She suspected that loving someone would always feel a little scary, and maybe that was okay. Maybe it was supposed to be that way.
Because what she felt for Jude—the love she held in her heart for him—was like nothing she’d felt before.
“What are you doing?”
Kiara’s question drew Angela from her musings. She looked over to see her sister walking into the solarium. Or maybe it was more of a shuffle. Kiara looked rough.
“Are you not feeling well?”
Kiara slumped down on the loveseat next to Angela. She wore her comfy oversized clothes, making her look a little sloppy, which wasn’t usual for her outside of her bedroom. Her curls were a mess, partly in a ponytail, but also spilling out around her face. Her pale face.
“Just didn’t sleep well.” She sank down further into the loveseat, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Because you’re not feeling well?” Angela asked. “Or is it something else?”
Though Angela had spoken to her about traveling to help fill her time, Kiara hadn’t jumped at the opportunity. However, she had gone into Serenity with Lucy, and she’d spent some time at the library and the bookstore.
She’d come home with a stack of books, finally able to buy the books she wanted instead of just getting them from the library. And for a short time, she’d been excited about the books.
However, the excitement hadn’t lasted, and whatever Kiara was struggling with had crept back in again.
“So what are you doing here?” Kiara asked, waving her hand at the wool in Angela’s lap.
She lifted the needles to show her. “I’m working on a baby blanket. Annie said she could put it up on her website to sell.”
Kiara frowned. “But you don’t need the money.”
“No, and Annie doesn’t either,” Angela said. “So all the proceeds from the website go to a shelter in Coeur d’Alene. It’ll give me something to do that also benefits someone else.”
“I suppose that’s good.”
“I think so. You could knit something too if you wanted.”
“I’ve never been as good at that as you have,” Kiara said.
“Only because you haven’t wanted to be.”
“True.” Kiara stared out the large windows of the solarium. “Is Jude coming back today?”
Angela hadn’t talked much to Kiara about Jude and how much she missed him. For some reason, Kiara hadn’t been very interested in hearing about what was happening between Angela and Jude.
“Yes. He sent a text saying they’d be back around five.”
“I suppose you’re excited about him coming back.”
Angela’s heart ached at the distance that seemed to have developed between her and Kiara.
“I am,” she agreed.
“Guess you’ll have plenty to keep you busy once he’s around again.”
“Not necessarily. He’ll have work during the day, and we’ll still have training to do with Dawn and Derek.”
Dawn had continued to work with them on self-defense, and Derek had taken over the shooting practice. She had no idea if Jude would take that responsibility back from Derek once he was home.
“Are you really upset that I’m dating Jude?” Angela asked.
She didn’t want to have tension between them, but it was apparent that it was already there.
