Read Eye on Orion for Free Online

them look great.
    I slouched a bit then shook it off and stood up tall again. I didn't need to disguise my height here.
    â€œI love what you've done to this house.” My mother complimented them. The way she looked at the home reminded me of the way I thought of Jai and Amira. Our home might not be as fancy, and I sure didn't act as polished and beautiful as Amira, but there was nothing wrong with me. I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin.
    â€œThank you,” Delilah said. “It has always been a dream of mine to decorate my own place, and now I finally have a chance.” Her speech sounded more labored, but less formal than Amira's and Jai's.
    I wondered why she'd never been able to do it before. Had her first husband not let her?
    â€œYou’ve done a great job in such a short time,” Mom said. She and Delilah started talking about decorating tips while Dad turned to Marshal.
    â€œWhat do you do for a living, Marshal?”
    â€œI work for a firm in the city, doing diagnostics on their computers. Checking for bugs and problems in their systems. I understand you own the nursery of plants here in town?”
    I tuned them out and looked at Amira. She and Jai stepped forward together and invited me to join them.
    â€œShall we sit down and make ourselves comfortable? Who knows how long they will visit.” She took me by the arm on one side and Jai by the other and led us to our seats. Amira sat near the head of the table. She placed me on her left, and Jai took the seat next to me. I eased into my chair, wondering what to say.
    Jai frowned and looked down at his plate, then took his linen napkin and arranged it on his lap. He looked at me as if he was thinking of something then smiled. That small scar made the smile just a little crooked, causing my heart to flutter. It made his perfect lips more inviting to watch. I wondered how he got the scar.
    â€œDid you have a chance to ask about the meteor shower this weekend?” I tried to focus on his blue-gray eyes instead of his lips.
    â€œYes.” Amira joined in. “I have never done a hot dog roast.”
    â€œNever? You’ve been missing out! How about marshmallows and s’mores?” I asked.
    â€œI am afraid not.”
    â€œHow's that possible?” I asked, remembering the pizza. I looked at Amira and she just shrugged.
    Jai paused for a moment as if thinking how to answer. “Well,” he began. “Her — our father followed a strict diet for his health. We ate the same.”
    There it is again. They don’t have the same father.
    â€œThen we’ll have to make ‘em on the mountain,” I said, trying to sound casual as I thought about his comment. I glanced at Marshal to see if maybe he looked like Jai. That could be the connection; Delilah was Amira's mother, while Marshal was Jai's father. I couldn't see any resemblance between the two men though. There wasn't even a real resemblance between Delilah and Amira.
    â€œSpeaking of meals, it appears our parents have finished their conversations and are ready to begin,” he said when he saw me watching Marshal and Delilah.
    They turned their heads toward Amira at the same time. Amira nodded, and they wrapped up their conversations with my parents and sat down at the table. Why would they look at her before sitting down?
    Marshal offered a short prayer. “We thank Thee for our food, our safety, and our health. Amen.”
    â€œAmen,” everyone chorused.
    The food Delilah brought in from the kitchen smelled incredible. It wasn’t anything like I’d ever eaten at our house. She served a salad course, a soup course, a variety of breads and rolls, and a main dish, telling us all the while to save room for dessert. A few years ago when my uncle Pete got married, we went to the wedding dinner and enjoyed food catered by a five-star restaurant in the high-class hotel where they held the reception. That was the best meal I'd