As Van rubbed Daphne’s back and whispered words of comfort and understanding, she found herself thinking how right Daphne was about Van’s family. Life hadn’t always been easy in the small house on West Street where her mom had been forced to move after her dad ran off with all their savings. Yet somehow, they’d scraped by. Never once in all the years in that little house had Van lacked for love or understanding.
Too bad her mom and Grandma Daisy disagreed with her decision to make her life in Billings. They both wanted her to find happiness in Bronco. As for Great-Grandmother Winona, she’d made it more than clear that she agreed with them.
Well, too bad. Not going to happen. Nine years ago, when Van left for college with her heart shattered and her pride in tatters, she’d made herself a promise never to move back. She’d had enough of her hometown, of mean girls who mocked her, of the boy who’d once said he would love her forever—and then made her into an object of ridicule, hatred and derision at Bronco High. She would return to visit the people she loved, but never to stay.
Then again, though her mom and grandmother—and now, her newly found great-grandmother, too—disagreed with her choices, they loved her unconditionally anyway. They would never treat her callously, the way Cornelius did Daphne. As she held Daphne and whispered reassurances that everything would work out with her dad in the end, Van felt gratitude welling toward the two strong women who had raised her, the grandfather she missed every day and the big brother who could be gruff and bossy but always had her back.
And toward Winona, with her generous heart, her ingrained kindness, and the weird and wonderful wisdom she was only too eager to share with everyone she met.
A half an hour later, as Van drove back to the apartment, she tried really hard not to wonder if Jameson would show up with Charity. “He’d better not,” she muttered under her breath to no one in particular. Scowling out the windshield at the bright, sunny day, she staunchly ignored the anticipation in her heart and the silly, fluttery sensation in her belly.
Chapter Four
Charity, looking gorgeous in dark-wash jeans and a blue shirt with rhinestones glittering on the collar, arrived at Callie’s right on time. She’d pinned her blond hair into a perfectly tousled updo, carried a small suitcase under her arm—and had Jameson in tow.
“Gotta support my little sis.” Faking an innocent expression, he looked right at Van.
Charity patted his sculpted jaw with its perfectly trimmed short beard. “You are my favorite big brother.”
He grinned down at her. “I’ve heard you say the same thing to both Dawson and Maddox.”
Charity let out a peal of happy laughter. “Busted.” She turned to Van and Callie. “I got super lucky in the big-brother department. Now let’s get to work. Callie and Jameson, make yourselves comfortable out here. Vanessa, lead me to your makeup area.”
Van had her own bathroom right next to her bedroom. She took Charity in there. The dinky counter had just enough space for Charity’s small suitcase, which turned out to be a professional makeup kit, the kind that opened out, accordion-style, into tiers. The kit contained over a hundred different eye shadow choices, a wide array of makeup brushes and foundation colors to match any skin tone.
Once Charity had her kit arranged to her liking, she whipped out a white cloth and draped it over Van’s shirt. “Don’t look so horrified. This isn’t a makeover.”
Van glanced heavenward. “Thank you, Lord, for small favors.”
“As your personal Miss Bronco coach, I’m all about you doing you, Vanessa.”
“And I like that. A lot.”
“I’m only going to enhance your natural beauty.” Charity frowned and accused, “You’ve covered your freckles—or most of them, anyway.”
“Sometimes I like them, and sometimes they annoy me.”
“And this is one of those days when you’re annoyed with them?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
Charity peered closer. “Are you wearing contacts?”
“I am.” Van pointed her thumb at her chest. “Beauty queen here—not that I don’t love my glasses. I do. But they’re one accessory too many once I add my crown.”
“Yes, I think you’re right.” Humming under her breath, Charity went to work with her fancy brushes and endless pots of blush, lip color and eye shadow. Not ten minutes later, she took a step back. “There. Perfect.”
Van peered at her reflection. She didn’t look made up, but her eyes appeared larger and her skin had a new glow. “It’s great.”
“And so simple.” Charity ran down a quick makeup tutorial tailored to Van’s coloring, skin type and the shape of her face. She insisted that Van keep the brushes and makeup she’d used. “Tomorrow, you can do it yourself. I’ll stop by again before the big barbecue just to give you my seal of approval.”
“Charity, you’re a wonder.”
Charity’s glowing smile shone all the brighter. “Why, thank you, Vanessa.” Next, she primped Van’s hair. “Where’s your crown and sash?”
Van gave her a slow look from under her eyelashes. “You know, the more I think about it, the more I think I’ll just pass on those today.”
Charity wasn’t having that. “We both know you can’t do that—well, maybe you can skip the crown. That’s more for formal occasions. And as it happens, I brought over a few pretty hats just in case. You can wear one of them.”
