20
Bryna silenced her phone for the second time that morning. Celia kept calling her, and Bryna did not want to talk to her. If her own father hadn’t called, why would her stepmother think that she would want to talk to her?
She had thought about calling her father in New Zealand, but he was the parent. Shouldn’t he care enough to call or at least text? He was a modern man. He knew how to use a smartphone, and he had an unlimited international package plan, so he could use his phone anywhere at anytime. Apparently, that time didn’t include calling his daughter on Christmas.
She didn’t want to let that bother her. Not today while she was spending the wonderful day with someone who actually cared for her.
Her eyes cut across the pool to where Jude was swimming laps. His shoulders and bac
