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have a good week or so before the mulberries will be ripe,
“How’d you know?” She smiled, a slow, sly
are a nightmare.” “Wait, process them?” “Sure. Zee has years’ worth stashed away in small jars. They’re adorable, the jars,
A bright flash of anger went through me. “Does she approve of anyone?” “A few,” Jena said with a smile. “But, Summer, honey, Natalie isn’t
“Seems to me,” Bow said as he went about preheating the ovens, “there’s a whole lot of people around here carrying around a heap of pain tied to the past. Might be time to start letting that go and start healing.”
“Letting go is easier said than done.”
“But sweetie, letting go is the only way you can fly.”
ears as I went for my purse to pay Summer before she left.
dream house
Ecology? Forestry? Something outdoorsy—I can’t imagine having a job in an office all day, all cooped up.”
sometimes all it took to provide a little comfort was to just sit and be with someone else.
Prim and proper. You know which fork goes where at a dinner table. I suspect you have monogrammed clothes, a lot of hats, and were a sorority girl—probably a legacy. I haven’t seen you wear pearls, but I’d bet you own them. You’re loyal and giving and a people pleaser.
you were from Mars.” What he had said was annoyingly on point, right down to the pearls. I didn’t wear them because they
Mostly, I’m not sure who I am anymore.”
lake that day?” I jerked my head to look
kissed Ollie goodbye and left.” My voice caught and I cleared my throat.
“Sometimes people lie to protect the ones they love,”
“It doesn’t. You’re not angry because you don’t know whether he loved you. You’re angry because you loved him and he left you. Healing will only come when you forgive him for leaving you.
I was just contemplating how much damage would be done if I tried jumping onto the pergola.” “To you or the pergola?” “Both,” he said, flashing a smile.
eyes. I’ve seen him a couple of times in Zee’s garden.
Books and TV were some of my closest friends.”
thinking arm’s length might not be far enough away from that alluring gaze of his. “They’ll stare.” “Sure, people might
People around here would rather eat soap than be openly ill-mannered.
costume, in her arms. I looked back at Cam. He saw me watching him and quickly looked away, completely forgetting the chicken as he suddenly fussed with
She’d rather dig her own grave and throw herself in.”
And I’ll be damned if there wasn’t a heart hiding in there after all.”
in her eyes. I hoped to the heavens that Mama wouldn
It was hard to describe what happened to my mother when she sewed. It was as though she were replaced with a woman full of life, of passion, of personality and creativity.
“People like to talk.” “Gossip, you mean.” Smoothing a finger over a scrap of ribbon, I said, “I’m surprised you haven’t realized that means the same as talking around here.”
Grief can change a person to the point where they become someone they don’t know, or even like very much.
It had taken her seeing my pain to understand that help meant health and there was nothing to be embarrassed by in seeking treatment.
“It’s kind of astounding, isn’t it? How one split second can alter so many people’s lives? Dividing our lives into categories of before and after?
The what-ifs keep me up at night sometimes.”
Family was forever. For better or for worse.
It was time to let go. To heal.
shifted to Natalie, then me. She inhaled deeply. “Anna Kate, I don’t know what happened the day your father died. No one
whew
of your child. It didn’t excuse Seelie’s behavior
I had it all wrong, and it’s you who has the hold on Wicklow.” Smiling, I turned, expecting to see Mr. Lazenby at the door. It wasn’t. It was Pebbles. “I’m going to head out,” Gideon said, walking toward the back door. “You don’t want to stay
the back while I opened the front door. Pebbles
Pebbles chuckled, clearly seeing right through me. “I suppose
being able to eat a piece of pie,” Faylene said, then glanced my way. “Don’t be minding him, honey. You go on and keep
of honeysuckle filled my nose. “I don’t know what to do, Anna Kate.” “About what, sweetie?” Sweetie?
you like your personal space. I can respect that. Did you see I put out some water and food for you? It’s on the deck.” I pointed at the bowls. Bow had warned me that I was practically inviting every raccoon and possum within a mile’s radius to stop by, but I hated thinking that this cat hadn’t enough to eat or drink. Especially in this weather.
You all right?” “Hi, Mr. Boyd. I’m fine. How’re
as though he’d been impatiently waiting for me to arrive.
gray ones.” It seemed to me there was a story there, but I didn’t press. My gaze went to where the cat had been, but he was gone. That cat was amazing at quick getaways. I let go of my hair and finally took notice of where
every word and move on with your life?” “Move on to what?” he asked. “I’m eighty-two years old.” “So? Doesn’t mean life is over. Doesn’t mean you couldn’t find someone else to spend the rest of your years with. Maybe Rosemarie is trying to tell you it’s okay to keep on living.” He snorted. “If she wanted to tell
back to take your order.” Mr. Lazenby’s brows were
her with a million questions. “Anyone need a coffee refill?” Hands
“There’s no time limit on trying to fix a mess you made.”
People see things differently through the lens of time.”
