Erin's Way by Laura Browning Page B

approach them. Was it his imagination, or did Erin shrink even closer toward him.
    “Erin?” Tabby murmured gently, “I’m so happy to see you. This is Joseph, my husband.”
    She looked at both of them, Tabby with her black hair and golden eyes, and Joseph with his blond hair and warm blue eyes. Erin held out her hand to Joseph who smiled warmly and clasped it between his own.
    “Tabby has so looked forward to this,” he spoke in a melodic voice that made Erin’s eyes widen. Her trembling all but disappeared.
    “Sam,” Joseph greeted him. “Good to see you again. I’m sorry we didn’t say hello when you first came in.”
    Tabby and Erin stared at one another. Although Erin was older by three years, it was Tabby who appeared more polished and self-assured, an assessment that would surely amuse Tabby if she heard it. Sam knew enough of Tabby’s background to know her upbringing had been anything but sophisticated. Logically, Erin, with her exposure to living in the nation’s capital, should be the more socially aware. Tabby touched Erin’s arm gently. “Please tell me about yourself. It feels so strange suddenly to have developed such a large family.”
    Erin looked around the room. Sam followed her gaze, trying to see it through her eyes, and realized that the dysfunctional family in which she had grown up had indeed changed. Her father had his arm draped around her mother’s shoulders, Jenny was tucked firmly against Evan, and they all talked and smiled. When she looked back at Tabby again with wide eyes, Sam felt her shrink toward his side even more. “Wh-what have you done to them? What are you?” Erin whispered.
    Sam’s head jerked toward Erin in shock. What in the blue blazes? Before he could call her on being so rude, Tabby responded.
    “I’m your sister.” Her brow wrinkled with concern more than surprise at Erin’s reaction. “And I’m hoping you’ll accept me like Evan and Jenny have.”
    Erin was pressed so hard against Sam’s side, he was certain the seam of her dress had left an imprint on him.
    “Erin!” Sam growled, worrying that she was about ready to bolt.
    “I don’t want to pressure you,” Tabby tried to reassure her. “I grew up as an only child. I used to dream of having brothers and sisters. I have Evan and Jenny, and now you, if you’ll let me. I’d like that.” Tabby held out her hand. “Please.”
    There was a tense moment in which Sam felt the entire room hold its breath. Sam held his breath too, for the instant it took Erin to set her hand, with its finely trembling fingers, into Tabby’s. The infinitesimal pause in the conversation on the other side of the room disappeared, and Stoner laughed at something Jenny related about Peter. If there was an edge of relief in that laughter, no one commented on it.
    Sam felt some of Erin’s tension dissipate, but not all of it. Something was definitely worrying her, but it would take a lot to get her to admit that. He’d have to work on that. Whatever was on her mind had to be the reason she had returned.
    Dinner went well. Erin watched Sam, Joseph, and Tabby all refuse wine with their meal; then she did too. She was so afraid of making any kind of a wrong move, it made Sam’s heart ache.
    After dinner, the conversation turned to colleges. Erin’s expression closed right up. As everyone related their experiences, her discomfort was palpable, at least to Sam. Probably to Tabby too, as tuned in as she always seemed to be to everyone’s feelings.
    Joe, wanting to include Erin in the conversation, innocently asked, “What about you, Erin?”
    “Erin dropped out,” Stoner commented before Erin could say anything. Sam cringed. Stoner had done exactly the wrong thing.
    “I may be the stupid one in this family, Daddy,” Erin snapped, “but I can manage to explain that on my own.”
    “Erin…” Stoner began, but she jumped to her feet and stalked out of the room. She’d had enough. Stoner pursued her, with Jenny and