And then let out a yelp when he nearly ran down Maggie.

“Whoa, sorry!” He steadied himself, steadied her, and only then did he glimpse her sly grin. “Maggie Muir, were you spying on me from the window?”

“It’s not spying when it’s your children.”

“I’m hardly a child.”

“Well, you’re blushing like a schoolboy, so forgive me for being momentarily confused.” She laughed and patted his arm. “Come with me, Neil.”

“I’ve got chores—”

“Melba can wait.” Wasn’t she going to ask him where Sydney was going? Or tease him with the same mercilessness as his sisters?

But no, she only hurried down the hallway, leaving him no recourse but to follow. She led him to her bedroom and ordered him to sit the moment he stepped in. He perched on the edge of her pristinely made bed while she walked to the dresser against one wall and opened the top drawer.

And then she moved to stand in front of him, arm outstretched, and in her hand . . . a jewelry box?

“Take it.”

“Uh, Maggie—”

“Take it and open it.”

He obeyed, grasping the velvet box, thumbing it open and then trying to make sense of what he was seeing inside. Or more so, why he was seeing it.

The ring captured sunbeams from Maggie’s windows, its simple gold band adorned by a large diamond in the center surrounded by tiny sapphires.

“It was my grandmother’s,” Maggie explained. “When she realized Robert and I were serious about getting married, my mother had it cleaned and re-set. Quite the family heirloom, yes? That thing could buy you a new harvester—or at least a used one. Though, I’m afraid I can’t allow you to sell it.”

“You’re going to give it to Indi, aren’t you? She’ll be thrilled, Maggie. I’m not really a judge of jewelry, but I think she’ll love it.”

Maggie laughed and sat beside him. “Not Indi, silly boy. You.”

He snapped it closed. “Uh, you . . . you can’t.”

“Yes, I can. Because I was spying on you out the window, and what’s more, I’ve been watching you for two weeks now and I know a man who’s met his match when I see one.”

“Maggie—”

“Don’t argue with me, son. There’s no use.”

He opened the box again, couldn’t seem to make any one thought stick long enough to speak. He and Sydney hadn’t known each long at all. They hadn’t gone on a date. Hadn’t talked, really talked, yet. He didn’t know how whatever she found out today might affect things . . . what would happen when she left Maine on Sunday . . . what might be going through her head as she drove to Tate Carter’s house right now.

Didn’t know anything other than this wasn’t normal—these feelings, the depth of them. They just weren’t . . . normal.

“I didn’t know what to make of it either, at first, Neil.”

He made himself look at her even though he knew his face must be twisted with confused emotion. “Make of what?”