“It’s kind of strange reading about our relatives like this, isn’t it, Mama?” Holly asked. “But I’m glad we got to read that Matilda’s awful husband finally left her. Why did she wait for him to leave, though? Why didn’t she kick his sorry ass—I mean butt—out the door when she found out about him cheating on her? I’m so glad I didn’t live in those days. I couldn’t put up with that.”

“Hypothetical question,” Lily said. “What are you going to do if you’re dating a boy and he’s going behind your back, say with Rose or Ivy, and kissing them when you’re not there?”

Holly snapped her fingers and did her head wiggle. “Goodbye, sucker. Don’t come around me anymore, and then I’d tell whatever friend he was kissing that they weren’t my friend either for doing that behind my back.” Then she got serious. “Was Victoria your friend before”—Holly’s brows drew down in a frown—“you know, before Daddy left?”

“No, she wasn’t, and honey, I didn’t know your dad was seeing her until he packed his things and left.” Lily didn’t ever want her daughter to think that she knew and put up with that kind of behavior. She wanted her to be strong and stand up for herself.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Lily opened the shop on Monday morning, turned on the lights in all three rooms, and then shoved her purse and jacket under the counter. Being there alone for the first time was a little eerie, but Sally had called that morning and said that she was going to an estate sale in Boerne. She wouldn’t be in until noon.

Lily started in the furniture room at the back of the store and made her way to the front, straightening things as she went. She’d just finished the job when the bell above the door jingled and Polly waved at her.

“I brought a thermos of hot coffee and doughnuts,” Polly said.

Lily turned and headed toward the break room. “I’ll get the cups and a roll of paper towels.”

Polly set the thermos and a box with a dozen doughnuts on the counter. Then she took off her coat and scarf, tossed them on the counter, and sat down in a metal chair. “Sally keeps sweet tea and soft drinks in the back room, and she’s got a little hot pot so you can make hot tea or instant coffee, but I can’t stand that instant crap, so when I pop in, I bring my own.”

“Here we go.” Lily brought in two mugs, filled them with coffee, and then opened the lid on the box of doughnuts. She took out one with maple frosting and sat down beside Polly.