“First we have to go upstairs to the kiddie section. They put in a tunnel and a revolving bookcase.”
“What the fudge? We gotta go see that.” He lit up, reminding her of the imaginative boy who’d been her lifeline growing up.
Her throat tightened. No matter how this weekend turned out, she’d be forever grateful for this poignant reminder that she needed to spend more time with her brother.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Luis had figured on liking Jordan’s brother, so their instant connection hadn’t surprised him. But he hadn’t factored in the benefit of Cole’s knowledge and insight. Jordan’s brother might turn out to be a lifesaver. Or a nail in his coffin. Time would tell.
In any event, the guy hadn’t punched him in the face. That was a good start. Cole’s eagerness to see the kiddie section of the bookstore with its tunnel and revolving bookshelves spoke well for him.
The three of them headed up the Victorian’s winding staircase with Jordan in the lead. Luis had stepped back so Cole could follow her. Observing the dynamic between brother and sister would likely give him valuable info about Jordan.
Judging from the giggles and squeals of joy coming from the upstairs rooms, Angie McLintock’s crew had created a child’s paradise. He’d seen it a couple months ago when it was almost done, but he’d missed the final walkthrough week before last.
It had been scheduled for the day a couple wanted to finalize their adoption of Batman and Robin, mustangs he’d been working with since late February. Saying goodbye to those two had been tougher than any he’d trained so far.
Early on, his dad had warned him about that downside. Turned out it was worse without a buddy who shared his tug of grief when the horse trailer pulled away. Would Rio be a help in that regard? Would be nice if he was.
Speaking of Rio, that was his laugh, sure as the world. And Monty’s voice. And Granny’s. Was the whole gang still up here?
“There ya are, luv!” Granny called out when Jordan topped the stairs. “Wondered where ya got to, I did. Who’s that fella with ya?”
As Jordan introduced Cole, more of his family popped into the hallway. They formed a knot around Jordan and Cole that stranded him one step below them. Leaning on the banister, he enjoyed the show.
Jordan’s obvious pride in her big brother was fun to see. As for Cole, he had the makings of a UN diplomat. He joked and laughed with everyone as if he’d known them all his life.
Amazing, since he’d experienced the same unloving childhood environment as Jordan. Or maybe he’d had favored status as a boy.
His mom once told him she’d married Spence Bridger partly because he treated Claudie the same as Adam and Monty. Mila wouldn’t become a second-class citizen in the Bridger household.
“Ya need to come see what Kieran, Angie and Kendall made.” Granny stepped back and the group separated enough that Jordan and Cole could move forward. “’Twill make yer eyeballs bulge out.”
Then she spotted Luis. “Back there all the time, were ya? Thought we’d lost ya down a hole.”
“No, ma’am. Not a chance.”
“Come on, then. There’s a clatter of wee chiselers, but ya might get a chance ta go through the tunnel.”
“A clatter of wee chiselers?”
Rio chuckled. “Means a bunch of kids, hermano.”
“Kids up to no good?”
“No, just plain kids. Chiseler doesn’t mean what it does over here. I’m getting in the swing of this Irish stuff.”
“Hey, how’s it going up there?”
Luis glanced down the stairs. The cowboy standing on the bottom step reminded him of Kieran. “Fine, I think. Haven’t been in to see for myself.” Had to be Kieran’s half-brother, but damned if he could remember the guy’s name.
Kieran came to the top of the stairs. “You should come up, bro. Everybody loves it.”
“Believe I will.” He took the steps two at a time. When he reached the landing he held out his hand to Luis. “Lucky McLintock.”
He grasped the guy’s hand. “Luis Bridger.”
“I don’t think you were at the walkthrough.”
