Finally, there were seven envelopes left, and Donna was so blinded by tears that she kept wiping her eyes just to be able to see what was inside.

More cash. A hundred dollars in tens and twenties. Fifty dollars in ones. Two $20 bills.

She was down to two envelopes. One was long. One was small. She opened the long one first and pulled out another $100 bill.

“Lordy be,” Donna sighed, and added it to the pile. Then she opened the last envelope and pulled out a check. She stared at it for a moment, telling herself that she wasn’t reading it right, and then read aloud.

“Pay to the order of Donna Hollis. Ten thousand dollars and no cents.”

It was written on a joint account owned by Duke and Cathy Talbot, and signed by Cathy Talbot. Donna frowned, trying to remember why she knew that name, and then it hit her. This was the woman who rebuilt the Bottoms! And she’d just given Donna the last push she needed to rebuild her life.

She turned around, laid it on the stack with the checks, and then began counting the cash. There was a total of $6,720 in cash. Then she picked up the checks and started counting those amounts. Thirteen thousand one hundred dollars.

“Oh my God. That’s almost twenty thousand dollars right here, and Ruby said she’d already deposited six thousand, and there’s still the silent auction. This will get me home, with money left over.”

Donna’s heart was pounding as she gathered up the cash and divided it between two envelopes. Then she put the checks in another envelope, put all three inside her purse, and stuffed it under her pillow. She was sleeping with this tonight and taking it straight to the bank in the morning.

* * *

Ava’s parents came over late Sunday afternoon and had more stories to share about the potluck in the park. Without even asking, Karen told the both of them that she’d be over in the morning to stay with Ava so Hunt could finish up with Marjorie’s house.

“I appreciate that,” Hunt said.

“She’s my baby, too,” Karen said, and patted Ava’s hand.

Hunt grinned. “Point taken.”

Ava leaned against Hunt’s shoulder. She was listening to them talk and thinking about the time when her parents would be too far away to drop in, and closed her eyes.

She didn’t know when they left, or when Hunt carried her back to bed. And when she woke up later, she showered, put on a nightgown, and crawled back into bed.

“Do you want anything to eat or drink?” Hunt asked.

“No. All I want to do right now is sleep.”

Hunt sat down on the side of the bed. “I think that’s understandable, honey, considering how far away you were when you decided to come home.”

Ava frowned. “I never thought of it that way.”