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Mieka cringed. “I hope you’re kidding.”

Triss was already laughing. “I am. But seriously, go have a shower and put on something nice for your date.”

“How do you know about my date?”

“I know everything that goes on around here.”

“No, you don’t. You didn’t know Nate and I had sex on the night of your wedding.”

“That was a one-off. But also, Nate told me about the date.” Her smile was cheeky. “I’m excited for you.”

“Do you know where we’re going?” Mieka wandered over and grabbed a carrot stick from the bowl Triss was piling them into, and began munching on it.

“I do.”

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“You know I’m not big on surprises.”

“You’ll like this one.”

Munching her carrot, Mieka cocked her hip into the counter and studied her sister’s profile for a moment. Triss was so naturally beautiful with thick dark caramel-colored wavy hair, high cheekbones, a straight nose and long lashes. She was honestly gorgeous. All of Mieka’s sisters were.

“What’s on your mind, Mieks?” Triss asked, not bothering to look at Mieka, but instead continued focusing on her vegetables. She moved onto celery.

“Do you think I’d make a good real estate agent?”

Triss put her knife down and turned to face Mieka. “Where did that come from?”

Shaking her head, Mieka reached for a julienned slice of yellow bell pepper and took a bite. “A friend of mine also didn’t get her contract renewed. Her brother is going to take her on at his real estate firm in Toronto and he said he has a spot for me, too. Joanie and I could work together. Oona might be able to sponsor me, since she’s in Montreal, so not too far away and has her citizenship now. Or I could ask Rayma or Pasha to do it.”

“Is real estate something you’re interested in?” Triss asked, making sure she kept her tone even and void of any kind of judgment. She was also keeping her face extremely neutral. So neutral that it was kind of bugging Mieka.

“I mean, I love all of those shows. Selling Sunset. Selling The O.C. Selling Tampa, Million Dollar Listing. Plus, all the ones on HGTV. The flipping shows. I like it all.”

“Yeah, I like those, too, because it’s fun to imagine and see the luxurious way some people live, but I would never want to become a Realtor and actually deal with those kind of clients and endure that stress. They have to be available to their clients twenty-four-seven. And it’s such a cut-throat industry. No, thanks.”

Mieka shrugged. “I might be really good at it.”

“You are a people person and have a lot of energy.” Triss’s face finally displayed an emotion besides neutrality, and that emotion was sadness. “I’d miss you. I know we haven’t spent a ton of time together since you arrived, but the time we have spent together has been great. It’s made me realize how much I wish I had family closer.” Her hand fell to her belly. “Especially now that my family is growing.”

“Ask Mom and Dad to move here,” Mieka offered, trying not to smile.

Triss snorted. “I’d rather have a lobotomy, thanks.”

They both laughed. A couple of hours was all Mieka and her sisters could handle of their parents. Nobody had really forgiven them for what they’d done to Rayma, abandoning her with Pasha when she was only seventeen and essentially crying out for help. And no matter how much they tried to tell their parents that what they did was wrong, their parents didn’t agree and refused to apologize.

Mieka looped her arm around Triss’s shoulder and leaned the side of her head against her sister’s head. “I know, and I’ve really enjoyed this time with you, too. But I can’t stay here forever.”

“Can’t you?” Triss’s question was full of sincerity and it tugged hard at the strings of Mieka’s heart.

Mieka released her sister’s shoulder and Triss turned to face her. Their eyes met and Triss regarded her with such sadness. Mieka hoped her own look conveyed her appreciation but also her resolute decision that her time on the ranch was temporary. “I need to find my own way. Find my calling.”

“And you think that’s real estate?”

“It could be.”