The love that binds

Former Nashville star Sam Etchason is slowly building a new life in peaceful Lake Mildred. But an unexpected inheritance makes him joint owner of a farmhouse with Kelly Sweet, a country singer driven by her own longtime ambitions.

Kelly is only back in Michigan to settle her grandmother’s estate. She hasn’t expected such a powerful closeness between her and Sam. And now she’s starting to reconnect with the sister she left behind. Everything’s falling into place, until a stunning offer comes her way that threatens to destroy it all. The deal means instant stardom for Kelly, but would cost Sam what he holds most dear…

“You could have catapulted yourself to the top of the charts. So what happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why not? We’ve talked about me.” Kelly watched him. While the light from the dashboard had made Sam handsome, the moonlight brought out something else. “You couldn’t handle being in the spotlight?”

“You don’t know anything.”

No, she didn’t, which was her point. “So explain it to me.”

He looked down at her, opened and closed his mouth as if trying to figure out the words. Then he leaned in and kissed her soundly.

The pressure of his lips on hers made her heart soar, a feeling she hadn’t had in a very long time. She let her eyes close, and she savored the kiss. For now.

Dear Reader,

Life has a way of turning upside down at a moment’s notice. Last year for me was one of those years. I got divorced and fought breast cancer, two things that have a way of shedding perspective on what is important. For me, it was surrounding myself with family and friends as well as rediscovering my passion for books. I also discovered that I had reserves of strength and determination just waiting to be tapped.

In Two-Part Harmony Kelly Sweet experiences a life turned upside down when her grandmother dies. Losing her biggest fan and believer, she suddenly questions who she is and what she wants. As she struggles to find those answers, she discovers a passion for songwriting and reconnects with her sister. Sam Etchason is on the other end of that self-discovery journey. He’s found what he loves to do after he lost everything, but the demons from his past come back to haunt him after Mrs. Sweet’s death. He finds a way of mixing his past with his present to find a strength that was waiting inside him all along.

I hope you enjoy reading this book and going on the journey with Kelly and Sam.

Syndi

Two-Part Harmony

Syndi Powell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SYNDI POWELL started writing stories when she was young and has made it a lifelong pursuit. She’s been reading Harlequin romance novels since she was in her teens and is thrilled to be on the Harlequin team. She loves to connect with readers on Twitter, @syndipowell, or on her Facebook author page, facebook.com/syndipowellauthor.

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Dedicated to my sisters and best friends,

Susan Skrzypczak and Sherrie Hartman.

I remember entire days playing with Barbies, acting out music videos and movies when we were younger. We even created an imaginary brother and made Dad stop the car to let him in. As the oldest sister, I used to think I was the boss, but you were quick to remind me I’m not. Much like my characters remind me that while I think I may be in control, they are the ones who direct the story. I love you both.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

“SHE’S GONE, KEL.”

Despite being in Nashville and more than five hundred miles from Michigan, Kelly Sweet could hear the sound of despair in her sister Megan’s voice. She reached behind her neck and pulled her long blond hair forward, fighting the panic that started to gather there. “What do you mean she’s gone? Who’s gone?” She paused, fear now starting to spread from her belly to her chest. “Grammy?”

“This is her late morning at the bakery, but she didn’t show up at all. I got worried, so I drove home and I found her still sleeping in her bedroom.” Her sister’s voice broke on the other end of the line. “But she wasn’t sleeping. She’s gone.”

Kelly sunk to the edge of her bed, shoving a stack of pillows to the floor. Oh, Grammy. No, no, no. Kelly wiped at the tears streaming down her face. The woman who had raised her and her sister. Her biggest supporter and fan. Her rock, gone. It wasn’t possible. Couldn’t be. She’d lost her grandfather and dad, so now she had to lose her dad’s mother, too? How was that fair? She rubbed the center of her chest, hoping to ease the ache that had lodged there. “How?’

“Doctor thinks it was an aneurysm.” Megs sobbed for a moment. “She said it was probably quick and that she didn’t suffer.”

“It’s how she wanted to go.” Grammy had always said she’d wanted to go to bed one night and not wake up in the morning. Yet that thought brought little comfort now. She was gone, and Kelly hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye. To tell Grammy one more time that she loved her, that she wouldn’t be the woman she was today without her support and encouragement all these years. She put her free hand to her belly and rocked back and forth on the bed.

“I just can’t believe she’s gone.”

Her sister continued to sob on the other end while Kelly tried to think of something comforting to say. But what could she offer that didn’t sound trite even to her own ears? That Grammy was better off? That she wouldn’t suffer anymore? Things like that didn’t matter when Kelly would trade everything she had for just one more minute, one second with her grandmother. “It’s going to be okay.”

Megs sniffed. “I’m meeting with the funeral home director tomorrow. The entire town is going to show up, you know. They all love, loved Grammy.”

Right. Planning the viewing and the funeral would give her something to do amid the chaos that was her heart. Planning would give her focus, a purpose. Decision made, she said, “I’m on my way.”

“What about your job?”

From which she’d been fired and replaced already. Not that she’d told her sister about it for fear that she’d look like a loser. It was temporary. It always was until she found another waitress job to pay the bills while she auditioned and waited for her big break as a country singer. So instead, she evaded. “I’ve got vacation time.” Like for the rest of her life if she didn’t find another singing gig soon. She shook her head as if to shake that idea free from her brain. She would get another one. She always did, if at least for the short term.

There was a pause on the other end. “Thanks. I don’t think I could do this on my own.”

Sure she could. Her sister Megs was the strongest person Kelly knew. While she herself had broken down after their father died when she turned fifteen and their mother abandoned them shortly after, her sister had held her hand and offered tissues. She acted as if she was the older sister, rather than the other way around. Nope. Megs could do this with her eyes closed. “I’m coming home.” Home, although it wasn’t home anymore.

“I can pick you up at the airport.”

“No.” Kelly winced at the harshness, the desperation in her voice. She couldn’t even afford to log on to the airline’s website. “It’s too expensive. I’ll drive up.” She glanced at her digital alarm clock. “I should be there before midnight if I can get packed and leave in the next half hour.”

There was silence on the other end. Kelly checked to make sure her cell phone hadn’t lost the signal. Then Megs sighed. “Let’s meet at the bakery. I’ve got a ton of things to take care of in the meantime.”

Kelly nodded, knowing her sister couldn’t see her. “I’ll see you soon.” She paused, letting the words rattle in her mind before she said them aloud. “I love you, Megs.”

More silence. “Love you, too. Drive safe, huh?”

Kelly hung up the cell phone and glanced around her studio apartment. She had stashed her battered lavender suitcase underneath the bed. After her last gig as a touring backup singer she’d promised herself she wouldn’t bring it back out until she was leaving for her own headline concert.

But death had a way of changing things.

She opened the suitcase then walked to the clothes rack she’d bought for hanging up dresses and tops. Thank goodness she didn’t have many things to pack. A benefit of being a twenty-nine-year-old struggling country singer meant that any money she did have went for necessities: rent, utilities and food. Gas for her truck, when she could afford it.

She thought of the lone five dollar bill in her wallet and sighed. Walking to the freezer in the kitchen, she brought out a chunk of ice and started to melt it under hot water in the sink. Time to get that credit card ready to use.

* * *

SAM ETCHASON PARKED his truck across from the Sweetheart bakery. He got out and slammed the door behind him, looked both ways, then raced across Lincoln Street. The bakery’s unlocked door surprised him, but made it easier for him to enter and find Megs. She was sitting in the darkened front room at one of the tables and was staring at nothing, her chin resting on her fist.

He went over to where she sat and took the chair across from her. He slipped her free hand into his. “I’m so sorry, Megs.”

She looked up at him as if confused to see him there. “Sam, thanks for coming. They won’t fire you, will they?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m my own boss.” He noted how empty the place was, and yet pastries already filled the display cases. He didn’t hear any of the employees moving in the kitchen. “Did you send Tom and Gina home? You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

“My sister Kelly’s on her way. I’ll be fine.”

She didn’t look fine. Her skin so pale. The red-rimmed eyes and swollen nose. He put his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to open today.”

“It’s what Grammy would have done. I managed to get some of the baking finished, but I can’t seem to find the strength to officially open today.” She stared at the silent room then looked back at him. Her face crumpled. “What am I going to do without her?”

He rose from the chair and came to put his arms around her, pulling her in tight. “She was a fine woman. My first friend here in Lake Mildred when I arrived two years ago, you know?” He drew back and studied her watery eyes, wishing he could erase the pain there. “You’re just like her. Compassionate and kind. And you have the need to feed people’s souls as well as their bodies.”

She gave him a soft smile. “You were a good friend to Grammy, Sam. And to me.”

“Well, I think of you like my little sister.” He took his seat, smiling. “People will understand if you don’t open today, Megs. Why don’t you take the day off?”

“I need to be here. In her bakery.” Megs stood and straightened her pink apron with the bakery’s logo printed on the bib. “I wanted to be alone, so I sent the employees home. I couldn’t deal with all their questions. What’ll happen now? What are you going to change? Are we closing for good?” She gave a small shudder. “I hope not. This is all I know.”

He knew there was time for her to deal with those questions later. Sam held up his cell phone. “If you need me, call.”

She hugged him once more. “Thank you, Sam.”

* * *

THE HIGHWAY FELT lonelier as she drove north on I-75 toward Michigan. It was giving her too much time to think, to grieve, to regret. Adelaide Sweet had been a formidable force in Kelly’s life. Her biggest cheerleader and fan. No one could sing as well as Kelly according to Grammy. Never had, never will, she used to say.

Kelly had promised Grammy that she’d pursue her music career until she turned thirty. If Kelly didn’t have her first recording contract by that point, she’d return to Lake Mildred and start a new path. Only three months until her birthday and deadline, and she was returning, anyway.

For now, or for good? Kelly wasn’t sure. If it was up to her, this would be only temporary. She’d go home to Lake Mildred and bury her grandmother. Grieve. And then figure out what to do for the next three months until she blew out those candles.

The town sign welcomed her back before she reached Main Street. No parades or paparazzi. No adoring fans. Just the same sign that had greeted everyone since the town had been established in 1892. Or so it read.

She ignored the angry churning of her belly as she followed the curve into the downtown district. The neon sign for Rick’s Diner didn’t glow, nor did the department store display windows of Roxy’s. The other businesses were shut, and probably had been since nine o’clock that evening. Kelly glanced at the clock on her dashboard. Not even midnight and the small northern Michigan town had rolled up its sidewalks already. Not like Nashville.

She shook her head and turned right at the next street then parked in the lot behind the Sweetheart bakery. Her sister’s car was there, so Megs had to be inside. She got out of her car, walked to the back door of the bakery and tried the door handle. Unlocked, of course.

Okay, so this was a small town, but safety was safety even here.

The aromas of yeast and sugar greeted Kelly as she pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Megan?” she called.

No answer but the soft sounds of singing from the kitchen beyond.

Kelly took a deep breath to steady her nerves and locked the back door. Her sister might be naïve about the people in this town, but experience had taught Kelly that she couldn’t trust anyone.

She found her sister standing at the marble work table, kneading dough with her eyes closed and singing along with whatever song was on her iPod. She looked...peaceful. Content. Like she knew she was right where she was supposed to be. Kelly ignored the sour feeling again in her belly and put her hand on Megs’s shoulder. “Hey.”

Her sister’s eyes flew open, and she jumped back. “Oh. Hi.” She rushed forward and hugged Kelly. “You made it okay.”

“Yep.” When Megs released her, Kelly wiped at the flour that now dusted the front of her jean jacket. “I drove straight here after you called.” Her eyes got hot and wet as she focused on her sister. “Oh, Megs. Grammy’s gone.”

Megs nodded, her lip quivering. “It was quick. She complained last night that she had a headache before she went to bed. I gave her a couple of aspirin, hoping it would help. She never woke up.” Her sister wiped her eyes with the corner of her pink apron. “She looked so peaceful. Like she was ready, you know?”

“At least she’s with Grandpa and Dad now.” Kelly glanced around the kitchen and noticed the pans of cookies, pastries and several loaves of bread. She frowned at the bounty of sweet treats. “You’re not planning on opening the Sweetheart tomorrow, are you?”

Megs looked surprised to see all the baked goods there. “Huh. Guess I got carried away. This is all for the funeral home. I figured people might want a little something sweet.”

Kelly guessed with all the food her sister had baked, people could stuff themselves on dough and sugar for the next week and there would still be leftovers. She pointed toward the lump of kneaded dough on the table top. “More bread?”

Her sister patted the doughy mound. “This? It’s a new recipe I’m trying.” She nudged an old ledger book towards Kelly. “Grammy gave this to me about a week ago. She said they’re family recipes that were handed down to Pop Pop from his mother and generations before him. Grammy called them special. That I’d know when I was ready for them.” Her sister’s eyes were watery as she opened the ledger and located a recipe near the front. “See? Her handwriting says this bread is good to comfort those in their grief.” She shrugged. “I thought, why not? There’s going to be a lot of people who’ll need comforting the next few days.”

Grammy had been a cornerstone of the community for so long that Kelly couldn’t imagine the hole she was going to leave in everyone’s lives. She’d already left one in her own chest, so why not the entire town’s? Kelly paused. “Did you call everybody? Do you need me to do anything?”

“Everybody in town knew as soon as the ambulance arrived at the house. The small town grapevine still works.” Megs gave a deep sigh. “And I called Aunt Lillian’s daughters to let them know, too. Grammy didn’t have much family left. We’re what’s left of her blood.”

Kelly shuddered. Grammy’s sister Lillian had two daughters who had terrorized their dad when he’d been young, if you could believe the stories he’d shared. Being the only child of two bakers, Dad had struggled with a weight issue most of his life. And Lillian’s daughters had never let him forget it. Granted, they were forty years older now. And they had families of their own.

Megs rubbed the back of her neck. “Do you mind if we take a little break? I need to let the dough rise. I can go over with you what we still have to do for the funeral.”

The sisters settled at one of the tables in the front room with a legal-sized notepad and one of the pink pens that advertised the bakery and its phone number. Kelly drew a couple of scribbles then looked up at her sister. “What about Mom? Did you call her yet?”

“Thought I’d leave that up to you. I can’t deal with her right now. Besides, I don’t know where she is at the moment.”

Kelly checked the time. “Last I talked to her, Florida. So it’s probably too late to phone tonight. I’ll call her tomorrow. Think she’ll come up for the funeral?” Megs gave her a nasty look. “You’re probably right. They didn’t exactly see eye to eye on things.”

“Except about Daddy. They both thought he hung the moon.” Megs stared at her dough. “I keep picturing him and Pop Pop waiting for Grammy when she arrived at the pearly gates. Welcoming her home.”

Kelly cleared her throat as tears threatened to clog it, making it difficult to take breathe. “Yeah. Me, too.” She wrote funeral plans at the top of the notepad and underlined the words. “Did Grammy ever talk about what she wanted at her funeral?”

“You know she didn’t like talking about things like that.”

Grammy hadn’t liked talking about anything uncomfortable or unpleasant. Death and what to do for her funeral topped that list. “I thought that maybe in her later years that—”

“Don’t.” Megs claimed the notepad from Kelly. “You don’t get to pretend that you know what she’d been thinking or feeling these days. You weren’t here.”

Ouch, that hurt a little. But she swallowed the bitterness and nodded. “I know. But I’m here now.” She held out the pen to her sister.

“A bit too late, don’t you think?” Her sister snatched the pen and wrote down a few lines, but crossed them out. And then burst into tears.

Kelly rose from her chair and gently put one arm around her sister’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Megs. Shhh, it’s going to be all right.” With her free hand, she stroked her blond hair, so much like her own, if shorter. They were alike even if they didn’t always admit it. “We can do this together.”

Megs buried her face, crying into Kelly’s jacket sleeve. “I can’t believe she’s gone. I miss her so much already.”

Kelly knelt and pulled her sister into her arms. Maybe Megs wasn’t as strong as she’d thought. She put her cheek on her sister’s head and cooed softly to her. “I know. I miss her, too.”

They clung to each other until the sobs subsided. Megs got up and retrieved a box of tissues. She held out the box, and Kelly took one and wiped at her eyes, then Megs returned to her seat and clutched several tissues in case she should need one again.

“Since you knew her best, I’ll go along with whatever you want,” Kelly told her.

Megs smiled. “She’d want you to sing, you know? Her favorite song.”

“Of course.”

Her sister wrote that down on the notepad. “I know people we can ask to be her pallbearers. Rick, Sam, some of our other regulars.” She wrote their names then looked up at Kelly. “Are you hungry? I didn’t think to ask when you got here.”

“I guess.”

Megs left her alone for a minute and then came back with a mini chocolate cake as well as two forks. “Grammy always said food was medicine to cure a hurting heart. This is one of her favorite recipes from the ledger.”

With an endorsement like that, Kelly couldn’t refuse. The dessert looked fabulous. Dark chocolate enrobed the tiny cake, and when she took a forkful, it revealed four layers of chocolate cake divided by three layers of pink raspberry mousse. Kelly placed the fork in her mouth and closed her eyes at the taste. It was rich, smooth and enticing. She chewed and let the flavors play on her tongue. The sweet chocolate, the tangy raspberry. “Oh my. Now that’s a cake.”

Megs watched her, eyebrows raised. “That good?”

“It’s better than good. What do you call it?”

“Grammy called it True Love’s Torte.”

Kelly took another bite. “Always the romantic. Probably believed you’d meet your soul mate within a day of eating it, huh?”

Megs nodded, and they both smiled faintly. The idea of Kelly meeting her soul mate in Lake Mildred was as likely as meeting the person who would make her dreams of a singing contract come true. She shook her head and took another bite of the cake. But it would be just like Grammy to make both of those things happen even from the grave.

They silently ate the cake, remembering the woman they both loved.

CHAPTER TWO

KELLY OPENED ONE eye then another and peered around the bedroom. Purple exploded from every corner, and it took her a moment to realize where she was.

She turned over and looked into the face of Mr. Wiggles, a worn teddy bear who had been her first friend when she was a child. Had she gone back in time? She sat up and fingered the crocheted afghan that lay over her, a gift from Grammy after her father had died. Yes, she’d been transported to being fifteen once again. She snuggled under the covers and brought the edge of the blanket to her nose and sniffed. It smelled faintly of, well, of Grammy.

She wiped her eyes with the afghan. She had to get through the day somehow. Had to be strong. Had to keep moving forward, not just for herself and Megs, but for Grammy. She could almost hear her grandmother whispering, “You can do it.”

If only Grammy really knew.

Her cell phone on the nightstand beside the bed started to buzz and sing a country song. She stopped the alarm, then sat up and swung her legs off the bed. She thought about finding her old bathrobe, to cover up the nightshirt she’d put on before climbing into bed, but figured there wasn’t anything she had that her sister hadn’t seen before. She opened her old bedroom door and sniffed appreciatively at the scent of coffee climbing up the stairs.

As Kelly stepped into the kitchen, the coffeemaker gurgled its last gasps. She took a deep breath and walked to it, but froze when a man beat her to it. She jumped back and grabbed the toaster to defend herself if she had to. He was taller than her, but then it didn’t take much to tower over her own five foot two. And he was built, as in construction-guy built. The back of his flannel shirt strained across his shoulders. He turned and gave her a nod, then poured himself a mug of coffee. “Good morning.”

“That’s all you have to say after breaking into my grandmother’s home?” She raised the toaster higher, ready to take whatever action would be necessary to defend herself and her sister. It might have helped if she’d unplugged it first, so she reached over to do so. She’d taken a self-defense class years ago, and the advice that had been drilled into her repeated in her mind now, just in case she needed it.

He raised one dark eyebrow over his gray green eyes. “I didn’t break in.”

“Are you saying you used a key?” The man was delusional. Hot, yes, but definitely certifiable.

“Yes. Mine.” He dug into his front jean pocket and brought out a silver key ring with a familiar gold key hanging from it.

Grammy was giving out keys to strange men? She’d obviously missed a lot being gone all this time. He leaned on the counter, watching her as she put the toaster down. But she kept her eye on him as she poured her own cup of coffee and added cream and sugar to it. He grimaced. She looked down at the creamy color. “Problem?”

“Good coffee doesn’t need all that stuff. And this is good.” He saluted her with his mug.

She rolled her eyes and sipped from her mug. Steps behind her alerted her that Megs had joined them. “Oh, good. You’ve met,” her sister said.

She glared at Megs. “Who is this guy? He let himself in with his own key.”

Megs put a tea bag into a mug and poured water into it before putting it in the microwave and pressing a few buttons. “Grammy told you she was having work done on the house. This is Sam.”

The way Grammy had spoken about him, she’d think he walked on water as he fixed things at the bakery and at home and had maybe even repaired her grieving heart. She’d mentioned that this Sam was good looking, but Kelly had expected older. Much older. Like Grammy’s age. And her grandmother hadn’t mentioned the muscles. Or those gray-green eyes that reminded her of a river with sun sparkling off the surface. Or the smile that sent shivers down her spine. “Sam the Saint? You don’t look like you’re in your seventies.”

He smiled at that. “Maybe because I’m not.”

“Grammy said she had a new man in her life. But I didn’t expect someone so...” Gorgeous. Mouth-watering. “Young.” She put her mug down. “You’re not what I expected.”

“I could say the same about you, Kelly.” He finished his coffee then placed his mug in the kitchen sink and ran water in the cup. “It’s been fun, but I’ve got to get to the job site early.” He nodded at Kelly, then pointed at Megs. “You’ll let me know about tomorrow?”

Megs agreed and retrieved her steaming mug from the microwave. “I’ll know more tonight. Dinner at Rick’s tonight, say seven?”

“You bet.” He winked at Kelly. “Nice to meet you.”

Of all the nerve. And if he didn’t make her stomach flop, she would swear she was coming down with the flu. She turned to her sister. “Does he come over every morning?” She narrowed her eyes. “Is there something going on with you two?”

Megs shook her head and walked to the refrigerator. She pulled out a carton of eggs and a tub of butter. “Sam is just a friend. And he lives in the apartment above the garage. When he runs out of coffee there, he comes over and uses Grammy’s. It’s no big deal.”

Kelly took a seat and watched her sister crack eggs into a bowl and whisk them together. Next, her sister got out a frying pan and melted butter in it over the stove before pouring the beaten eggs into it. She retrieved a loaf of homemade sourdough and cut thick slices, then dropped them in the toaster, which she plugged back in.

“Seems like a big deal if you and Grammy couldn’t tell me that he was living here,” Kelly said. Her mouth watered as the eggs cooked golden yellow. “By the way Grammy talked about him, I thought she was half in love with him.”

“Maybe she was. In a grandmotherly way.” Megs took down two plates and brought them to the stove. “Sam is a great guy. Not that you gave him much of a chance this morning.”

“He startled me.”

“Mm-hmm.” Megs placed a piece of toast on the plate then spooned the cooked eggs over it. She put another pat of butter on top, then handed it to Kelly. “Can we discuss this while we eat? I’m starving.”

Kelly normally didn’t eat breakfast but her stomach growled loudly at the sight of the eggs and toast. “Grammy made this for us the first night after Mom left.”

“I know.” Megs took a seat on a stool at the kitchen island. “Seemed appropriate.”

Kelly took a seat across from her. She picked up her fork then laid it back down next to her plate. “I don’t know what to do without her.”

“I don’t, either.”

* * *

SAM STEERED HIS pickup truck into the driveway and followed the curve until he had almost reached the lake. His potential client hadn’t arrived yet, so he got out of the vehicle and walked to the truck bed and got out his red tool box.

He took a deep breath, reveling in the scent of pine and water. When he’d first arrived in Lake Mildred, he hadn’t expected to find this sense of home. He assumed he’d take on a few well-paying jobs then move on to the next town, always searching for something.

Home.

And he thought he might be able to find it here in this sleepy lakeside town. A big part of that had been Adelaide Sweet, and he swallowed at the lump in his throat the reminder brought. Come on, Addy. What am I going to do?

Memories of Addy brought the image to mind of meeting her granddaughter that morning. Her worn nightshirt with a cat on it, plus the long blond hair in braids and huge blue eyes gave her an air of innocence. The way she threatened him with a toaster only added to his impression of her. Petite and cute, she was also strong, independent. Definitely a young woman raised by Addy. But something remained, which he couldn’t put his finger on, that made him want to get to know her a lot better.

The appearance of a silver pickup truck in the driveway broke Sam from his thoughts. The truck pulled up and parked behind his. He shielded his eyes then waved at Rick Allyn, the mayor and hopefully his next, future client. Rick hopped out of the pickup and approached him. “I got stuck in a budget meeting.” He made a face, and Sam squelched a grin.

The men shook hands then strolled down to the dock. Sam sighed and put his tool box down. He tugged the small notebook out of his back pocket and nub of a pencil. “I had a look at the supports, and they’re still good. It seems to be the boards on top here that are causing problems.”

Sam crouched and peered at the rotting boards of the dock. He could remove the old ones, replace them with solid planks and then treat them so that they’d last for years. He mentally calculated the cost of the materials. He stood and made some notes on his pad. “It’ll take me about a week to do the work, and I can get started on the job in a day or two.”

Rick nodded. “And the price?”

Sam gave him a figure to which the mayor whistled.

“More than I’d hoped, but still it’s half of what another company quoted me.”

So he had competition for the job? Not that he expected less from a man who ran the town with a fair, but frugal hand, despite his dislike of budget meetings. Sam shifted his weight on his feet. “I can guarantee my work. I’ll give you references if you need them.”

Rick held up one hand. “You forget that I’ve seen your work at the Stones’ house. I’m convinced. You’ve got the job.”

They shook hands to seal the deal. Sam made more notes. “I’ll get the contract and itemized materials list to you by the end of the day.” He looked up at Rick as they walked back to their trucks. “Megs mentioned that you and I are pallbearers tomorrow for the funeral.”

“It’s my honor.” Rick stopped at his truck and rested a foot on the back tire. “It’s a real blow to the town. Mrs. Sweet was the cornerstone to a lot of charities besides providing all the pastries and desserts for town celebrations. She’ll be missed.”

Sam nodded, but couldn’t say anything. He’d breezed into town over two years ago, looking for a job and a place to stay. Mrs. Sweet had opened up her home to him as well as introduced him to people who had brought work his way. She had encouraged him to find his dreams when he’d been ready to walk away.

She’d given him the kick in the behind when he’d needed it, too. Said the words he hadn’t wanted to hear, but ought to understand.

What was he going to do now? He cleared his throat. “An amazing woman. One of a kind.”

“Megs said they’re meeting with Gene this morning at the funeral home.”

He knew they would make the right decisions for Addy. She’d had a lot of love and pride in her granddaughters, but he’d seen little of Kelly to know if Addy’s belief in her granddaughter had been warranted. She’d spoken often of her amazing voice and how she was trying to pursue her singing career in Nashville. He knew firsthand what that could cost. He hoped she’d returned home before it had changed her.

The fear in her eyes this morning when she’d discovered him in the kitchen told him that it might be too late. He realized that was the difference between the sisters. Megs trusted everyone while it seemed her sister was wary of them.

Sam took a deep breath. “I need to get moving to the next job.” He held out a hand to Rick who shook it. “I look forward to restoring the dock.”

“Not as much as I do. Maybe my wife will finally scratch it off my honey do list.”

Although it sounded like a complaint, the twinkle in the mayor’s eye told Sam that he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, that he enjoyed it.

Sam took his leave. He wouldn’t mind having a woman in his life that put that kind of twinkle in his own eye. But he needed to focus on work instead of the absence of one woman and the appearance of another.

* * *

“JUST COME WITH US. It’s only dinner.”

Megs tried to hand Kelly her jean jacket, but she refused. “I’m not hungry. I’ll stay here.”

Megs folded her arms across her chest. “And mope and feel sorry for yourself? You’ve done enough of that already today.”

That wasn’t what Kelly had been feeling. She had missed her grandmother so much that the ache in her belly didn’t make food appealing. “I’ll be spending enough time with people over the next few days. I want to be left alone for a while. Is that too much to ask?”

Her sister opened her mouth, as if to say something, but shook her head. She tossed Kelly her jacket. “Fine. I’ll be back later. Call me if you want me to bring anything home for you.”

“I’ll be all right.” Kelly walked Megs to the door and glanced at Sam who sat in his pickup, staring at them. “You’re sure you two aren’t an item? He seems awfully attentive and concerned about you.”

“It’s called friendship.” Megs walked out the front door and down the steps to the truck and got in on the passenger side. Kelly held up her hand before Sam put the truck in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

Kelly shut the front door and leaned against it. Closing her eyes she listened to the night sounds of the house. The tick of the grandfather clock in the living room. The hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. She lingered for another moment, and trailed her fingers along the smooth wooden banister as she stole up the stairs to her old bedroom. Once there, she flopped on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

Grammy. The deep blue eyes that twinkled as she spoke of her life with Pop Pop. The white hair that she kept long and pinned on top of her head. Her tiny body wearing T-shirts and jeans underneath a pink apron with ruffles and pockets. She had often smelled of honey.

Grammy had grown up in Lake Mildred, and her own father had built the house she’d lived in until now. She’d married Pop Pop right before he shipped out to the Pacific during World War II and waited for him to return. Once Pop Pop was stateside, they tried for over a decade to have a child. She’d told the girls that their father had been a miracle baby because Grammy had given up hoping when she found herself finally pregnant. As much as she loved the bakery, she loved her son more and doted on him. When he died, a light dimmed inside Grammy, though she kept telling the girls that she was fine. Kelly remembered the look on her face each holiday as she stared at the empty chairs around the table.

And now hers would stay vacant, too.

Kelly flipped over onto her belly and sank her head into the pillow. She gave in to the despair she’d felt all day and sobbed.

Then there was a hand on her back. She shrieked as she found Sam sitting on the bed next to her. His voice was low, meant to be comforting. “I don’t mean to keep startling you.”

She propped herself up on one elbow and observed him. He looked as if he’d showered and changed since their meeting that morning. She could smell the faint but enticing traces of soap coming from him. “What do you want?”

His serious green eyes bore into hers. “You need to come to dinner with us.”

She shook her head. Didn’t they get the hint? “No. I already told Megs that I’m not hungry.”

“It’s not about the food. It’s not even about you, although I get it that you’re hurting, too. It’s about being there for your sister, who won’t insist that you come with us, even though it’s killing her not to.” He eyed her from head to toe. “She needs you right now. And if that means you paste a smile on that pretty face and pretend that going out to dinner with us is the best idea you’ve ever heard, then you do it.”

He thought she was pretty? She squelched the pride that compliment rose in her chest. “You’re wrong. She doesn’t need me.”

He shook his head. “The woman she loved like a mother is gone, and no one can ever replace her. But you’re a close second. So go wash your face and meet me downstairs in five minutes. And do it because you love your sister enough to be there for her. Understood?”

He made it sound so easy. But what did he know about losing the woman who had meant the world to her? He had been friends with her grandmother, sure. But Grammy had been her everything.

Just like she’d been for Megs.

Her refusal to go to dinner started to sound hollow in her ears now. Maybe she should go. Her sister appeared to be doing well, but what if she was as messed up as she was? What if the carefully constructed outside only covered up the grief and turmoil on the inside? She glared at him. “I may not have been around lately, but I love Megs.”

He picked up her jacket from where she’d hung it over the back of her desk chair. “Prove it by coming to dinner with us.”

She looked at the jacket, then snatched it from his hand. She stood. She thrust her arms into the sleeves. “Why does it matter to you, anyway?”

“Because I loved Addy, too. And tonight I want to be around people who loved her as much, if not more. I want to hear stories about her and remember the good times. I didn’t get enough of them, and I want to hear your memories.” Sam took a deep breath as she buttoned the jacket, then grabbed her purse. “Thank you.”

“I’m coming to dinner for Megs, not you.” She pulled her hair out from underneath the jacket.

“At least you’re coming.”

She followed him down the stairs and to the pickup truck. Megs sat staring out the passenger side window. When she saw Kelly joining them, she scooted towards the center of the seat. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

Kelly glanced at Sam’s figure as he walked around the truck and got in on the driver’s side. “Changed my mind.”

She kept her gaze fixed on the passing landscape as they drove the five miles from the countryside into town. Sam parallel parked the truck on Main Street, then hurried around to give a hand down to both of them. They strode down the street to the diner and entered. The overwhelming scent of grease in the air made Kelly’s knees buckle and wish she had more of an appetite. Instead, she followed Sam and Megs to a back booth and squeezed in next to her sister.

A waitress brought them menus, but Sam and Megs laid theirs aside. Obviously they knew what they wanted while she had no clue. A salad? Probably should, but it didn’t appeal to her. A burger? She remembered that Rick made the best, but she wrinkled her nose at the idea. She thought of Grammy and the dinners that she used to make for them when she was growing up. Grammy’s roast chicken with stuffing had been her favorite hands down, although her meatloaf was a close second. And real mashed potatoes.

She sighed. Comfort food wouldn’t heal her hurting heart, but it wouldn’t harm it, either. She skipped to the dinner section and settled on her choice. Meals ordered, Kelly sipped her ice water and tried to think of something to talk about. She glanced at Sam briefly, then settled her gaze on Megs. “Is anyone else feeling lost, or is it just me?”

Megs tried to smile. “I was thinking the same thing. We brought Grammy here every Tuesday night for their all you can eat spaghetti and meatball special.” Megs’s eyes misted. “Doesn’t seem right that she’s not here to tell the waitress to keep those plates coming.”

Sam chuckled. “Or that the shaker of parmesan cheese better be on the table before the spaghetti arrived. And the garlic bread—”

“Better be fresh.” Megs nodded and smiled. Her voice quavered. “She’s really missing out.”

Kelly tried to smile in return, but she felt at a distance from the conversation, like usual. With Grammy and Megs, she’d felt as if she was intruding on their cozy group of two. They were more alike than Kelly was and her grandmother, and she’d felt like an outsider watching a family, rather than being a part of it. And now Sam and Megs had a routine they followed, and she felt as if she had intruded on that, as well. She played with the wrapper from her straw, and wished Grammy could be here, too.

Sam cleared his throat and glanced her way. “I wish you could have been a part of it. We had some good times.”

Right. Times she hadn’t been a part of. Could never be now. Instead, she’d chosen to pursue a dream.

She’d left for Nashville the morning after her twenty-first birthday with a kiss from Grammy, five hundred bucks in her pocket and a promise that she’d make it big. But after years of rejection, she’d wanted to give up. So many times, she’d been close to packing her bags and heading home. But a call from Grammy would convince her to stay. Her grandmother believed in her, in her talent. And she hadn’t wanted Kelly to give up on it. She shrugged. “I have my own memories of Grammy.”

She sat back as the waitress set down their salads and the parmesan cheese. Megs picked up the cheese and stared at it. Her sister looked across the table at Sam and they shared a smile, then she bowed her head and cried. Kelly put her arm around her sister and rubbed her shoulder. Maybe coming here hadn’t been a great idea.

Megs leaned into Kelly and took several breaths. “Thank you for coming out with us. I don’t think I can get through these next few days without you.”

Again, Kelly was struck with how little her sister could see her own strength. “It’s me who can’t get through this alone. I’m sorry I didn’t come home sooner.”

“Grammy would have packed your bags and sent you back to Nashville if you’d tried.” Megs sat up straighter and wiped her eyes with her paper napkin. “She really believed in you. She was determined that you make it as a singer.”

“I was just as determined.” Kelly glanced over at Sam as she picked up her fork. “And I guess I should thank you for insisting that I come tonight.”

Sam didn’t say anything as he speared a piece of tomato. Instead, he chewed and gave her a wink.

She attributed the flip in her belly to the food, rather than the man sitting across from her.

* * *

SAM STOOD AT the diner’s cash register and paid for their meals, then turned and watched the sisters as they gathered their jackets and purses. He thanked their waitress and gave her a tip, then walked to the front of the diner and waited. Megs reached him first, but Kelly lingered behind. Glancing around the diner, seeing something in her mind that he could tell was related to Addy. The sadness in her eyes threatened to spill over on to her cheeks, so he approached her and put his arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay, kid.”

She looked up at him and sniffed, but nodded. On Main Street she glanced over at the department store. “What time does Roxy’s close? I need a couple of things.”

Why did any emotion bring out the shopping urge in some women? He gave a nod. “We have about a half hour.”

Megs wrinkled her nose. “You two go ahead. I’ll wait in the truck.”

Sam used the key fob to unlock the door. He watched as Megs walked to the truck, but followed Kelly into the store. Bright lights and the scent of heavy perfume assaulted him. Kelly headed off to the right, and he trailed behind her as she approached the women’s section. She frowned. “It’s years since I’ve been in here. I have no idea where anything is anymore.”

Not that he frequented Roxy’s that often, but he knew the basic layout. “What are you looking for?”

“Grammy always said a lady wears panty hose with a dress, and I don’t have any.”

“Ah.” He had no clue where they were kept since he didn’t shop in that section. “We could ask someone.”

Kelly shook her head and moved on. He stayed behind her, noting how she kept her head up and her back straight. Addy had trained her well as she appeared confident and strong. Only he’d guess the inner mayhem she felt.

She found the right section, and he stood in the aisle as she flipped through her different choices. She peered up at him once. “I’m sorry that I almost attacked you with a toaster this morning.”

“I think I would have been able to defend myself.”

She looked him over slowly, and for a moment he hoped that she approved. “I’m sure you would have.” She returned her gaze to the panty hose and pulled one out a package, turning it over to scan the back. “Got it.” She pulled out a second to go with the first, then brushed past him toward the cash registers.

Again, he followed her, noting how petite and fit she was. He could probably lift her without a struggle. Not that he had plans to do so, but still he wondered. What would she feel like in his arms?

The cashier rang up Kelly’s purchase as she pawed through her purse. When the cashier told her the total, Kelly sighed. “Never mind. I left my wallet on my dresser back at Grammy’s.”

Sam pulled out the wallet from his back pocket. “I got this.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. You already paid for dinner.”

He handed the cashier a twenty-dollar bill. “It’s no big deal. You can pay me back at the house.”

“That’s not the point. I don’t need you to save me.”

He put the change in his wallet then handed the plastic bag with the panty hose inside to Kelly. “Just say thank you, and we can go.”

She thrust the bag back at him. “I pay my own way.”

“Don’t make a big deal out of this. You’ll pay me back.” Didn’t she have anyone in her life down in Nashville who looked out for her? By her reaction, he doubted it. And that was a shame because Kelly looked like a woman he wanted to help and protect. The fact that he wanted to volunteer for the position made him pause. Something to think about later. To lighten the mood, he leaned down and nudged her shoulder with his. “Besides, I know where you live, remember.”

She snatched the bag from his hand, but stood still, staring at him. He considered that he might have to pick her up after all and carry her out to the truck if she didn’t start moving soon. She swallowed several times, and then gave a nod. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She turned on her heel and started walking quickly to the front of the store. He had to lengthen his stride to keep up with her.

CHAPTER THREE

PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. NO matter which direction Kelly faced at the funeral home visitation the following evening, there were more people. Long-time customers. Friends. Grammy’s fellow business owners. Kelly’s cheeks felt as if they were going to crack if she had to keep the smile pasted on one more minute and thank another person for coming.

What she wanted was to be alone. To close all the doors and just sit in her own grief, not deal with everyone else’s. She glanced over at Megs who stood next to her in a white silk blouse and black woolen skirt. She seemed so composed. Looked so serene. How did she do it? She glanced at Megs’s black ballerina flats. Must be the shoes.

She wiggled her toes in the heels she was wearing and turned to the next woman in the receiving line, Aunt Lillian’s daughter Beth. Short like all of the women in Grammy’s family had been, a black wool dress swallowed her, and the matching black hat obscured her face. “You girls sure have grown up.”

Kelly wasn’t sure how to answer that. Thanks? Yes, it’s called time passing? Instead, she gave the woman a dry kiss on her papery thin cheek. “Good to see you, Beth. It’s been a long time.”

She sniffed and looked her over from head to toe then eyed Megs. “You’re all that’s left of my aunt. I expect you to stay in touch.”

Megs leaned down and gave the woman a quick hug and pat on the shoulder. “Yes, ma’am. Is your sister Amy here?”

“She’ll arrive in time for the funeral tomorrow.” Beth glanced around the funeral home. “I’m glad to see everyone paying tribute to Aunt Addy. You both did a fine job planning this.”

And with that she moved on with a regal air of dismissal. Kelly whispered in Megs’s ear, “I feel like curtsying and kissing her hand when we’re around her.”

Megs squelched a smile by coughing into her fist. “Be nice. She’s the only family we have left now.”

“You’re all the family I need.” Kelly reached over and squeezed her hand. “No matter what, I’m going to be here for you.”

“Even if you’re in Nashville?”

Kelly didn’t want to think about that just yet. It was nice being home for now. To get to know her sister better and make some decisions about her future.

But she didn’t say any of that.

Instead, she tried a smile yet found it difficult to keep it in place. “Especially then.”

Folks continued to join the receiving line, so Kelly shook hands with the next person who stepped forward. The young woman looked as if life had chewed her up a bit, but she was still standing. “Your grandmother was an amazing woman. She always made sure to drop off extra bread to my house. There were nights when that’s all we had to eat. God bless her.”

The woman moved toward Megs, and they embraced. Her sister gave the woman a smile. “It will be all right, Shelley. You know I can’t stop baking at one or two loaves.”

Kelly turned to the next person, a man who held a fedora in his hands. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Shame about Addy. She was one fine woman.”

“Thank you.”

Megs took one of the man’s hands in her own. “She thought the world of you, too, Walt.”

“The bakery is business as usual?” he asked.

Megs nodded. “I’ll make sure to deliver your order myself. You don’t need to worry.”

When Walt left, Kelly leaned closer to Megs. “These people are worried they won’t get their bread and cookies?”

“It’s more than that. You wouldn’t understand. They’re checking to make sure I’m going to honor Grammy’s promises.” Megs greeted the next visitor and hugged the tiny woman. “Eva, you’re looking splendid.”

“Cancer can’t beat me. And I’m gonna be a grandma again. Can you believe it’s almost time for Suzy to have that baby?” The woman wore a huge grin that even death couldn’t dim. She turned to Kelly and said, “Addy always swore the best thing she ever did was raise you two girls.”

Kelly nodded and bit her lip to keep from crying again. The fact that Grammy had taken in two teenagers after their father died and their mother ran off had changed her life forever. Again, the loss of her grandmother shook the foundation of Kelly’s world. She’d told her reflection over and over that morning that she could get through the visitation without crying, but it seemed as if she was growing closer to breaking that promise. “We couldn’t have asked for a better parent.”

“They don’t make them better than Adelaide Sweet.” The woman reached up and kissed Kelly on both cheeks then did the same to Megs before moving across the room toward the casket.

Kelly addressed her sister. “And that was?”

“Eva Stone. If you’re in town for much longer, you’ll get to know her. She works with as many charities as Grammy used to. And we’re making the cake for her daughter-in-law’s baby shower this Sunday.” Megs groaned softly and massaged the back of her neck. “How many more people do you think are coming today?”

Kelly scanned the room and guessed that almost the entire town must be there. After paying their respects to Addy, people moved in small groups to the table in the back where Megs had placed all the baked goods she’d made. But every time Kelly thought they had seen the last visitor, two more would walk in. She looked up at the door as Sam entered the room. His presence suddenly made her feel lighter inside.

He made a beeline to the sisters and gave a hug to Megs then nodded at Kelly. “Quite a turn out. Addy must be mad as all get-out to be missing it.”

“Something tells me she isn’t.” Megs wrapped her arms around her waist and took a deep breath. “And this is the easy part. I can’t even imagine the funeral.” Her sister glanced around the room, then at the two of them. “I need some air.”

Kelly nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

Kelly took a step back at the vehemence in her sister’s voice. She shrugged. “Fine. I’ll stay and greet anyone that comes in.”

She watched as Megs nodded but ran out of the room. Frowning, she spoke to Sam. “Every time I think we’re making headway, she runs. I can’t seem to get her to open up to me.”

“Do you blame her?” Sam kept his gaze on the door Megs had disappeared through. “You’ve been gone so much that you’re practically a stranger to her. She doesn’t know you. Not anymore.”

Kelly’s frown deepened. “You think you know so much about me, but you have no idea.”

“You’re right. I’m sure I don’t.” He peered at her closely, then shrugged. “Neither does your sister. So why don’t you give her some time?” He reached up and adjusted his tie that was already lying perfectly. “Unless you’re planning on leaving right away again.”

Leave for what? She needed this time to figure things out. “I don’t have anything to go back to right now. I thought everything I had left was here, but maybe I was wrong. I don’t have anything at all if I don’t have my sister.” She hung her head and closed her eyes at the sting in them. Breathe in, breathe out.

She felt a hand on her back and knew it was Sam. Assured, solid, she put her arms around his neck and clung to him. “Hey, you do have Megs even if it isn’t exactly what you expected.” He paused, but kept moving his hand in slow circles between her shoulder blades. “I don’t mean to be so hard on you for this, but you’re not alone. And I’ll be there for you, too, if you want.”

But what was Sam? A neighbor? A friend? She let him hold her, not wanting to think about it too closely. Borrowing some of his strength, she used it to push her emotions down. She couldn’t cry here. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop. And she had to be strong. For Grammy. For Megs.

For herself.

* * *

SAM SHIFTED THE woman in his arms. Kelly tried to come across as tough, but he suspected that maybe it was a front. That she wanted to keep up a tough exterior so no one could get too close. That she let him hold her surprised even him. The fact that she felt so good there in his arms awakened feelings he would have to figure out later. This was Kelly. Addy’s granddaughter. He should consider her off limits.

She let go of him, and he led Kelly over to a sofa and sat next to her. He grabbed a box of tissues from the table beside them, pulled one out and offered it to her. She took it, but worried it in her hands rather than dabbing her eyes. He glanced at the door, hoping to see Megs returning to them. He didn’t know what to say to Kelly. He didn’t know her. Not like her sister, who had become like family. He nudged her shoulder. “Do you want a glass of water?”

She stared at the tissue in her hand and shook her head, the blond strands of her hair catching on the silver necklace around her slender neck. She pulled her hair behind her with one hand and let the strands fall down her back in a golden waterfall. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t look good.”

She lifted her eyes to stare at him. “You’re not supposed to say that to a crying woman.”

“Well, I never claimed to be good with women, especially crying ones.” He put his arm around her. “I want to help you feel better.”

“You’re not doing a good job of that right now.” She wiped at the smudges of black under her eyes and gave a low laugh that sounded false. And bitter. “You don’t understand. Grammy was more than just a mother figure to me. She was my biggest fan.” She hiccupped, and the next words came out soft. “My only fan.”

“She believed in you.”

A nod. “But she believed in everybody. She always said—” Her voice broke, but she managed to continue, “She said that everyone had a talent, but only the lucky ones found their passion.” She gazed up at him, and he longed to wipe the pain away from those deep blue eyes. “Do you think that’s true? Do you have a passion?”

If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be in Michigan using the skills he’d learned from his grandfather Sam. Thankfully his grandfather had taught him how to build things, use his hands, even fix up houses that were diamonds in the rough. Without that, he’d have been stuck following his dad’s dream of stardom for him. He smiled. “I do.”

“Singing means everything to Grammy. And to me, but I don’t know.” Her gaze drifted over his shoulder.

He turned and found Megs back in the room. Kelly moved an inch away from him as her sister approached them. He held up the tissue box to Megs. “Are you okay?”

Megs gave them a weak smile. “I know we’re supposed to stay for another half hour, but I gotta go somewhere other than here.” She put her hand on Kelly’s shoulder. “You can come with me, unless you’d rather stay.”

Kelly didn’t hesitate as she stood. “Take me with you.”

They both turned and looked at Sam. He shook his head. “Wouldn’t want to come between you two girls. Besides, I’ll make sure everything gets taken care of here before they close for the night. You want me to take the leftover pastries to your place?”

“Mark from the shelter said he’d bring them home to his guys. I left bakery boxes to pack everything in.” Megs slipped her arm around his waist for a brief hug. “Thank you, Sam. You’ve been amazing.”

He shrugged and ducked his head. “What are friends for? Get some rest tonight. I’ll come over in the morning to drive you both to the church.”

He faced Kelly. Did he hug her? Shake her hand? He still didn’t know what their connection was just yet. She made the decision for him and gave him a nod before turning and following her sister out of the funeral home.

* * *

JUST BEFORE THEY reached Grammy’s farmhouse, Megs made a left turn down a dirt road. Kelly shifted to look at her sister. “Where are we going?”

Megs kept her gaze straight ahead. “I can’t go back to that house. Not yet.” She slowed the car, steering farther to the left, then stopped in the middle of a clearing surrounded by pine trees and switched the ignition off. She left the headlights on and got out.

Kelly shook her head as she watched Megs stare out into the darkness. What in the world had gotten into her sister? She’d driven them into the middle of nowhere to do what?

Kelly got out of the car and leaned on the door frame while watching her sister follow the beams from the headlights down a dirt path to the edge of the water. “You brought us to Miller’s Pond?”

Megs didn’t answer but kicked off her flats and unbuttoned her blouse. She tossed the shirt aside and started to unzip her skirt and step out of it. She turned back to look at Kelly. “You coming or not?”

Had grief finally driven her sister off the deep end? “It’s October and barely sixty degrees out, and you’re going to go swimming? Do you know what Grammy would say?”

“To stop being foolish and get back in the car.” Megs turned back to stare at the dark watery depths. “And that’s exactly why I’m going to go in.”

Who was this woman and what had she done with her sister? “You’re crazy.”

“Yep.” Megs took a deep breath and dove headfirst into the pond.

Kelly shrieked and left the car. In the moonlight, she searched the edge of the bank and found her sister floating on her back. She shook her head and muttered under her breath about grief making people, who were normally sane, stark raving mad. But she took off her shoes and pulled the dress over her head. “You’re nuts. Absolutely bonkers.”

She walked the few feet to the edge of the pond and dipped her toe in the water. And quickly snatched it back out. “It’s freezing.”

“Just come in already.”

Kelly closed her eyes and cautiously went forward until she was waist deep in very cold water. The shock from the low temperature made her teeth chatter and goose bumps rise on her skin. She took a deep breath and dropped under the water. In for a penny.

She sputtered as she stood and broke the water’s surface. “This is insane. Why are we doing this again?”

Megs turned onto her belly and swam slowly toward Kelly. “Because we needed something to wake us up.”

“Becoming an ice cube works.”

“You won’t feel as cold if you only keep your head above water.”

Kelly crouched down, but didn’t feel any warmer. “I never figured you to do something like this. I thought I was the reckless one. The one who did things first and thought about the consequences later.”

Megs swam a circle around her. “Maybe I do stuff like this all the time. How would you know?”

Her little sister a rebel? Please. She’d done exactly as Grammy had told her since they’d moved into the farmhouse as teenagers. Kelly was the one who disobeyed the rules, pushed the limits. Megs kept her head down and her nose clean. Kelly peered at her sister, wishing she could see better in the dark. “Do you really go swimming like this all the time?”

Megs rose and walked out of the pond. She gathered her clothes and shoes then headed to the car. “I didn’t eat anything at the funeral home, and I’m starving. Let’s go home.”

About time. She would morph into a popsicle if they stayed in that pond any longer.

Back at the farmhouse, they each took hot showers then put on flannel pajamas and thick bathrobes and slippers before reconvening in the kitchen. Casseroles and salads dropped off by well-meaning friends filled the refrigerator, so they set the containers on the island and ate with their fingers while perched on stools.

She couldn’t remember being so hungry before. But like Megs said, Kelly hadn’t eaten since breakfast, either. And she’d been afraid that anything she ate at the funeral home would get stuck in her throat. She took a green bean from the three-bean salad and popped it into her mouth. She watched Megs as her sister chewed before having a sip of water. “So what was that out there at the pond?”

Her sister shrugged and concentrated on her plate of cheesy potatoes. “Needed to do something different.” Megs looked up and pointed at Kelly. “Ready for your solo tomorrow?”

Nice way to change the topic. “I think I know the words. We sang the song often enough in church as kids. And you’re switching subjects. Why?”

“Don’t like the focus on me. Never did.” She pushed her plate away from her, then patted her belly. “If I eat any more, I’m going to have a coronary. Sally put enough cheese in there to clog my arteries four times over.”

“That’s what makes them so good.” Kelly helped herself to some potatoes from Megan’s plate. “I can’t believe how much food there is. You won’t have to cook for a month.”

“It’s Lake Mildred. It’s what we do when someone dies. Feed the family that’s left.” She started to cover dishes and put things away. “But then maybe you’ve been gone so long that you’ve forgotten.”

“You won’t let that go, will you?”

Megs looked up from replacing the plastic wrap over the chicken and noodle casserole. “I guess I’m wondering how long you’re planning on staying this time?”

The big question. “I don’t know.”

Megs pursed her lips but didn’t say anything. She shoved the food back into the refrigerator, letting the plates and pans clink louder than necessary. Kelly left her stool and handed her sister the remaining bowl of salad. “What do you want me to say, Megs? That I’m moving back for good? Because we both know that would be a lie.”

Megs slammed shut the refrigerator door and glared at her. “What is so wrong with this place that you always have to leave? Why couldn’t you stay?”

“Why couldn’t you leave?”

They stared at each other for a moment, then Megs closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m going to bed. You can clean up the rest of the kitchen.” Her sister walked out, not looking back at her.

Kelly took their dirty plates to the sink and washed them by hand before putting them in the wooden rack that always sat out on the counter. Then she found a dishcloth and wiped down the counters. She snapped off the light and stared out the kitchen window to the backyard. To her left, she heard Sam’s pickup pull into the driveway. She glanced out the side door and saw him get out and run up the stairs to his apartment above the garage.

She couldn’t figure him out. He acted like a big brother to her own sister, but she doubted he felt the same toward her. It was something different. Like he didn’t know what to do with her any more than she did with him. Like when he’d hugged Megs at the funeral home but stood looking at her, waiting for her to handle the situation between them. Was she like a sister? Friend? More? Kelly still wasn’t sure.

The kitchen cleaned, she took the stairs up to her old bedroom, but hesitated when she was standing next to the bed. Over her shoulder, she glimpsed the open doorway. She snatched her pillow and walked down the hall to the closed door of her sister’s bedroom. Knocked once. Twice. Then she opened the door. “Can I sleep in here with you? I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

Her sister didn’t answer out loud, but pulled the covers back on the other side of the queen-size bed. Kelly smiled and crawled in next to Megs. She fluffed her pillow behind her head then brought the quilt up to her chin. Stared at the ceiling. Wondered if her sister had fallen asleep, or if she couldn’t quiet her mind from the memories like herself.

She got her answer when Megs flopped on her back and exhaled through her nose. “You’re thinking too loud.”

“And you’re not?”

She rolled onto her side, facing Kelly. “I can’t believe she’s really gone. I keep waiting to hear her calling me to help her figure out her meds. Or that we’re late getting to the bakery.”

“I keep expecting to see her in her favorite apron. The blue one—”

“With the butterflies. I know.” Megs sighed and fingered the edge of the quilt. “First Pop, then Daddy. Now Grammy. They’re all leaving me. And you will, too.”

Kelly glared at the ceiling. “I’m not leaving. Not right away.”

“But you will, and I’ll be all alone.”

Kelly moved onto her side to face her sister. If anyone was alone, it was her. Megs had a whole community behind her. What did she have? “The town’s in love with you and your pastries. You’re not alone.”

“Doesn’t feel that way.”

Kelly knew what she meant. She squeezed her eyes shut to try to hold back the tears. “Don’t get me started crying.”

“Maybe that’s what you need.”

The first wet drop followed the slope of her nose then down her cheek onto the pillow. Soon another followed just as silent.

Megs shifted onto her back. “Every night, after I gave Grammy her meds, I kissed her and came upstairs. I’d stand at the top of the stairs and yell down, ‘Good night. I love you.’ And she’d answer back, ‘Love you, too, Meggie.’ Tonight, I paused at the top of the stairs, but then realized I’m never going to hear that again.”

The only sound filling the house was the ticking of the grandfather clock downstairs. Suddenly, Megs called out, “Good night, Grammy! We love you!”

Silence answered back. In the dark, Kelly reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. She raised her voice. “Love you always.”

They held each other’s hands and cried until they fell asleep.

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