“We didn’t know how you would react, darling. You can be quite private.”

I swallowed hard and wiped the crumbs from my mouth, and then my lap. “Okay, well, next time just talk to me.” I held my palms up. “Really. I have nothing to hide.” I turned my palms inward, looking at the crumbs all over my fingers, then quickly grabbed a napkin. “Now, tell me. What was your theory on what was bothering me?”

“It’s nothing,” Izzy said, shaking her head so quickly it almost looked like a shudder.

I was about to interrogate her further but was distracted by a young couple entering the garden from the side gate. They were newlyweds spending a couple of days at the B&B. Neither one had spotted us yet. They only had eyes for each other.

“They are so sweet together,” Izzy mused, a dreamy look coming over her face.

I felt my chest tighten.

They were so sweet together, and so much in love. It was impossible not to see it. It was in every gesture, the way the distance between them closed when they entered a room, the look in their eyes when they said each other’s names, even in the way they held hands. It was precious. Truly precious. I had been in love like that once.

“Ridiculous,” Nora muttered.

I smiled.

We watched the couple in silence for a little while, before Izzy asked, “Don’t you think they’re sweet together, Brynn?”

I shot up in my seat. Wait a minute.

“What?” Izzy asked nervously. “What is it?”

“Did you know those two would be out here? Is that what you really wanted to talk about? Love.” I suddenly realized I was using the same tone to speak about love that Nora had used when she was talking about spring.

Izzy’s hand flew to her chest. “Brynn, do you really think I would be so conniving as to have that sweet young couple involved in some sort of scheme?”

“Hello!” the young man called out to her with a friendly wave. “Did we come at the right time?”

Nora laughed. Actually, it was more of a cackle.

Izzy smiled weakly and called out, “Yes, just in time for the sunset. Lovely, isn’t it?” She sank back into her chair. “Nora is so much better at conniving.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” her sister replied, turning her face to the sun.

“Listen,” I said in a much gentler tone. “I can see what it is you’re trying to do here, and I know you mean well, but you are way off base.”

I watched the newlywed husband lower a branch from our magnolia tree for his wife to see up close. Just as it neared her sightline, I heard Nora whisper something under her breath, and one of the pink buds swirled open, much to the couple’s delight.

When Nora caught me looking at her, she shrugged and rolled her eyes.

“But, darling,” Izzy said, stealing back my attention, “it has been some time now. Isn’t there a part of you that misses it?”