relationship with another family. Within the past year or so, Cynthia had already felt the strong bond between her and her sisters being tested. It was no longer just the Gibbons girls laughing over mani-pedis or conspiring over Saturday brunch how to seduce rich men. Now Lauren and Stephanie were madly in love, involved in their own relationships, and wrapped up in their budding families. They had little time for their sisters anymore. It was just Cynthia and Dawn left, and now it looked like Dawn was going to drift away too.
âA holiday dinner, huh?â Cynthia mumbled sullenly. âSo I guess you got a good package deal out of this, then . . . an âamazingâ father, a whole new family, and a new sister too.â
âI donât need a new sister. Believe me, honey, Iâve got enough!â
âYouâre damn right about that.â
âLook, Cindy, donât worry,â her sister reassured her, reading her mind. â Youâre my sistersâyou, Steph, and Laurenâand always will be. I love you guys. Having dinner with my father and his family isnât going to change that.â
âI know, I know,â Cynthia said, though it warmed her heart to hear those words. She could breathe a little easier now. âSo tell me more about the new relatives. Whatâre their names?â
Dawn sighed. âConstance and Raquel,â she answered flatly.
âOh, Good Lord, girl! Are you serious? Constance and Raquel? Itâs like an episode of Dynasty !â
âI know. I feel like I should show up in a sequined gown and shoulder pads,â Dawn drawled sarcastically.
Cynthia cracked up laughing, then she quickly quieted. She made another hasty glance over her shoulder to make sure their mother hadnât heard her.
âIâm the long-lost sister from the wrong side of the tracks!â Dawn exclaimed.
âPardon me? Wrong side of the tracks? We didnât exactly grow up in the projects.â
âYeah, but we come from gold-digger money. You know people see it differently. They always look down on it.â
âWell,â Cynthia said, casually waving her hand and glancing at her nails, âIâve never given a damn either way. You know what Mama always says, âA hundred dollar bill is a hundred dollar bill, whether it comes from your paycheck or your ex-husbandâs wallet.â â
âTrue. Very true.â
âSo, next question: When are you going to tell Mama about all this?â
Dawn moaned. âOh, God, do I have to?â
âYouâre the one whoâs getting chummy-chummy with them! You canât keep it a secret forever, and the longer you do, the more pissed sheâs going to be when she finally finds out.â
âPlease! Mama is more focused on getting married to Daddy Warbucks over there than she is on anything else. Hearing about my father would just be a distraction for her.â
âYeah, right.â Cynthia chuckled. âCoward!â
âCall me what you want, but I think this way is best. And you will continue to keep it a secret until I say not to do so, wonât you, Cindy?â
Cynthia dropped a hand to her hip and rolled her eyes.
âCindy?â Dawn repeated tersely on the other end of the line. âPromise me youâll keep it a secret!â
âAll right! All right! I promise. I just think itâs silly. You act like youâre having an affair with him or something.â
âYour opinion is appreciated, but Iâll follow my own opinion for now.â Dawn paused again. âLook, Iâve got to go. Iâve got a meeting with the gallery staff. Iâll talk to you later, okay?â
âOkay, talk to you later,â Cynthia said before hanging up her phone.
She was just about to turn away from the foyer window and head back toward the sitting room where she could hearâeven from hereâReginald answer with yet another,
Marion Chesney, M.C. Beaton