My Heart's Desire by Jo Goodman Page A

childish behavior gave her pause. Gathering her composure, she turned her attention back to Mary Francis and Michael.
    Mary Francis had just finished enumerating Michael's independent qualities. She was staring hard at the groom. "You know all of that, don't you?"
    "I know it," he said solemnly. "I don't love her in spite of that. I love her because of it."
    Rennie tried to imagine Hollis saying something like that and couldn't. Except for the slight heave of her shoulders, the faint rustle of her dress, her sigh was inaudible. She noticed that Mary Francis seemed to be satisfied by Ethan's response. Her sister's features were calm, her beautiful face serene. She was touching the crucifix that rested against her wide, white collar.
    "Good, because I'll break your kneecaps if you ever hurt my sister."
    "Mary Francis!" Moira admonished, shocked. She cast a significant look at Jay Mac as if to hold him responsible for his daughter's outrageous threat. Jay Mac held up his hands innocently, but his eyes were amused.
    Rennie drew Michael aside as the rest of the family spoke to Ethan. She searched the face that was so much like her own and found every nuance of expression that made it different. Michael's dark green eyes were radiant, illuminated by some deep happiness within her. There was a becoming blush of color on her cheeks, and the normally elusive dimples on either side of her wide mouth were fully evident.
    It was Rennie's mouth that had flattened seriously, her eyes that were dark and worried. "Say the word and I'll take your place," she said.
    Michael laughed, pretending to misunderstand. "With Ethan? Really, Rennie, don't you think he'd know?" She looked down at her abdomen, then back at her sister. "We're not so much alike right now."
    Rennie took her twin's wrists and gave her a little shake. "Don't you dare make light of me. I'm thinking of you and the baby."
    Michael's beatific smile disappeared. "I love you for that. There's no one else like you."
    "That's quite a compliment," she said quietly, "coming from my twin."
    Michael hugged her. "I mean it," she whispered back. "There is no one else like you. I don't want you to do anything that would place you in danger. I couldn't live with that, Rennie." She stepped back and searched her sister's face. Rennie was making a good show of being calm, but Michael knew better than anyone the strength of the anger that was being suppressed. "I'm sorry about your wedding." And lest Rennie misunderstand, Michael added, "Not sorry that you're not marrying Hollis, only sorry that it wasn't your decision. You believe that, don't you?"
    "You know I do." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder to indicate Jarret Sullivan's shadowy presence by the door. "I wish Mary Francis would threaten his kneecaps."
    Michael laughed. "And what about Jay Mac?"
    Rennie's emerald eyes shifted from Michael's face to where her father stood deep in conversation with Ethan and Judge Halsey. She shook her head slowly, her expression torn between admiration and anger. "I'm not one to back down from a challenge," she said. "I'll think of some way to outmaneuver him for the trick he's played me."
    Michael almost felt sorry for her father. "Good for you, Rennie." She squeezed her sister's hands, offering encouragement. "But don't marry Hollis Banks to spite Papa. You'd only be spiting yourself."
    Rennie opened her mouth to reply, but Michael was not letting her get the last word in. Before Rennie could say anything, her twin was moving away, rejoining Ethan, Judge Halsey, and Jay Mac.
    "She's right, you know," Jarret said.
    Rennie jerked in response to the unexpected voice at her ear. Her look was sour and her voice was tart. "If you're going to live in my pockets until Nate Houston is caught, then I suggest you do so quietly and with as little interference as possible. I'll thank you to remember you're no real part of my life, and therefore your opinion is quite unwelcome."
    "You know, ma'am," he drawled,