The Bakery Sisters Read Online Free PDF Page A

for the next six or eight years and eventually she would be fine.
    Someone walked into her room. She heard the footsteps and braced herself for the inevitable poking and prodding that followed. Instead, there was only silence. She opened her eyes and saw Wyatt standing next to the bed.
    She felt like crap and figured she didn’t look a whole lot better. At times like this she was grateful they had only ever been friends.
    â€œIt’s going to be a hell of a scar,” he told her.
    â€œGuys are into scars,” she whispered, her mouth dry. “I’ll have to beat them off with a stick. Not that I can ever imagine having the strength to lift a stick. Can I beat them off with a straw? I could handle a straw.”
    â€œI’ll be there to help.”
    â€œLucky me.”
    He touched her cheek, then pulled up a chair and sat down. “How are you feeling?”
    She managed a smile. “That falls under the category of really stupid questions. Did you get the whole concept of surgery? I’ve been sliced and diced and I’m thinking of getting hooked on painkillers.”
    â€œYou won’t like rehab. You’re too cynical.”
    â€œAnd crabby. Don’t forget crabby.” She pointed to the plastic cup on the tray beside her bed. “Could you hand me that?”
    Wyatt picked it up and passed it to her. She took it and risked a sip. The last one had nearly made her throw up but a very mean-looking nurse had informed her she had to start drinking and peeing. Nicole didn’t see the point, but the nurse had been insistent.
    She took a tiny sip and winced as a wave of nausea washed through her. At least it was less intense than the previous one. She sipped again and didn’t feel much of anything. Progress.
    She handed him the water and drew in a breath. “You talk. I’ll listen. But please, don’t be funny. I don’t want to laugh. It will hurt too much.”
    Wyatt leaned forward and took her fingers in his. “I went by the bakery. Everything is fine.”
    â€œGood. They’ll be okay without me. They know how to handle the business. I don’t have to worry about anything.”
    She would worry because it was her nature, but it was nice to know it wasn’t required.
    â€œSo, um, I met someone there.”
    Despite the pain and the drugs, Nicole opened her eyes. There was something about the way Wyatt wouldn’t look at her. Something almost…guilty.
    â€œA woman?”
    He nodded.
    She didn’t understand. What was the big deal? He’d met someone. That was a good thing. “So ask her out.”
    â€œWhat?” He straightened and stared at her. “You’re not—” He leaned toward her again. “I didn’t mean I’d met someone I liked. I met someone I didn’t expect to be there.”
    â€œMaybe it’s the surgery and everything, but you’re not making sense.”
    â€œI met Claire.”
    Claire who? But even as the question formed, she already had the answer. Claire, her sister. Claire, the perfect one, the princess. The concert pianist and soloist. World traveler. Rich bitch. Her selfish, narcissistic, shallow, cruel, awful sister.
    â€œNot possible,” she murmured as her eyes closed. Sleep would be good, she told herself. She would sleep now and this would all go away.
    â€œApparently Jesse called and told her about your surgery and she flew in.”
    Nicole’s eyes opened. “What?”
    â€œShe’s here to help during your recovery.”
    If Nicole hadn’t been so uncomfortable and drugged, she would have laughed. “Help? She wants to help? Where the hell has she been for the past twenty-two years? Where was she while I was stuck here, raising Jesse and working in the bakery? Where was she when our mother went off to be with her and then died? Where was she when Dad died? Does she bother to show up even once? I can’t believe it. She needs