Halfway There by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

appreciative enough,” Ana Raquel yelled back.
    Dellina cocked her head. “Really? So if I was more appreciative, you’d take this less seriously? You know that doesn’t make sense.”
    An exasperated choking sound came from the kitchen. “You know what I meant,” Ana Raquel yelled.
    “I do, but it’s not what you said.”
    Fayrene laughed. Being with her sisters always made her feel better. Dellina had been their rock ever since their parents had died. It had been the three of them dealing with the tragedy. While they’d always been close, the accident had drawn them even more together.
    Now they were living their separate lives. While Dellina was in town, they were both busy, and Fayrene rarely saw her. Ana Raquel only got back every few weeks.
    “Okay,” her twin said, coming out with three plates balanced on her arm. “This is an experiment. I’ve made three different salads, and I want your honest opinion.”
    She handed them each a plate with three scoops of what looked like some kind of chicken or turkey salad, some cut up fruit and slices of French bread.
    Looking at Ana Raquel was almost like looking in the mirror, Fayrene thought. They were both blondes with hazel eyes. Dellina had taken more after their father. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She was also the tallest of the sisters. Not that five-five was extraordinarily tall.
    Ana Raquel picked up her fork. “Turkey salad with dried cranberries and toasted walnuts. I think I’m almost there with this one, but I’m going to try to make it more creamy.” She pointed to the second salad. “Curried chicken. It’s perfect. If you don’t like it, there’s something wrong with you. Then a second chicken salad. No curry. I’m thinking it’s the perfect picnic food.”
    Dellina studied the plate. “You want our honest opinions?”
    “Yes.”
    Fayrene took a bite and felt her taste buds do the happy dance. “Delicious. You should really get serious about that trailer. Wouldn’t you rather be working for yourself instead of in a restaurant?”
    “Yes, but a trailer is expensive. I don’t have enough of a credit history to get that much in financing, and I would still need money to remodel it.”
    Dellina scooped turkey salad onto the bread. “Want some of the money from the trust fund?”
    They each had money left over from their parents’ life insurance policies. It had paid for college and Ana Raquel’s culinary school with some left over. Dellina had invested it wisely, and they were all benefiting.
    “Fayrene has a point. Wouldn’t you rather work for yourself? You could rent a small place here in town. Your share of the house lease could cover most of your living expenses.” Dellina studied her sister. “I’m not pushing, I’m offering.”
    “Remember, I took a loan against the trust, and it’s really helped me,” Fayrene said. “I’m making a payment every month, paying back principal and interest.”
    “I’ve thought about, but I’m not sure.” Ana Raquel sighed. “I have so many ideas. I love the idea of street food, but starting my own thing is scary.” She smiled at them. “Not that you two haven’t already done it.”
    “Being your own boss is a trip,” Dellina said. “I was hired by Clay Stryker to plan his wedding, then fired by his bride-to-be, who informed me she doesn’t want a big wedding.”
    Fayrene shook her head. “It’s been what? Nine months since they got together? They need a plan.”
    “They’ll come up with one,” Dellina said. “But there are days I think a nice office job would be a whole lot easier.”
    “Not many,” Fayrene told her.
    Dellina grinned. “That’s true.”
    Ana Raquel drew in a breath. “Let me get some numbers together. Maybe I could get a loan and use some of the trust fund money. That way I still have some put away for an emergency.”
    Because they’d all learned that life was nothing if not uncertain.
    Fayrene took a bite of the curried chicken and moaned.