“Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it?” Katie said nervously, and Bliss suspected they were finally getting down to brass tacks—the real reason for her half-sister’s visit. “You know that Mom sold her portion of this place to Mason, though no money changed hands—the deal hasn’t closed yet. Now Mason’s willing to sell it back to her or John or whoever, which is good, I guess. But the thing is that she did it in the first place behind John’s back. Mom should have talked it over with your dad first, I think. I mean, they’re getting married and all, so why the secrets? If you ask me, when two people decide to tie the knot they should be able to trust each other implicitly, be able to talk over everything. I mean every thing.” She picked at a sliver in the fence rail while Bliss felt sweat collect between her shoulder blades. “Call me a dreamer, but that’s what marriage means to me.”

“I guess it means something different to everyone,” Bliss said, remembering her parents’ union and knowing now that it was based on lies and deception. She took a long swallow from her glass. “Sometimes I wonder if this wedding is ever going to come off.” Her father and Brynnie’s relationship seemed more tenuous as the days passed. Oh, yeah? And what about your relationship, if that’s what you’d call it, with Mason?

Katie took a final swallow of water, tossed the melting cubes onto the grass and handed her glass to Bliss. “Look, I’ve got to run soon. Josh’ll be home in half an hour.” Her eyes darkened with a personal pain Bliss could only attribute to her son.

“You’re worried about him.”

“Him and a lot of things. But, yeah, he’s at the top of the list. Raising a kid—especially a boy his age—alone isn’t exactly a piece of cake.”

“What about his father?”

Katie frowned. “Took off when I got pregnant. Haven’t heard from him since. I decided I could raise my baby alone and I haven’t really had to. Mom’s always helped out.” She studied the horizon, but Bliss suspected she wasn’t observing the mountains or lowering sun, instead she was looking inward, to a private place only she could see. “I don’t talk much about Josh’s father. It’s easier that way, although my curious son has been asking a lot of questions lately.” She lifted a shoulder. “What about you? No kids, I know, but why haven’t you ever married? And don’t tell me you never met the right kind of guy, ’cause I won’t believe it. With your looks, money and connections, my guess is that men—most of them potential ‘right guys’—were flocking all over you.”