Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

and wavy. He gave her a half smile, a little surprised, as if he expected her to ignore him. Inez moved in close—protectively. “It’s good to see you as wel , El e. I hear you’re about to get married.â€
    Jackson put his arm around El e’s shoulder and held out his other hand to Frank. “Inez has been working on it for us. Hopeful y you’l be able to come. We’d love to have you. It’s not formal . . .â€
    â€œFormal enough,†Inez said. “I’ve had Sarah send for one of those couture gowns for beach weddings.â€
    Jackson’s eyebrow shot up. “I thought a beach wedding meant bathing suits, Inez.â€
    She sniffed disdainful y. “You know better than that, Jackson Deveau. You wil dress up decently for El e.â€
    He leaned down to whisper in El e’s ear. “I was looking forward to the bikini.â€
    â€œI heard that, young man. I may be old but my ears are sharp.†She cleared her throat and took Frank’s hand. “Frank and I have been talking about getting married ourselves. We’ve known each other for too many years to count and thought we might grow old together, sitting in our rocking chairs on our front porch.â€
    There was something on her face when she looked at Jackson, a need for approval, a hope that he would agree with her. Whatever she was feeling, she wanted something from Jackson. El e understood then, the dynamics of the relationship were more than Jackson helping Inez out with her store, or Inez helping to plan his wedding. They were more like mother and son, or at the very least, a great beloved aunt.
    Jackson’s smile was slow in coming and his eyes drifted speculatively over Frank Warner’s lined face. Fresh out of prison, he seemed an unlikely candidate for Inez to fal in love with, but everyone in the vil age knew she’d stood by the man and visited him regularly in spite of the long distance she’d had to drive to get to the prison.
    â€œWel , Frank, you’re getting the second most wonderful woman in Sea Haven. I hope you appreciate her and always take good care of her.â€
    His chin nuzzled the top of El e’s head, but she could feel a faint tremor running through his body.
    She moved her mind through his. He was worried. He knew how much Inez loved Frank, but he didn’t know Frank Warner, not at al , and it bothered him that Inez was making the decision so quickly.
    Inez doesn’t do quick. She will have thought about this for some time.
    Women in love aren’t rational, baby. Believe me, my mother loved my father and he was the worst kind of man. There was a smal hesitation before he made the confession. I loved him, too, but that doesn’t mean we should have. We both would have been far better off without him. I don’t want that—what my mother had—for Inez.
    Without hesitation El e leaned across the counter and held out her hand to Frank. “Congratulations, I think it’s wonderful.â€
    Frank put his hand in hers and El e closed her fingers around his. For a moment there was only the warmth of human contact and then Frank’s emotions spil ed into El e’s mind—into Jackson’s.
    Jackson felt the impact immediately, the distaste of knowing someone’s private thoughts. Frank was uncomfortable, sitting in the midst of the vil agers’ scrutiny for Inez. He’d always loved her, but felt unworthy of her. He didn’t want others to turn away from her because of him, yet he couldn’t quite bring himself to walk away from her. He felt old and tired and worn, and just wanted peace again—with Inez.
    Jackson became aware of the stabbing pain in El e’s head, and knew she was using her talent too much. She was going to destroy al the work Kate had done. He tugged at her arm to get her to release Frank’s hand.
    â€œLet me know what the two of you need, Inez,†Jackson said.
    Her chin tilted and quivered for a moment before she steadied herself. “We need a couple of people to stand up for us.â€
    Jackson bent to brush a kiss on her cheek. “It would be a privilege, Inez. Name the time and place and we’l be there.â€
    Relief flickered in her eyes and then Inez ran her hand back and forth over Jackson’s beard and clicked her tongue in disapproval. “When are you getting rid of that