Free Precious Blessings (Love Inspired) by Jillian Hart Page A

“So, Kath, are you gonna tell us the scoop? Or do we have to torture it out of you?”
    â€œThe scoop?” Thank heavens that her sisters had no idea she’d had a run-in with Jack on the mountain. And a sort of, well, bonding experience. Whatever she wanted to call it, her time with him had been illuminating, hopeful and disastrous all at the same time.
    It took talent to turn a pleasant cup of tea and conversation with an available man into a totally devastating experience. Which she wasn’t about to share with anyone, even her sisters, whom she loved most in the world. It was best to sound indifferent; maybe the fervor over those white roses would blow over faster.
    She took a plate from the top of the stack on the edge of the island and started the serving line. The twins were arguing about their jobs and their lack of full-time work outside the family business, and Danielle was stressing over the sweet and sour sauce she’d forgotten to pour over the pork. “We’re missing Rebecca. She couldn’t make it?”
    â€œShe had some kind of lab thing for one of her classes.” Ava grabbed a plate and dug into the carton of moo gao gai pan. Chunks of chicken and vegetables tumbled onto her plate and the counter. “Oops. Back to the scoop. Has Jack called you yet?”
    â€œNo. And I’m absolutely positive that he won’t.”
    Wasn’t that the truth? She remembered the look on Jack’s face when his daughter had started yelling. It wasn’t likely she’d forget Hayden’s words or how it felt to see a teenager almost the age… Don’t think about that, Katherine.
    Danielle looked scandalized. “How could this guy not like you? He’s the one who brought the roses, right?”
    â€œAs a thank-you, not as a romantic thing.” Katherine moved on to the noodle chow mein and, in need of comforting carbs, piled it high. Thank heavens there was pork-fried rice, too. “Let me repeat that, since the twins are hard of hearing. It’s not a romantic thing. It’s just impossible, end of story.”
    â€œHey, we’re not hard of hearing—” Ava protested.
    â€œâ€”It’s just that we know something you don’t,” Aubrey finished.
    â€œI’m not even going to ask.” Katherine looked to Danielle. “How are the kids?”
    â€œI signed Tyler up for swimming lessons.” Danielle, the perfect housewife and mom, calmly redirected the conversation, bless her. “They have baby swimming lessons, too, so I broke down and put Madison in a class, although I have to go in with her, and I’m not a swimmer. Luckily we stay in the shallow end. We’ll see how it goes.”
    â€œYou’ll do fine.” Katherine looked down at her full plate. No more room, so she got out of Ava’s way and met her stepsister’s gaze. There was a greater sadness there, the kind a woman rarely spoke of. Or even examined for herself in quiet times. “If you don’t like it, let me know. I’ll go in the water with her, and you can watch safe and dry from the benches.”
    â€œThanks.” Dani reached out and laid her hand on Katherine’s. The slight squeeze said more than thanks, more than understanding. It went deeper. “If this guy, the one who brought the roses, isn’t the kind of man toaccept what happened to you, then he isn’t good enough for you. Don’t forget that.”
    What did you do when you feared the kind words of your family were only that? Kind words. The truth was that people could be tough and cold at heart, and she’d already lost the chance for marriage once because Kevin had refused to understand.
    She squeezed Dani’s hand right back, her sister not of blood but of circumstance. The Lord in His benevolent wisdom was ever gracious. “C’mon, sit by me. We got in these great new picture books at the store this morning. I haven’t