The Christmas Sisters Read Online Free Page B

with her sisters.They stood in the open doorway for no more than a few seconds, giving old Wally boy the deadeye.
    The room went silent again, except for the crackle of Willa's paper flowers as she bounced up and down beside Jessica.
    Then, without so much as a huff to acknowledge the absolute and utter out-and-out rudeness of Wally s intrusive remark, the three sisters made their exit onto the cold porch.
    “What about the call?” Park dared to stick his head out the sliding glass door.
    Nic couldn't help but liken the sight to a man voluntarily putting his head in the guillotine.
    “What about the call?” Petie let go of Nic, folded her arms, and narrowed her eyes.
    He looked at his watch. “Well, it's nearly time .”
    Ever since they'd begun the tradition of sharing Thanksgiving at Petie's a decade ago, The Duets had called at twelve-thirty on the dot. Collier had gone so far as to plan to serve the meal at one o'clock to give everyone a chance to say their hellos before they ate. Nic's announcement had shot that plan straight out of the water.
    A bracing wind blasted against their backs.
    “What should I tell your aunts?” Park frowned.
    “Just hand the phone to Mother.” Petie rolled her eyes. “Might as well let them get all their fussing at one another out of the way right off the bat.”
    “Okay, but—”
    “And do let us know when they call, won't you, sweetheart? Tap on the door or something.” Petie waved her husband back into the house. “We won't be long out here.”
    “We'd better not be.” Nic wrapped her arms around herself. “It's cold.”
    “Just like my debut at making Thanksgiving dinner will be if we—if you two—go on and on about this.” Collier brushed her hand back through the short layers of her new haircut, the one she had made sure everyone knew some New York hairstylist assured her gave off the aura of power and confidence. Then she looked toward her cooling culinary efforts with a pout on her face worthy of a spoiled three-year-old.
    The glass door rumbled along its track then clunked shut.
    Petie folded her arms, like Mother warming up to a full-fledged hissy fit, and turned on Nic. “Have you completely taken leave of your ever- lovin ' mind?”
    “Before you get all in a lather over this, at least do me the courtesy of hearing me out.”
    “ Courtesy ? You have the nerve to stand there and throw the word courtesy in my face? After you've ruined my Thanksgiving dinner?”
    “It's my dinner.” Collier glanced back at the activity inside the house. “We're just having it at your house because no one in this family would ever bring themselves to come to New York City.”
    “That's not the issue now.” Petie slashed her hand through the air to cut off Collier, then laced her arms tight again. “The issue is—
    “I did it for Willa.”
    Collier focused on Nic.
    The rigid knot of Petie's arms relaxed, just a bit. “How so?”
    “There's this program. I can get her into it, but it won't be cheap. I've already used the money I'd saved for the trip home as a deposit. That's why I can’t go this year.”
    “What kind of a program?” Collier stepped forward. “You're not going to send our baby away are you?”
    “It's a residential program, yes.” Nic lowered her gaze.
    “But...” Collier strangled on the next word then held up her hands in a sign of resignation.
    Collier had only been fifteen when Nic brought the little cherub of a child, Willa, to live with Mother and Daddy and her in the house in Persuasion. Nic's youngest sister had loved that little girl from the moment she laid eyes on her.
    And when the trouble came a couple years later, when they knew things were not as they should be with the baby, Collier had loved her even more. Because she had instinctively seemed to know even then that sweet Willa would need more love than an ordinary child.
    Petie gave a tight shiver. “I know you're trying to do what's best for Willa—”
    “I am doing what's