“She’ll be fine. She’s scheduled for an angioplasty later this morning. I’m about to finish up here, then head out to be with her.”

“Glad to hear it. Give her my love, and I’ll swing by later to visit. I’m going to get a coffee. Want anything?”

“No thanks, I’ve already had two this morning. That woman is a coffee master. Not hard to look at either,” he added.

“Violet? Yeah, she’s beautiful, but she’s always been like a big sister to me.”

“She’s married, right?”

I nodded.

“Too bad. Does Lily have any other sisters besides Violet and Rose?” he asked.

“You don’t like Rose? She’s single.” I laughed.

“She’s hot but kind of—” He glanced up at me, then stopped talking with a guilty look.

I laughed. “You won’t offend me, man. Rose is a tough one. She’s a tiny, evil ginger ninja. I grew up with her, and sometimes she scares me. Holly, she’s the youngest sister.”

Liam looked intrigued, and I shook my head. “Nope, don’t even think about it.” I trusted Liam, loved him like a brother. But Holly had been hurt so bad in the past that I felt compelled to warn him off.

He laughed at me. “You just got all big brother. Don’t worry. I was just curious.”

“I’m out. Later, Liam.”

“Good luck.”

10

Lily

I had been a wreck all night, and it was hard to hide my mood this morning. I couldn’t stop obsessing about what I would tell Luke to make him understand that I needed to slow down.

I had to protect Dylan. I hadn’t expected to feel this much turmoil when I came back here. I’d expected to feel some nostalgia, then get over it and live my life. I wanted to be normal. I wanted to go to work, go home, play with my kids, make dinner, go to bed. I didn’t expect to see Luke, and I did not expect to have all these feelings.

Part of me wanted to listen to my heart and dive right in. I wanted to know how he had changed. Every time I got the courage to look in his eyes, I could see the difference in him. He had a new depth in his eyes. Sorrow and loss lived there now. He had been places, seen things that I hadn’t experienced with him. I was afraid of the differences as much as I was compelled by them.

Lately, I had been letting my fears dictate my life, and I needed to stop. But were some fears valid? Luke had left me once; he could do it again. I still didn’t trust him, no matter how much my heart screamed at me to let him in.