Chapter2

The next day, Daniel came by the house.

He was wearing a flannel shirt washed so many times it had faded, and he was carrying an apple pie his aunt had baked, plus a small velvet box.

Everyone out front was busy helping Brooke unwrap her gifts. Nobody said hello to him.

Dad was in the living room having coffee with the Caldwells. Mom was fussing over Brooke while she tried on jewelry. In the end, I was the one who dragged a chair out of the kitchen for him.

Daniel didn't sit. He was looking at the bruise on my wrist.

"What happened here?"

I put my hand behind my back.

"I bumped into something."

He didn't push. He just pulled a tube of ointment out of his pocket and handed it to me.

Brooke wandered over and eyed the velvet box.

"What's in there?"

Daniel opened it. Inside was a silver orchid brooch with a soft, glowing pearl at its center.

"It was my mom's. Before she passed, she said she wanted it to go to my wife someday."

My fingers had barely touched the box when Brooke gasped and said how gorgeous it was.

Mom heard and came right over.

"Brooke's meeting the Caldwell family tomorrow, and she needs something understated to wear. Claire, let her borrow it for a day."

I held on to the box.

"This belonged to Daniel's mother. It's not something you just lend out."

The smile drained off Mom's face.

"She's your sister. It's one day. What's the big deal? Since when are you so selfish?"

Brooke caught her arm, eyes shining with tears.

"Mom, don't make Claire feel bad. I'll just wear something old. The Caldwells won't think less of me over a brooch."

Tyler walked in right then, took one look, and started in on me for giving Brooke attitude again.

Daniel closed the box and stepped in front of me.

"Tyler, this was my mom's. I'd really rather it not get passed around."

Tyler snorted.

"You're not even married yet, and you're already teaching her to turn on her own family?"

Daniel didn't argue. He just put the box back in my hand.

"It's yours. Hang on to it."

Three words. And they made my throat tight.

So the things that belonged to me didn't have to be given away.

That afternoon, Mom called Brooke and me into the living room. She said it was time to divide up our wedding gifts.

First she handed Brooke the deed to the lake cabin. Then Dad passed her a check, and Tyler gave her a whole set of diamond jewelry.

When the case opened, the diamonds were so bright they hurt to look at.

By the time it was my turn, the table was empty.

Tyler hauled the two old quilts in from the garage. Yellowed batting poked out of the chewed corner and drifted onto the floor.

Mom acted like she didn't see it.

"Claire, you're staying in town after the wedding anyway. These two quilts will be perfect for your new place."

I didn't take them.

"Where's the gold bracelet Grandma left me?"

Brooke tugged her sleeve down over her wrist without thinking. But I'd already seen the flash of gold.

Mom explained.

"Brooke's dress is so formal, ordinary jewelry just gets lost against it. I had the jeweler rework the bracelet so she could wear it for now."

I looked at Brooke.

"Do you think it should be yours too?"

She fumbled with the clasp.

"If you want it, just take it."

The second I reached out, Mom put her hand over Brooke's.

"Don't be silly. It's already been sized to her wrist. You think it's going to fit you?"

Tyler pushed my hand away too.

"Brooke's borrowing one piece of jewelry and you're trying to rip it off her arm?"

They went back and forth like that, as if I weren't the one whose grandmother's bracelet had just been taken.

I let my hand drop.

"If family shares everything, then shouldn't half the lake cabin be mine?"

Brooke clutched the deed. Mom slammed her palm on the table.

"How can you compete with your own sister? She's marrying a Caldwell!"

I looked at the same anger on all of their faces, and the last little bit of hope I had flickered out.

When they take my things, it's called family helping each other out.

When I want something of Brooke's, it's called being selfish.