“Everything is fine. Thank you.”
“Good.” He reached for a couple of files that sat on the end table next to him. “I suppose you’ll be seeing Jill soon.”
Angela nodded. “On Wednesday.”
“I believe you’re meeting her at the resort?”
“Yes. Julian said that’s where she’s staying.”
“I want Jude to go with you,” Duncan said. “The resort should be safe enough, but I’d feel better if he was there.”
Angela couldn’t deny that, despite the tension of their last conversation, she’d feel better too. But she kept that to herself.
“Are you going too, Kiara?” he asked, turning his attention to her.
Angela exchanged a glance with Kiara. They’d talked a lot about it. Kiara wasn’t sure it was her place to go, but Angela was adamant that she wanted her there with her.
“Yes, Angie wants me there.”
Duncan nodded. “I think that’s a good decision.”
“You do?” Angela asked.
“Yes, I do. Kiara is an important part of your life. It’s best Jill knows that right from the start.”
From what she’d heard about Jill, Angela wasn’t sure she’d feel the same way.
“Don’t let Jill manipulate you into anything you don’t want,” Duncan said. “I’ve never interfered with her relationships with the children we share, but I also have no problem stepping in when necessary.”
“Have you done that with Annie?”
“Yes. Annie has had difficulty in the past with expressing how she feels about her mom. She’s better now, but since this is your first time meeting her, if you have trouble expressing yourself, I’m prepared to step in and help you communicate with her.”
Relief filled Angela. “Julian said he didn’t want to be caught in the middle.”
“And I don’t want that for him either,” Duncan said. “Unfortunately, Jill has put him in that position frequently by asking him to get Annie to meet with her. She should have been talking to me about Annie, but she knew that I wouldn’t guilt Annie into talking to her like she could get Julian to do.”
“I don’t know how I feel about her.”
“I know it probably isn’t easy to reserve judgment since you’ve already heard how she treated Annie,” Duncan said. “But going into your meet-up with no expectations might be helpful.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.” Duncan gave her a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes and made them shine. There was a kindness that radiated from him that she’d never experienced with Jim. “And now let’s talk about something more pleasant. I realized that Ihave been remiss in helping the two of you settle into life here by making things clear.”
Angela glanced at Kiara, wondering what they were about to hear.
“Like my other three children, you will receive a monthly allowance. You are free to spend it as you wish. We’ve set up bank accounts for you as well as debit and credit cards.” He looked from Angela to Kiara. “This also includes you.”
Kiara’s eyes widened. “Me? But I’m not one of your kids.”
“No, you’re not a biological child. However, you are Angela’s sister in all the ways that count, and because of that, I consider you a daughter as I do her.”
“Really?”
Angela slipped her arm around Kiara’s shoulders and leaned her head against hers. She knew Kiara would be moved by Duncan’s declaration, and Angela was more grateful than she could say.
“These have all the information about the allowance and the debit and credit cards,” Duncan said as he held out a folder to each of them. “Also, if you have a need that this money doesn’t cover, don’t be afraid to come talk to me about it.”
