There was that word again. Paula would say that it was an omen to help her realize exactly where she stood with Graham, but how could she control that crazy feeling in her heart every time he was around? So much for the rose quartz stone in Mitzi’s bra.

She arrived at the house and held the door open for Graham as he and Alice carried Paula’s mattress outside. His arm brushed against Mitzi’s on the way through the door, and her pulse jacked up a few notches.

Neighbor, my ass! she thought. I feel more than that, but I’ll just have to get over it.

Harry and Fanny Lou arrived right behind her. Two hours later there wasn’t so much as a dust bunny left in the house. Mitzi had stayed behind to vacuum after everyone else had left. She finished the job and then sat down on the living room floor to catch her breath.

It had been a total whirlwind of a weekend. Last Friday everything had been pretty normal; then Saturday, Jody’s world came crashing down around her; and now here it was Monday, and they’d moved to the shop. Mitzi had never been real good with change, and so much was happening so fast. In another three months, they’d have a baby in the shop, too.

“God, grant me the serenity . . .” She couldn’t remember the rest of the prayer, so she stood up and said, “And all that other stuff.” She carried the vacuum out to the van and headed back into Celeste just as the sun sank over the far horizon and dusk settled on East Texas.

“I can’t believe we got this done in one evening.” Jody was carrying in boxes from her truck when Mitzi arrived at the shop. “We’ve only got a couple more left, and we’ve decided to go to the café for some supper. We should treat all these good folks.”

“You’re right,” Mitzi agreed. “If we’d only had one truck, we’d have been there past midnight tonight and we’d have to go back again tomorrow.”

“I’m starving,” Tabby said as she and Dixie jogged from the back porch. “We’ll be glad to help unpack tomorrow. We’re real good at setting up a kitchen. Aunt Alice taught us how when we moved into our house. Coffee mugs above the pot. Glasses to the right of the sink.”

“See y’all in the house. I’m not going to stand here and talk while I’m holding boxes,” Jody said.

“I’ll open the door for you.” Dixie ran on ahead.

“Thank you girls for offering, and yes, we’d love to have you help with unpacking.” Mitzi stacked one box on top of the other and headed toward the house.