Finding Eva (Highland Creek Series) Read Free

be.”
    “Yeah, I guess so. I know I would want to know if it was my sister. I can’t believe you leave tomorrow. I almost want to go with you.” Gwen frowned. “What am I going to do all summer without you?”
    Eva brushed her off with a flick of the wrist and slung her bag over her shoulder. “It’ll be fine. I’ll call and tell you about it after I get there.”
    “Ok,” she drawled, lips still turned down.
    Eva wanted to laugh at how pitiful she looked but knew Gwen would be pissed off because she hated being laughed at, so she changed the subject instead. “I forgot to ask you with everything going on, how are things with Nick?”
    Gwen swung her feet on the floor, getting up to leave. “Better. We had a long conversation the other day and he has made it a point to be home a couple nights this week before eight. That’s more than I had before, and he said he’ll make an effort to pull himself away from work. I hope with summer vacation that we can find more time to reconnect.” She smiled.
    “I told you that man adores you. I’m glad you guys have tried to make your way back to where you were before.”
    “Fingers crossed…” she mimicked the gesture “…and actually I need to leave with you because Nick said we have a date tonight. I was just stopping in to check on you and tell you to call me anytime. And I mean that.” She pointed her finger at Eva while they walked to the door. “I know that you have dealt with a bunch of shit lately and I wanted you to know I am here if you need me.”
    “Thank you, I’ll probably need it. I am going to tell my parents tonight and leave tomorrow after I get everything squared away here.” Eva hugged Gwen at the door. “You are a great friend. Have fun reconnecting with your husband.”
    “Thanks, girl! See you when you get back!”
     

     
    Eva dragged herself up her parents’ walkway, weary with everything that happened recently. She hadn’t spoken to her parents for the last week and had needed the time to regroup and figure out what to do. The door opened with a jerk mid-knock as Eva and her father stared at each other.
    “Eva! I knew your mom invited you, but we weren’t sure you would come.” He cocked his head as he studied her.
    She squirmed like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “What?”
    “How are you?”
    She rubbed her fingers over her forehead, looking everywhere but her father, hoping to avoid this conversation. “What do you mean?”
    He continued to stare patiently until she looked at him. Hazel eyes stared sympathetically, lips turned up slightly. “You know what I mean. I know that finding out about your mother was a shock, but you stormed out before your mother and I could talk to you. I know I have made some mistakes …” He clenched his jaw and swallowed loudly before continuing, “… but I tried to be a good father. Your stepmother and I only did what we felt was best at the time, whether we agreed with the decision or not.”
    She shook her head forcefully, stepping back for some much needed space. “It was too much of a shock. Maybe I shouldn’t have stormed out like that, but I didn’t want to see you after I knew you lied.” She huffed, feeling her body heat in anger when she considered that he kept her mother’s secret for years.
    He moved closer, putting his hand on her arm as he spoke softly, “I respect that, but there are a lot of things your mother and I need to talk to you about if you would let us tonight. Now is not the best time to get into those things, but after dinner we would love to talk to you.” He continued stroking her arm until he felt her relax underneath his gentle ministrations. Her father hated confrontations, hence the reason he calmed Eva down before they went back to dinner.
    “Ok …” Eva reluctantly agreed, her body still buzzing with left over irritation from the whole situation. She couldn’t do anything about it now, and at least her father threw her a bone by