Dad smiled at me and hugged me into his side. “You’ve been honest with him his whole life about who his father is. Just stick with that and tell him straight out. That kid is smart beyond his years. He can handle it.”

“You make it sound so simple.” This would not be simple. I was already freaking out about the possibility of seeing Luke again.

“Being honest makes things simple,” Dad said with a smile and stood up. “But it won’t be pretty if we’re late to dinner. Let’s head out. Girls, don’t take too long.” He winked at me and Violet, then went over to Dylan’s table, ruffled his hair, kissed his cheek, and headed for the door. He climbed into his police SUV—Dad was the chief in Sweetbriar—and drove off.

“Lily, I have to close up, then we’ll meet you at the house.” Violet finally gave me my baby back with a longing look then headed to the counter.

“Come on, Dylan. Let’s go to Grandma’s. Later, guys!” I called to Finn and Nick.

2

Lily

I knew the exact moment that this place had stopped feeling like home. I had come back for Christmas break right after Luke had broken our engagement and gone back to Afghanistan. That day, I’d looked around and saw nothing but memories of a life I still wanted but could no longer have. After that, every time I came home, I felt that loss. I only saw the ghosts.

The thought of driving all day, then seeing my entire family for a huge family dinner was exhausting. I wanted to go home, take off my bra, eat ice cream, cuddle my kids, then go to bed. But like usual, my mother didn’t listen. It only took about ten minutes to get from Violet’s shop to my parents’ house. But that ten-minute drive was like driving into another world. Out of a small town full of shops and activity and into mountains dotted with pine trees and covered with mist.

“Mommy, it smells clean here. Like the tree thingy hanging in Papa Jed’s car but way better. I think I can smell the sun and the sky here. Can you smell it too?”

“Yeah, baby, I smell it. It smells like home to me.” I had grown distracted by the memories that started to rise in my mind, just like the misty sunshine we were driving up into.

“I can’t wait to see Grandma. She’s making me a chocolate cake. She said she’s going to set the world record for the number of layers. It might reach the ceiling. Don’t tell her I already ate snickerdoodles. I do not want to hear the words ‘Too many sweets will give you a tummy ache.’”