should back off.”

Joan sucked a breath through her nose and matched her sister’s tone. “I think Tori should go back to Lexington where she belongs.”

“It was my idea to invite him to dinner.”

Joan leveled a stare at her sister. “I met him first. I have dibs.”

Tori’s chin shot upward. “You weren’t even interested in him. You didn’t go outside to talk to him last Sunday.”

“Maybe I didn’t want to make too big a deal out of him because I was afraid you’d jump in and try to monopolize him.” She raised her eyebrows. “Which you did.”

Mom heaved a loud sigh. “This is getting us nowhere. Tori, are you really interested in Ken, or is he just an attractive man you’d enjoy passing the time with?”

Tori’s gaze dropped to the ground as she considered Mom’s question. Joan watched, tension building in her stomach as she waited for the answer.
Say no. Please say no.

“It’s hard to tell, because I barely know him. But . . . ,” Tori gave a slow nod and locked eyes with Joan, “. . . I might be.”

Her mouth dry, Joan felt like crying. It wasn’t fair. Tori could date any guy she wanted.

“Joan?” Mom forced her to look her in the eye. “What about you?”

She didn’t trust herself to speak. Was she interested in Ken? She thought of the way her stomach flip-flopped earlier, when she gazed into his eyes. Swallowing, she nodded. As she did, Tori’s shoulders drooped and she turned away.

Mom shook her head slowly. “You girls are going to have to work this out on your own. But I want you to remember one thing.” She paused, and continued only when both girls were looking at her. “You are sisters. Family. Please don’t let this come between you.”

She turned away from them and went inside the house. Joan stared out over the backyard, the awkward silence between her and her sister almost a physical barrier. So much for Allie’s comment that Tori would back off if she knew Joan was interested. The fierce jealousy she’d felt inside watching Tori flirt with Ken faded as she struggled to think of something to say. What would make Tori decide to leave the handsome doctor to her? She couldn’t think of a thing. But neither did she want to watch a romantic relationship develop between Ken and her little sister. The thought twisted her insides.

Tori broke the silence, though she didn’t look Joan’s way. “I wish you’d told me you liked him last weekend.”

Joan paused a moment before answering. Time to be honest, both with Tori and with herself. “I guess I was afraid to admit it. That way if he wasn’t interested in me, I wouldn’t have to feel like an ugly duckling.”

Tori’s head jerked toward Joan. “An ugly duckling? You are
not
an ugly duckling. You’re a beautiful woman.” She paused, then went on grudgingly. “And you look amazing today, by the way.”

Warmth washed through Joan. “Thanks. So do you.”

Tori grinned. “Even though I look like Professional Barbie?”

Joan returned the grin. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean it.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry too. Especially for the crack about the expensive shop.”

Joan shrugged a shoulder. “It’s probably true.”

They both fell silent for a few moments. Then Tori said, “Listen, what if we promise to stop acting like maniacs and just be ourselves? We’ll let Ken choose.”

Joan considered that suggestion. Just be herself? What a relief, not to have to watch for body language and remember to count how many seconds they made eye contact.

On the other hand, what if Ken asked Tori out first? Could she handle that? Well, she’d have to. What choice would she have?

But lightning might strike. He might ask her out first. And how would Tori like that?

“So if he expresses an interest in one of us, the other one will back away?”

Tori nodded. “Agreed.”

She forced a grin. “Although judging by the look on his face at dinner, I doubt if he’s interested in either of us at the moment.”

“I don’t know what came over me.” Tori shook her head. “It was like I couldn’t stop myself. I probably blew my chances.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Joan twisted the knife in her own gut. “He likes you. He told me so at the store the other day.”

She looked up, eyes wide. “Really?”

Joan nodded and tried to ignore a sudden tightening in her throat. She took a deep breath. “So, are we okay?”

Tori stepped forward and enveloped Joan in a hug. “Of course we are. Sisters first, right?”

“Right.” Joan returned her sister’s embrace, then pulled back and smiled. “I guess we should get back in there.”

They entered the house together, arm in arm. In the kitchen, Mom turned a concerned frown their way. It turned into a smile when she caught sight of them. “That’s what I like to see.”

Joan went into the kitchen, and Tori peeked around the wall into the living room.

“Hey! Where’s Ken?”

“He had to leave.” Gram wiped the dishtowel across a wet plate. “He seemed in a hurry.”

Allie turned from the sink to give them both a disgusted look. “Way to go, girls. You scared him off.”

~ 10 ~

“Luis is coming!”

Joan looked up from her seat behind the sales counter as Rosa ran from the front door through the store, her black mane flying behind her. “He is? What made him change his mind?”

Rosa collapsed across the counter, her face inches from Joan’s. “He say he cannot stay away from his family anymore.” A grin stole across her face. “He is missing Tiffany and me too much.”

“Well, of course he is.” Joan placed her hands over Rosa’s and squeezed. “I’m so glad. When will he be here?”

“Next week. He take the Greyhound bus.” She stopped, and then corrected herself. “He
will
take the Greyhound bus. And Señor Rodriguez says he has work in the kitchen while he is here. Oh, Joan.” She straightened and clasped her hands beneath her chin. “Maybe he will stay this time. Maybe we will be a real American family together.”

Seeing the longing in Rosa’s face, Joan hoped so. She had to admit, she couldn’t wait to meet the infamous Luis. After years of hearing Rosa talk about him, she’d built a mental image of a big, strong construction worker type with a loud voice and a pushy, domineering manner. He’d have to be tough to stand up to Rosa’s fiery temper.