Accidental Bride(2)

In less than a minute, Deanna returned to the room, holding her purse.

“What are you doing?” Kelly demanded, knowing immediately what her sister was thinking.

Deanna dug into her wallet and pulled out several bills. “Here,” she said, thrusting them at Kelly. “When you get to Las Vegas, go buy yourself a really nice outfit.”

Kelly backed away, nearly bumping into her dresser. “I don’t want your money.”

“I don’t care if you want it or not. You’re going to take it.”

“I don’t need a new outfit.”

“Yes, you do,” Rose put in. She was usually soft and rather gentle, but she looked just as stubborn as Deanna at the moment. “You never do anything nice for yourself.”

“I do plenty nice. It’s your money. I’m not going to just take it. We’ve taken enough from you and Mitchell as it—”

“You haven’t taken anything, and Mitchell wants you to be happy, just like I do.” Deanna’s little chin was sticking out in a familiar expression that proved she wasn’t going to back down. “Take it. Seriously, Kelly. I’ll be really upset if you don’t. You’ve always done more than your share for this family. You’re always cleaning, or cooking, or hammering down loose boards, or trying to organize all the Beaufort collections—not to mention putting up with Grandmama constantly. I know how hard it must be for you, and you’ve never complained—”

“I haven’t done anything hard—”

“Yes, you have,” Rose interrupted. “You’re always working. You just turned twenty-one, and you deserve to have a little fun. Do it for us, Kelly. Buy yourself a pretty dress. Do something wild and crazy for once in your life.”

Kelly felt incredibly self-conscious. She didn’t like to talk about herself, and she didn’t like being put on the spot like this. She was used to working around the house, and she loved her grandmother and didn’t mind living with her, since her sisters had left home. She didn’t feel like any sort of a martyr or sacrificial lamb.

It was just life. You did what you needed to do for the people you loved. You didn’t need to be paid for it.

The truth was she liked her life. She loved the old Beaufort house, and she could sympathize with her grandmother’s desire to keep all of the old family treasures around her. There was something about the familiarity, the history, that was safe, secure—an unchanging haven in a world that often felt out of control.

But she stared down at the bills Deanna was offering. She did want a new dress. She did want to feel different, special—for at least one evening of her life. And she had no money of her own since the family had always insisted that she not work until she finished college, since the other sisters hadn’t gotten a chance to go to college until recently.

Surely it wouldn’t be so bad to accept the money this once. It wasn’t like Mitchell and Deanna couldn’t afford it. They wouldn’t even miss it.

She took a shaky breath, raising her eyes to Deanna. “Mitchell wouldn’t min—”

“Of course, Mitchell wouldn’t mind. This is money I earned from my beadwork, anyway. I sold a couple of clutches last week. But, either way, the money is ours—not his or mine.”

“I can’t take—”

“Yes, you can.” Evidently getting tired of the argument, Deanna glanced around until she found Kelly’s purse on the desk, and she went over to stuff the bills inside. “There is nothing that would make me happier than making sure you have a good time. When you get to the hotel tomorrow, you can find something in one of the shops. Promise me you’ll buy something pretty and extravagant.”

“Deanna—”

“Promise me.”

Kelly sighed, feeling a swell of affection and gratitude which left her rather shaky, since she never considered herself a particularly emotional person. “Okay. I promise.”

Deanna smiled, and Rose clapped her hands. “As soon as you buy your outfit, put it on and send us both a picture. I wish we could come with you to see in person.”

Kelly couldn’t help but grin. “Okay.”

“And don’t wear those braids,” Deanna added. “Your hair is so gorgeous. Wear it loose for once.”

After starting to object to this, Kelly decided not to even bother. “Okay.”

“And put on a little makeup,” Rose said, showing one of her dimples.

“Okay. Anything else?”

Deanna slid Kelly’s wallet back into her purse, patting it in satisfaction. “And have a couple of drinks. You’re twenty-one now, and you never even went out to celebrate being able to drink legally.”