ALANA’S COMPLEXION GLOWED AS SHE sat across the kitchen table from Kayla at her home on the other side of town. “I’m telling you, Sis. I’ve never had chemistry this quick with any guy before. Dirk is so smooth and charismatic. If Richmond is anything like his brother, Dirk, I can see why you agreed to marry him.” As Alana went on and on about how much she liked Dirk, a red tint colored her smiling cheeks.
Bewildered, Kayla picked up her cup of lemony tea and took a sip. Richmond had given her the day off so she could plan their wedding, but now as she sat across the table from her sister, she decided she wasn’t going to marry him. At least not until she told him the truth about her grandfather.
Pondering over her sudden decision, the warm liquid glided down Kayla’s throat. “I’m not going to marry Richmond just yet.” Watching the surprise expression develop on Alana’s golden brown face, she lowered her mug to the table.
Clasping her fingers, Alana leaned into the table. “Please tell me you’re playing, Sis?”
A hard knot twisted Kayla’s stomach. “No, Alana. I’m dead serious.”
Her sister’s mouth dropped open. “Have you lost your mind?!”
“No. There’s something I have to tell you. I should’ve told you a long time ago, but I didn’t want to upset you.”
“I don’t like the look on your face. You’re scaring me, Sis.”
Propping her elbows up on the table, Kayla’s lids slipped down over her eyes, then lifted. “If what I’m about to tell you is true…we both should be scared.”
With despair clinging to her face, Alana propped her elbow up on the table, fisted her cheek, and took a deep swallow. “I don’t like the sound of this.”
“A while back, while cleaning out Granddaddy’s closet, I found a safe. There was a picture of Salina and a syringe inside the safe. Well, as you already know, Granddaddy used to make house doctor visits.”
“Yeah. And…”
“And I think he—”
Alana interjected, “Please don’t say it, Kay. Please don’t tell me. I don’t want to hear it.” Alana hopped up from her seat and hurried over to the kitchen sink. Glaring out the window, she covered her ears.
Kayla’s heart broke for both her and Alana as she walked up behind her. Placing a gentle hand to Alana’s shoulder, she gestured for her to turn around. “I think Granddaddy made a house visit with Salina while she was sick, and killed her.” Tears poured from Kayla’s eyes. “Knowing that our grandfather murdered her, I can’t marry Richmond. I love him too much to betray him and keep a secret like this from him. It’s been eating me up on the inside.” Kayla’s hands swiped at her tears.
Alana tore a paper towel from the roller and handed it to Kayla. “Oh, Sis. Don’t cry. Just tell Richmond the truth and let him decide if he wants to still get married or not.”
Kayla dabbed the paper towel at the corners of her eyes. “I’m going to tell him later on today. I tried telling him yesterday, but all he wanted to do was make love to me, and sleep. After the horrible night he’d had at the hospital, and with the tree falling on the house, I felt he needed some rest. But I plan on telling him today.”
“I agree. You have to tell him.” Alana threw her arms up in the air. “Well, there goes my fantasy about Dirk and me.”
Kayla’s eyes fixated on the time on the microwave. “Dang. Look at the time. I’m supposed to meet Richmond at the beach house by three-thirty. The furniture for our master bedroom is being delivered today.”
“Don’t tell him about Granddaddy until after you break the bed in.”
Kayla couldn’t help but laugh at what her sister said.