“I don’t know,” Tiffany admitted. Rubbing one temple, she leaned back in her chair. “What do you want me to do? Make up with the man? Let bygones be bygones and pretend that he didn’t ignore me for over thirty years?” She shook her head and swirled her glass. Ice cubes and slices of lemon danced in the amber liquid. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound bitter, and in all fairness, John ... he’s been good to the kids and to me lately, ever since his damned heart attack. But I can’t just erase the past.”

“No one’s asking you to.”

“Just to sweep it under the carpet for a while?”

“No way, but maybe ... Well, if you want to, just give him a chance. That’s what I’ve decided to do.”

“You don’t have a mother who uses his picture for a dartboard.” Tiffany’s lips pulled into a tight little knot.

“Nope. My mom married him. Imagine that.” Katie let out a low, disbelieving whistle. The conversation had turned too heavy. Way too heavy. “So what about you and J.D.? When’re you going to tie the knot?”

“Later in the fall, we think, though ... Well, I don’t think I’m ready for all the fuss of a big wedding.”

“But you have to!”

“I’ve been married before.”

“So were Brynnie and John.”

“I know. My point exactly.” Tiffany studied her glass and frowned. “We’ll see. I think we should give it a couple of months.”

“Why wait?” Katie knew she was impetuous to a fault but when two people were so obviously in love with each other it seemed silly to put off the inevitable. Though she tried to ignore it, she was a romantic at heart.

“Actually,” Tiffany admitted, “there’s something I was going to discuss with you, something that has to do with me getting married.”

“What?” Katie asked, unable to contain her enthusiasm.

“Well, J.D.’s dad has finally convinced him that he and I and the kids should move out to the new farm that Santini Brothers is converting into a vineyard and winery.”

“The old Zalinski place.” Katie had already heard the news.