Redwood Bend

things—like his ability to think rationally about business. He knew he was levelheaded and fair. And while he might have siblings who were assholes and idiots, he was a nice person and good with people. He played to his strengths.
On a night he’d taken Katie and the boys to McDonald’s and afterward to a park to further wear them out, he thought he had it together. As they were pulling through Virgin River on the way to the cabin he asked, “After the boys have gone to bed, can we talk about things?”
“Well, butter my butt and call me biscuit! Only six short nights on my couch and you’re ready to talk about our situation?”
And he laughed.
“I’m not sure I can stay up until after they’re asleep. But I’ll make a compromise—I’ll meet you on the porch after they’re bathed and rooted in front of a movie in the loft. Will that do it for you?”
“That will do it.”
It was hard to stay on track with Miss Funny Bones teasing him, but he was determined. He had come up with what he thought was a fantastic idea. He was sure she’d be relieved.
She brought a couple of steaming cups of tea to the front porch and he noticed, not for the first time, she seemed to be looking better. He was only too aware of her brief fits of nausea, when a smell or something else would trigger a wave of it, but she no longer looked like she’d been ill or starving. It made him feel a rush of pride because although he’d never tell her, that had been his goal—to cook her at least one hearty meal a day and hopefully put back those pounds he’d robbed from her.
He took the cup she offered. He’d never been a tea drinker but this stuff Katie made didn’t gag him. In fact this was one of the ways he always knew Sue Ann was pregnant again—she’d offer them tea. He and Lang would make gagging sounds and go get a beer or a Crown Royal on ice.
Behind them in the house, he could hear the TV in the loft. He obediently sipped his tea. “Are they almost ready to go to bed?” he asked.
“Almost.”
“Katie,” he said. And then he just looked at her. There were times he’d catch a glance and think he’d never seen such a pretty girl in his life. It made him frown slightly as he wondered if she was really that beautiful or just to him. After all, he thought Sue Ann was pretty but Lang was completely hypnotized by her. Well, as it should be. But Dylan had never been in that place before.
“After six nights on my couch, cat’s got your tongue?”
And that mouth—she was relentless. Why did he love that so much?
“I’ve got a few ideas,” he said.
“Well, let’s have it. I can’t wait.”
“Let’s start with that movie I’m supposed to make,” he said. “That could come in handy under the circumstances.”
“Oh?” she asked. “You said the whole idea was to get your charter business and airport on its feet.”
“That was the whole idea, but now there seems to be more on the table. I could use a portion of that movie money for the baby.”
It was as if she came to attention. Her neck straightened a bit, her eyes brightened. “Oh?”
“How about a trust for the…ah…baby. For his education. That sort of thing.”
And as he watched, it seemed she showed first shock and then disappointment. The dusky night was darkening and he wondered if he hadn’t seen quite right. Shouldn’t she be thrilled?
“A trust?” she asked.
“Something put aside to be sure he’s always taken care of, in case something should happen to either of us. You know.”
“Wow.”
He waited for some huge, grateful reaction, but it didn’t come. After a few moments, he said, “It seemed like an even more important reason to make that movie than the company. I thought it would make you happy.”
“That’s really thoughtful.”
“So…why do I get the impression you aren’t too happy?”
“Oh, sorry. Thank you, that’s so generous.”
“Katie!”
“What?”
“What about this idea doesn’t make you happy?”
Her eyelids fluttered closed as she looked down. She put her cup of tea on the porch and reached for his hand. “Let me ask you something, Dylan. Growing up, did you have a lot of half brothers and sisters?”
“You know I did. I told you all that…”
“Was there ever jealousy? Resentment? That kind of thing?”
“All the time.”
“Was it ever directed at you? I mean, you were a child star. Did any of your siblings resent that they were not the stars?”
He took a moment to answer, but not because the answer