“And return the ring,” Forey added.

“I don’t think I can,” Kelly said.

“Rip the bandage off. It’ll hurt for a while. Then you’ll start to heal,” Nella said.

“The problem is Mrs. Carl,” Forey said.

Nella grimaced. “That woman dotes on her son. No wonder he’s like he is.”

“Pauly isn’t bad,” Kelly said. “He’s just—”

“He hurt my daughter,” Nella said. “I’d like to roast him over an open flame. I’d like to—”

“Okay!” Forey said. “We get it.” She looked at Kelly. “Just so you know, I agree with your mother, but Paul is in the past. We need to get the truth out in the open so we can start the repairs.”

“Maybe I can get a job in KC or maybe Saint Louis,” Kelly said. “They—”

“No!” Nella and Forey said in unison.

“One of my girls is hell-bent on leaving the country,” Nella said. “I’m not losing both of you.”

“I need a job,” Kelly said. “Vera won’t leave if I have no way to earn money. Our little farm can’t support us. I have to—”

Nella frowned. “Don’t worry about a job. Forey and I are going to start a business.”

Forey barely got her wide-eyed expression under control. She tried to look like she knew what her friend was talking about. “Tell her about it.”

“Cakes,” Nella said. “We’ll sell cakes. And pies.”

“Yes, a bakery. We’ve been looking for a place to open a bakery,” Forey added.

“So you see,” Nella said. “Things will work out. We just need to get started. Get up and take a shower. You’ll feel better. Then put on clean clothes, and we’ll drive you to the clinic.”

All Kelly could do was nod. She headed to the bathroom. Nella and Forey went to the kitchen.

“A bakery!” Forey said. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Maybe, but I had to say something. That woman is going to fire my daughter. I know it! No one in town likes her.”

“But at least Kelly got away from Paul. He’s too strange for her. For any woman. Those dreadful little trees of his.”

Nella sat down on a stool. “Oh, Forey, what am I going to do if I lose both my daughters? Vera is so anxious to get away that I expect to find a note from her. ‘Gone to Africa. See you in a few years. Love, Vera.’”

“Adam won’t let her do that. He’ll...” Forey sat down on the other stool. “I don’t know what Adam will do.”

“He used to be such a reliable young man. As solid as his father.”

“But they fought and...” Forey shrugged.

Nella sighed. “Maybe I shouldn’t depend on my daughters so much. That cherry cake you make is really good.”

“Oh, no! I don’t have time to run a shop.” Forey paused. “I like those apple turnovers you make.”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if we used those little apples from Paul’s orchard? What’s that word he loves?”