Her Unlikely Family by Missy Tippens Page B

like me.”
    â€œYour parents expected you to act like a Throckmorton?” His mouth twitched in a near-smile, but he still looked sad.
    She grinned back. “No, I didn’t have to reach such lofty ideals. I only had to be a mere Miller.”
    â€œAh. I see.”
    â€œYou know, you’d probably be surprised at how much your sister and I would have had in common.”
    â€œBut you turned out fine.” He shrugged. “Obviously, she didn’t.”
    â€œSo it’s been about a year since she died?”
    â€œYes.”
    Her curiosity—and intuition—made her ask, “Were there unusual circumstances surrounding her death?”
    â€œBesides driving drunk at ninety miles per hour and careening off the road?” His tone cut off further questioning. It made Josie wonder exactly what had happened. Then again, maybe he’d simply never grieved and didn’t want to face it now.
    She would drop the subject since he seemed so determined. “So, do you want to take Lisa out by yourself tonight?” she asked.
    â€œI had planned on it.” His eyes widened when he finally quit studying the floorboards and noticed Josie brushing her hair. His mother had probably taught him it was all kinds of rude for a woman to brush her hair in front of a man. Josie’s own mother would pitch a fit.
    â€œI’d love a nice quiet evening at home,” Josie said. “But it might not be best for Lisa.”
    â€œIn other words, she’ll probably refuse to go with me.”
    â€œI didn’t say that. Not exactly.” Josie laughed. “Where were you planning to take her?”
    â€œSomewhere nice so we can talk.”
    â€œAs your official adviser…forget it.”
    â€œI’m not taking her to a fast-food joint.”
    â€œA fast-food place would be perfect.” She pointed her hairbrush at him. “Remember, she’s not a client you’re trying to impress.”
    â€œGive me a little credit.”
    Josie pushed her way out of the chair. “Let’s go find Lisa. It’ll just take me a sec to fix my hair.”
    As she fought a stubborn tangle, he nodded toward her head. “It’s a fairly normal color when it’s wet.”
    She stopped mid tug. “You would never say that to anyone else.”
    â€œSince I’ve been here, I’ve surprised myself a few times.”
    She had sensed subtle changes in him already. “Hey, no problem. I think a person should speak his mind.”
    â€œOkay, then. Why’s it pink?”
    That was Lisa’s story to tell. “Let’s just say it was a disastrous adventure.”
    â€œThen why haven’t you gone to a salon to have it corrected?”
    Because that would make a dent in my savings. “I’m cheap.” She shrugged. “And I figure my pink with Lisa’s green brightens up the diner.”
    Â 
    Michael sat in the fast-food restaurant’s indoor play area across from Lisa and Josie. The artificial light turned their hair hideous colors, which did nothing to brighten up this dining establishment.
    And this wasn’t just any establishment. Lisa, who’d insisted Josie come along, had also insisted they drive until they found one that had an indoor playground. They’d passed two perfectly good hamburger places. Now he knew why.
    She’d chosen a table in the massive, echoing chamber on purpose. The decibel level, hitting around one-fifty as a child got his toe stepped on, prohibited any conversation at all.
    So much for starting off with a nice bonding experience.
    Concern swept over him as he watched his niece merely pick at the kid’s meal she’d ordered. She’d eaten about three fries and one bite of cheeseburger. She’d ingested more ketchup than anything else.
    â€œYou need to eat more than that, Lisa,” he hollered.
    â€œI’ll get fat.”
    He nodded toward Josie. “She’s eaten