“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away,” Kelly said. “I should have, but I didn’t. I’m very sorry.” Forey gave her a look of sadness, but Kelly’s mother stirred a pot and didn’t look up.

“I have to study,” Kelly said, and went to her room. She flopped down on the bed, textbook open, but she couldn’t concentrate. This is not going to work! she thought. Lies on top of lies. She’d never be able to keep it up.

There was a quick knock on the door and Vera came in. “So what’s going on? Rafe called me and said there was an emergency with you at home. He swore it didn’t deal with blood, but from the look of Mom and Forey, I’m not sure that’s right. What gives?”

Kelly held out her hand.

Vera plopped down on the bed beside her sister and took her hand. “That’s some rock. It would probably feed a whole village.”

“That’s what—” She stopped. She couldn’t say that Adam had said the same thing.

“It’s what?”

“Nothing.”

Vera leaned back against the headboard. “I take it the ring is from Paul.”

“Of course.”

“Kelly, you don’t have to do this.”

“Do what? Get married?”

“Get married, fine, but not to some reclusive, withdrawn guy like Paul. You deserve an actual man.”

“You mean a man like bossy, know-it-all, rules-everyone Adam Hatten?”

Vera chuckled. “I know you’ve never liked him, but he’s better than the vet’s stepson. And is it him or working for Dr. Carl that you want?”

That her sister was so very right was making Kelly angry. “There’s nothing wrong with Pauly. He’s ambitious and wants to make something of himself, and he—”

“With those trees that produce ugly little fruit? I’m all for growing our own food, but at least make it produce enough to actually feed people. But those little things—”

Kelly stood up. “Pauly has a vision. He wants to save what we once had. Why is what you want to do so much better than his goals? Why is your boyfriend fabulous and mine isn’t worth anything? Vera the Great and Kelly the Worthless. Is that how you see us?”

Vera was looking at her with wide eyes. “I didn’t mean anything bad,” she said softly. “I’m just worried that you feel you need to marry Paul so you can stay with Dr. Carl. And so I can leave.”

Kelly nearly choked. But she couldn’t tell Vera what she and Adam planned to do. She sat back down on the bed. “Pauly is quiet and he’s good for me. I didn’t tell anyone about the engagement because...” She couldn’t think of a reason.

“Because people like me would give you hell?”