The Glass Kitchen Read Online Free PDF Page B

or something?”
    Olivia laughed out loud.
    “No,” Portia said. “We’re not squatters. I live here.”
    The girl studied them, as if trying to get her head around anyone living in this run-down apartment. “But you weren’t here yesterday.”
    “I moved in last night.”
    Cordelia scowled. “I still can’t believe you moved here. You should have kept staying with me.”
    When Portia first arrived in New York, she had gone straight to Cordelia, not sure what to do about the apartment. But as with so many things with Portia, she had woken up yesterday morning knowing what she had to do. Next thing she knew, she made the call to the lawyer, then moved in here.
    “And the rest of you are, what … friends?” the girl asked.
    “Sisters.”
    “You must be Gabriel Kane’s child,” Cordelia said.
    “You know my dad?”
    “Olivia and I sold our apartments to your father.”
    The girl wasn’t paying attention. She eyed the food.
    Cordelia shifted into mother mode. “Are you hungry?”
    “Starving. The new housekeeper-slash-cook made dinner, but it was really weird, like scary weird, and seriously, who wants to eat scary food?”
    “Have a seat.” Cordelia retrieved a plate as if it were her own home and loaded it with food. Just before she set it down at the extra place setting, she froze.
    Her eyes narrowed, and her mouth pinched. Portia hated the battle she sensed going on in her sister. But she didn’t repeat Gram’s words.
    “Some things are true whether you believe them or not.”
    “Sit,” Cordelia finally said, setting down the plate. “Eat, before it gets cold.”

 
    Four
    T HEY SAT BACK DOWN on the stools while Ariel gobbled up her food and Portia, Cordelia, and Olivia stared at her.
    “What?” Ariel said, glancing up through a curtain of wispy bangs, the fork halting halfway to her mouth. “You’ve never seen a girl eat before?”
    Cordelia smiled in the condescendingly maternal way she had perfected by age ten. “Perhaps we’ve never seen a young girl eat so fast.”
    Ariel shrugged, unbothered by the implied reprimand. “Like I said, I’m starved.”
    Cordelia started to speak, but Portia cut her off. “Let her eat in peace, Cord.”
    Olivia laughed. “Yes, eat. Though tell us,” she added, studying the girl, “who all lives in your apartment?”
    Ariel looked confused. “ Who all ? What kind of word is that?”
    “It’s a Texas thing,” Portia clarified. “You know, like y’all for you all. ”
    “I don’t get it. Who adds all to you ?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Olivia interjected, waving the words away. “I just wondered who lives with you upstairs.”
    Olivia said the words casually, but Portia knew better. She knew her sister. Olivia was always interested in the possibility of a new man.
    “Just me, my dad, and Miranda.”
    Olivia scowled. “Miranda?”
    “My sister.”
    “Oh, really.” Olivia’s smile returned, slow, delicious. “So, your dad’s single?”
    “Olivia,” Portia and Cordelia both snapped.
    Cordelia no doubt said that because Olivia was being rude. Portia wanted to think she did it for the same reason, but the truth was that at the mention of the man upstairs, she felt, well, possessive. The thought of Olivia’s lack of inhibition and beautifully sculpted body in relation to Gabriel Kane didn’t sit well—which was ridiculous, since Portia was barely divorced and certainly not interested in Gabriel herself. But there it was.
    “What?” Olivia asked, her tone defensive. “What did I say?”
    Cordelia sighed. “One, it’s inappropriate to ask a man’s child if he’s single.”
    “And two,” Portia picked up the thread, “you only like guys who are…” She hesitated, glanced at Ariel, and then leaned closer. “T-A-K-E-N.”
    Ariel narrowed her eyes.
    Olivia scoffed. “Now who is being inappropriate in front of the K-I-D?”
    “Hello,” Ariel said. “I can S-P-E-L-L.”
    Olivia pushed more food in front of her. “Keep