Quinn had been in some tough and dangerous situations in her life. Flown missions that would make her mother’s carefully styled hair stand on end, and yet this conversation was more exhausting. She needed air. “This conversation is done. I’m going to check on Dad.”
“All right, but think about what I said. Now, I have to pop out to deliver something, but I’ve made a pie for your lunch. You and your father just need to heat it up. I’ll be back soon.”
“I can feed us, Mom.” The woman was exhausting.
“Take the goats their food.” Her mother pulled out a bucket from under the sink, ignoring her words, and handed it to her.
Quinn bolted out the kitchen before her mother could actually book her an appointment for the promised makeover, clutching the bucket.
The house was single-level and sprawling. The walls were white—her mom liked white, as it looked clean, then she could chuck a whole lot of color about the place in the trimmings, as she called them. They had rooms themed with color.
The living area where they watched TV was the green room. Green blinds, green floor rugs and pillows. It was a place Kermit would be happy to live in. She and Matt had called it the sinus infection room when they were teenagers.
Walking down the long wide hall, she passed framed pictures of their lives, starting as babies and on. The one of Quinn smiling when she’d become a fighter pilot made her smile now. That had been one of the proudest moments of her life.
Passing the red-themed office that she and Matt had nicknamed the boudoir, she left the house, stepping onto the wide verandah.
The Harper land went to the right, and a long drive to the left. Her cell phone rang, and she dug it out and looked at the caller ID.
“Hey, Matt.”
“Hey, baby sister. How’s it going back there?”
“Okay.” Quinn walked off the steps and headed for the first shade house. “I’m just heading to feed the goats.”
“So tell me the truth now.”
She loved her big brother, and he loved her. And that was the kicker; he was mom’s number-one child, and yet she couldn’t hate him, because he was just such an awesome guy. He’d flown in especially for every big event in her military career.
“Mom thinks I need a makeover.”
Matt laughed.
“It’s not funny. I’m sure she’s booking me an appointment with her stylist as we speak.”
“You’ll look cute with any haircut, even scalped.”
“Extremely amusing.”
“You know I’m really proud of you, don’t you, Captain Harper? My baby sister is the shit.”
Quinn laughed. “Thanks. Mom’s just spent the last hour telling me I need a husband and children. And if I didn’t love you, I’d hate you because she’s been going on about how important your work is and how I need to come home for Christmas because it would be nice for you.”
Matt swore.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. For Christ’s sake, does she even realize what you’ve achieved? What you do?” She could hear the frustration in his voice.
“I think she does, but she wants grandchildren. Maybe you and Andy could have one, and that would take the pressure off.”
“Not happening yet,” he said firmly. “How’s Dad doing after his fall?”
“Not so good.” She went on to tell her brother what else had been going on.
“And they didn’t tell us?”
“Dad thinks they’re just accidents, and Mom thinks Dad’s mind is going and he needs a checkup.”