A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"Callie, don't say that. You're not an outsider," Horatio said, clearly taken aback. "We've always been family. Why don't you come back home for Christmas

dinner? Bring Mr. Myers with you."

Callie gave him an apologetic shrug. "Sorry, but my family's right here. My brothers are with me."

"Wherever they are, that's home," she added, her voice warm and sure.

"But it's Christmas Eve," Horatio insisted, his tone almost pleading. "Shouldn't you be with your real brothers?"

Callie just smiled and looped her arm through Quentin's. Quentin was tall, strikingly handsome, and had that unmistakable military air about him. He looked at people with a quiet authority that made them instinctively straighten their backs. "Horatio," Quentin said, his voice steady, "Callie doesn't want to spend Christmas with you all."

"If you really thought of her as family, you wouldn't have made things so hard for her all these years. You all had time to take the imposter daughter shopping for groceries, but not your real sister, isn't that right?"

grabbing

of course we'd have included her. Callie, if you want anything, we'll buy

like he was staking a claim than making an offer, like he was telling Quentin and the others that only the Jewell

Callie. Let us get you whatever you want. We're your brothers. It's only right that we pay for your

can't afford what I want. You should just focus on being Lisette's brothers. You've only ever been able to buy things for

then added with a shrug, "Oh, and if you want

afraid you'll never get

been gone for

on, Callie, it's just a few things from the grocery store. Of course we can afford it." Don't hold a grudge. Family is about blood ties. There's

"So,

faltered, not knowing what

jumped in, "Callie, these are your real brothers.