“I always have been proud of my kids. I told them early on that if they wanted to do something else, other than work in our family business, that was straight on up to them.”

“But all of them chose to stay with the furniture business.”

“They did.” He nodded with a half smile. “Roxie, I am so blessed, I can never be grateful enough.”

“Hard for any of us to be grateful enough.” She looked toward the house. “Oh look, the sun is about to go down.”

“Good, come on.” He took her hand and half pulled her around the house. “We need to see that from the gazebo. Where did Nate and Loren go? We should have a spectacular display tonight, just enough clouds.”

Roxie felt a jolt when he took her hand, which made her eyes grow wide. She’d not felt something like that since—since she had no idea when. What in the world was happening?

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Addy and Ginny are bringing cookies tonight,” Amalia announced. “They’ve been baking up a storm.”

“Good. I know she mentioned she would rather join the daytime group by wintertime.” MJ pawed through her bag to make sure she had everything.

“The fact she is coming at all is due to Addy. We attended the morning group, and Ginny held it together until someone came up at the restaurant and said how sorry they were and that did her in. I know she got teary-eyed at the UFO group but…after the restaurant she swore she wasn’t going out again until, well, she didn’t know when.”

MJ sat back in the easy chair. “So why is she coming tonight?”

“Addy wanted to come, and you know, she’ll do anything she can for those grandkids.” Amalia leaned back in her recliner, the one that fit her body so perfectly, probably because of all the years she had sat in it. She had a magnifying light on a swivel beside it for close-up handiwork, a quilted coaster to protect the old end table and hold her tea, and her quilted bag with other handwork beside the chair.

“So, are you coming?”

Amalia shrugged. “Still up for a vote. Feels good to be home.”

“Will you be going back out there?” MJ asked.

“Possibly, if she wants me to. Perhaps Addy is going to stay with her, not sure yet. But I’m here for tonight for sure.” She sipped from her glass with one hand and held the phone with the other.

“I’ll gladly come get you.”

“I know. Ginny volunteered too.” Amalia looked around her apartment. It seemed small again after having been back in a big house for those days. But still her place felt like home. At least here, she knew where everything was, well mostly. But working out in that glorious yard and garden, in addition to the house, had been such a privilege. “I’ll call you.”