“Why not?” Sarah didn’t know if she could face Mary alone—not again. She’d assumed Jake would drive with her.

“I’ve got errands of my own. It’s Christmas Eve.”

“What about you, Carley?” she said, looking hopefully toward her daughter.

“Can’t, Mom, sorry.”

But not nearly sorry enough, Sarah thought. Her family was abandoning her in this hour of need. “Where’s Noelle?” she asked. Surely she could count on Noelle.

“Out,” Carley informed her.

“She’s left already?”

Carley nodded.

Sarah thought she saw Jake wink at Carley. Apparently those two were involved in some sort of conspiracy against her.

At least Jake helped her load up the car, shifting his golf clubs to the back seat, but he disappeared soon afterward. Grumbling under her breath, Sarah drove out to the Women’s Century Club.

Mary’s car was already in the lot when she arrived. So, Mary Sutton was breaking a lifelong habit of tardiness in her eagerness to finish this charity project. For that, Sarah couldn’t blame her. She, too, had reached her limit.

The cold air cut through her winter coat the instant she climbed out of the car. The radio station had mentioned the possibility of an ice storm later in the day. Sarah only hoped it wouldn’t materialize.

“Merry Christmas,” Melody called out as Sarah struggled through the front door, carrying the largest and most awkward of the boxes.

Sarah muttered a reply. Her Christmas Eve was not getting off to a good start.

“Mary’s waiting for you,” Melody told her. “I understand there was a mix-up with the lists. I’m so sorry. It was crazy that morning, wasn’t it?”

Sarah wasn’t fooled by the other woman’s cheerful attitude. Melody Darrington had done her utmost to manipulate the two of them into working on this project together, and Sarah, for one, didn’t take kindly to the interference. It was clear that Mary hadn’t realized anything was amiss, but then Mary Sutton wasn’t the most perceptive person in the world. Still, Sarah wasn’t going to make a federal case of it, on the off-chance that it had all been an innocent mistake as Melody was implying.

Sarah made her way into the meeting room, where Mary had the six baskets set up on a long table, as well as six large boxes, already filled with the makings for Christmas dinner.

“Is that everything you’ve got?” Mary asked, peering into Sarah’s carton. Her tone insinuated that Sarah had contributed less than required.

“Of course not,” she snapped. “I have two more boxes in the car.”

Neither woman leaped up to help her carry them inside, although Melody did make a halfhearted offer when Sarah headed out the front door.

“No thanks—you’ve already done enough,” she said pointedly.

“You’re sure you don’t need the help?” Melody asked.