“Well, I’m sure you’ll work this out. So, how are you going to manage to run the store and write a book?”

Lauren shook her head. “Shouldn’t be too hard considering we’re not all that busy this year—Black Friday was awful—so I’m using that as my baseline for what the rest of the season will be like. I can work here just as easily as I can anyplace else. I went to the cable company yesterday, and I now have access to the Internet at home and here, so that part will be easy. I was supposed to fly out to Seattle this afternoon. Of course, with this storm, my flight was canceled, so here I am.”

Madison drained the last of her tea, placing her cup on the small table beside the old sofa. “Are you heading north after this storm, or do you know?”

“Yes, and I’ll let you in on the details as soon as I have them. Speaking of details, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your making that call to James. He’s given hope to a family, and right now, it seems that’s about all they have.”

“You’re talking about Lee and her daughter?” Madison asked.

Lauren nodded. “I bought a jacket for Charlotte, and took it to Beth Keener’s house, that’s where she’s staying until her mom is . . . better.”

“You mean Beth Simms, the knockout?”

“Said one knockout. You know her?”

Madison rolled her eyes. She was not the least bit vain. “Yes, she was a couple of years ahead of us in high school. Homecoming queen, cheerleader, and I’m pretty sure she was a runner-up in the Miss Carolina pageant back in the day. I always thought she’d move up north and become a famous fashion model or an actress.”

“That explains it. She’s stunning, and so is her daughter, Lacey. She’s super nice; I had tea and cookies with her and the girls. Apparently, Charlotte and her daughter have been BFFs since they were babies, plus there’s another girl, Kiley. They refer to themselves as the Three Musketeers. No matter, Beth is acting as a stand-in parent while Lee’s in the hospital.”

“Then I’m thrilled to have helped out, even in a small way.” Madison got up and put the teakettle back in the microwave. “I have an idea.”

Lauren held out her mug. “Dare I ask what it is?”

“I’m thinking. I know Lee—rather, I used to. She married some guy right out of high school; it didn’t last, as you know, but get this,” Madison said, filling their cups with hot water and fresh tea bags. “She would be perfect for Brent Ludmore.”

Lauren reached for her mug and stopped. “She’s sick, Maddy, like not-sure-if-she’ll-make-it sick!”