“I’ll be fine,” Reggie told herself out loud, before turning on the radio. She knew she was over Jake, but she had to admit she was glad she wouldn’t be running into him. The conversation would be awkward, and she also didn’t want anyone thinking she was still missing him.

An hour later, she was willing to admit that anticipation at the thought of going home was outweighing trepidation. She’d been silly to stay gone for so long, she thought. She was too strong to let a man come between her and returning to Wishing Tree.

Her cell phone rang. Reggie pushed a button on her steering wheel to activate the hands-free function.

“Hello?”

“Hey, you. How’s the drive?”

Reggie smiled as she recognized her sister’s voice. “It’s easy. Belle saw a deer and tried to jump out the window, but I convinced her to stay inside.”

“Your windows are open?” Dena asked, sounding surprised. “It’s like twenty-eight degrees here.”

“No, the window’s closed. Belle doesn’t worry about things like windows and walls getting in her way. You know that.”

“That’s my favorite dog niece. Is her suitcase bigger than yours?”

“Kind of, but that’s because she’s more fabulous than me. How are you feeling? Still barfing everywhere?”

Dena sucked in a sharp breath. “I try to not barf everywhere, as you put it. But yes, I’m still sick.”

“Mom said her pregnancies were easy. I’m sorry yours isn’t the same.”

“Me, too. But hopefully in a few weeks the all-day morning sickness will start to ease. I’m also tired a lot. I nearly fell asleep in class yesterday. That’s supposed to pass, too.”

“There’s a lot of passing in pregnancy,” Reggie teased. “I didn’t know that.”

“Me, either, but hey, we’re learning together.”

“I’m excited about the knitting project.” Reggie watched a truck come up close behind and then zoom around her. As she was going exactly four miles over the speed limit, she waved at the guy and wondered if she would see him getting a ticket a few miles up the highway.

“Are you sure you want to take it on?” Dena asked, sounding concerned. “It’s a lot of work. I could—”

“No, you couldn’t,” Reggie said, interrupting her sister. “Dena, you teach full-time, you manage the B and B and you’re pregnant. Don’t you think that’s enough? I’ve read over the material Mom sent, and I’m happy to step in while she’s busy with planning her wedding. Besides, it’ll be fun and my good deed for the holidays. I’ve been practicing with the circular loom I bought. The kids are going to have a great time.”

“Thanks for helping my class.”

“Not a problem.”