Read A Family Affair: Spring: Truth in Lies, Book 2 for Free Online

it that way, but why would she after being married to a bastard like Nick Desantro? I didn’t like hearing you and Nate got married. That’s a powder keg waiting to explode if you ask me, which nobody did.”
    “We love each other and we are not our parents.”
    He studied her long and hard, in a way that made her wish she were hidden in his garden and away from his scrutiny. “Love has nothing to do with it. It’s commitment and toughness when your world shatters around you. It’s losing babies and jobs and hope. It’s sickness and pain, and disillusionment and broken dreams.” He leaned forward until he was inches from her face. “Do you and Nate have that Because if you’re gonna survive, you’ll need it. He already sent one wife packing. You might be number two.”
    “If you think that, Mr. Benito, then you have clearly underestimated me. I’m going to make this marriage work, and I don’t care what you think.” She stood and grabbed her handbag. “I mean you no disrespect, but you don’t know me. Nate said you’re The Godfather of this town and I needed your approval to get people to trust me with their money. Well, you know what? You’ve already made up your mind about me, so let’s not pretend whatever I do won’t be overshadowed by your issues with my father. Good-bye and thank you for your time.” She’d made it to the third step with the intent of rounding the house when Angelo Benito’s laugh reached her: full-bodied, loud, pleased. Christine swung around and faced him. “I wasn’t trying to be humorous.”
    He stood and held out a hand, motioning her back. “Nobody but my Lucy ever gave me lip like that.” He laughed again. “She would have liked you. Maybe you will be good for Nate. Strong-willed, like him. Like me and Lucy. Come on, sit down, and we’ll agree to disagree about your father.”
    Christine made her way back up the steps and sat in the rocking chair she’d vacated moments before. Angelo pointed to the garden in front of him. It was a 12x15 raised bed surrounded by small wire fencing with random tin pans dangling from the top of the fence and strips of white cloth. Inside the fence were several rows of what appeared to be tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers. She would not have been able to identify any of these vegetables if she and Lily hadn’t spent last summer planting their own garden. Lily had taught her the names of each plant, helped water and weed, and eventually harvest the bounty.
    “Chicken wire and tin pans are a gardener’s secret weapon. Yup.” Angelo scratched his head and squinted at the garden. “No four-legged creature’s gonna steal Pop’s tomatoes. You ever grow anything, Christine?”
    Yes, I grow personal portfolio s; can I show you what I can do? “Um, last year Lily and I planted a garden.”
    “Lily.” He said her name with great affection. “She’ll teach you a thing or two if you open up and pay attention.”
    “I know.” Lily had taught her about forgiveness, hope, and unconditional love, but the first time she’d met her half-sister, Christine had seen nothing but a Down Syndrome child.
    He switched the subject back to gardening. “I used to tend a football-field-size patch of land. And then those dang ladies of The Bleeding Heart Society cornered me and wouldn’t let me go until I agreed to help them out.”
    “That’s the perennial garden club Miriam told me about.” Miriam had given her an earful, starting and finishing with how the members were in everybody’s business, offering suggestions on problems related and unrelated to gardening, whether the advice was solicited or not.
    The dark eyes grew wide behind the giant glasses. “Miriam told you about them?” His thin lips pulled into a smile. “Was it a warning to stay away? She’s never been keen on that group, says they’re busybodies, which they are, but in a concerned way.” He rocked back and forth, considered his next words. “Or maybe they have too much