“Thursday through Sunday only,” Eric said. “During the season, yeah? I want to spend more time with my family. So we hire a sous chef for the Taproom, and I work from home this summer.”

“Eric has hired a whole new staff,” Jo said with a glowing look at him. “Local kids who can’t afford culinary school. Working at Oak Hill will give them a chance to learn the high-end food business without going into a bunch of debt.”

“That’s . . . Wow. That’s amazing. But here?” I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. “How did you get Aunt Phee to agree?”

“It was her idea. She wants Oak Hill to stay in the family, and she wants me to stay in North Carolina. So she offered us Oak Hill.”

“But where will she live?” I asked.

“She’s moving into the carriage house. At least for now.”

“Aunt Phee is going to live with Dad?”

Jo hesitated. “I think they’re still working that part out.”

“She is in the library with your mother now,” Eric said. “They will be glad to see you.”

“They were arguing about the seating chart for the reception when I left,” Jo said.

“Oh.” Well. I’d come to be helpful, after all. “I’ll go . . . referee.”

Jo grinned. “Better you than me.”

“. . . have a responsibility,” Phee was insisting as I came down the hall.

“Not anymore.” My mother’s voice was flat.

I blinked. Abby March was all about taking responsibility.

“He’s still your husband,” Phee said, and my stomach sank.

They weren’t talking about the wedding. They were arguing about Dad. I pasted a smile on my face and pushed open the door. “Hey, Momma,” I said brightly. “Hi, Aunt Phee. Am I interrupting?”

Phee glowered. She and my mother faced off across the library desk. My mother’s hands and lips were pressed together, a sure sign she was angry. But she smiled when she saw me.

“Hey, sweetie. What are you doing here?”

Like I needed another reason to feel de trop. I felt my smile slipping and dragged it back. “I thought I’d come in early. To help.” I gave Momma a quick hug before going around the desk to kiss Phee’s cheek. The little dog in her lap growled.

“What about your work?” my mother asked.

“Flo’s handling orders while I’m gone. That’s the advantage of owning your own business,” I said. “I can take time off.”

If my mother was impressed by my entrepreneurship, she didn’t show it. “Jo doesn’t want a lot of fuss.”

“I thought I could help with the flowers.”

“Meg ordered the bouquets already.”

“What about table arrangements?”

“I’m picking up flowers when I go to the farmers’ market on Saturday.” Something must have shown in my face, because our mother added, “You could arrange those. You did such a nice job for Meg’s wedding.”

Phee sniffed. “You want to make yourself useful, you can take Polly for a walk.”

“Nice to see you, too, Aunt Phee.”