Family Ties — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

She’s had the rest of us wrapped around her finger since she came home from the hospital.”

“Danny, that isn’t true.”

“Sure it is, Sis.” He gestured at the suitcases. “All of these yours?”

“Yeah.” I gestured feebly. “She… uh…”

“Oh, I’m familiar,” he said with a grin. “She used to pack all her dolls for family trips.”

“She even packed a little suitcase of doll clothes.” He hefted one of the large bags and her smaller one.

I grabbed her other large suitcase and my own.

“I knew she’d have a bunch,” he said, “so I brought Dad’s car instead of Mom’s.

The Cadillac’s trunk looked like it needed its own zip code. Our four suitcases plus Christy’s overnight bag and my backpack barely took up half of it.

“Sabrina’s in the front,” Danny said as he dropped the trunk lid. “You guys hop in the back.” He walked back to the driver’s side, and I opened the rear passenger door for Christy. I climbed in after her and closed the door with a soft thump.

The woman in the front seat turned.

“Sabrina! Good to see you too. You’re as beautiful as ever.”

“Thanks. You too. How was your flight?”

“It was good. The guy next to me was really cute.” She flashed me a grin.

“When did you get in?”

“About an hour ago. We hadn’t even settled in before you called. Danny was restless from the flight—you know how he is when he isn’t the one flying—so he volunteered to come pick you up.” She glanced at me and smiled. “Sorry, you must be Paul.

I shook her hand over the seat back. “Nice to meet you.”

She was pretty—what I could see of her, at least—with long, dark hair and finely sculpted features.

“Your mom put us together in your bedroom,” she said to Christy. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, that’s awesome!”

Danny glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “You and I bunk together on the screen porch.”

“Fine by me,” I said.

“Nothing against you,” he said, “but not exactly what I had in mind.

Mom’s just being old-fashioned.”

“Not until you’re married,” Christy said. Then she explained to me,

“Mom won’t let couples sleep together until they’re married.”

“There’s a simple solution,” Sabrina said.

He glared at her in the mirror.

“Everyone loves her, even Rich.”

“Yes, Daniel,” Sabrina teased, “why haven’t you married me yet? My family keeps asking the same thing.”

“Can we change the subject?”

Sabrina smiled fondly at him.