Joy reached for her sister’s hand and held it all the way out of town. She knew Donna was hurting for the sons she’d lost and the husband who’d died. She would always be sad for what had been, but in the years to come, maybe she’d find a new normal and a new life among her people again. When one thing dies, a new thing grows in its place. That’s how life works.

* * *

Wade Montgomery made every excuse he could to place himself within Bridgette’s presence at work at least three times a day. He liked her. He always had. He would like to get to know her better, but she didn’t seem to be the least bit interested in him. Oh, she was nice and polite, even friendly. But he didn’t think she was attracted to him at all. He hadn’t yet decided if she just didn’t like him or she was playing hard to get, but there was a possibility that she could very well break his heart.

It was just by chance that he saw a sign for the auction of Marjorie Knox’s estate and pulled it off the bulletin board at the feed store and took it to Bridgette’s office.

Birdie was entering invoices into the computer when Wade knocked, then walked in.

“Hey, Bridgette, is this where you grew up?” Wade asked.

Birdie glanced at what Wade was holding.

“Yes, why?”

“Uh…I didn’t know your mother had passed. I’m really sorry.”

Birdie sighed. She was going to have to stop ignoring him. It was getting too hard to be cool about it, because he distracted her to no end.

“Yes, and thank you. It was very recent…on New Year’s Day.”

“Oh. Wow. So you’re selling the property, house and all?”

“It’s what she wanted,” Birdie said. “There are five of us kids, so whatever we get from the sale will be divided among us. Hunt has been remodeling it. It looks really nice now.”

“Do you think I could take a look at it?” he asked.

“You mean like go inside and really look…as in a prospective-buyer kind of way?” she asked.

“Yes. I’m making Blessings my home. I can’t stay with Uncle Dub forever.”

“Where were you before?” Birdie asked.

“Boston. I moved there straight out of college.”

Birdie frowned. “What did you do there?”

“I was in advertising. I’m good at it. But I’m a southerner at heart, and Boston has too much snow,” Wade said.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked.

He grinned. “No. Do I have to have one to go look at your house?”

“Don’t be a smart-ass,” Birdie said, and wadded up a piece of paper and threw it at him.

He laughed. “If I have to be accompanied by a member of the opposite sex, will you volunteer?”