“I guess about twenty years,” Melissa said.

Hope’s eyes widened. “Honey! You were so young! Why not?”

Melissa shrugged. “At first it seemed like I would be cheating on Andy. I didn’t want anyone but him, and he was gone. We had planned on moving to Blessings, so I kept to the plan and moved on my own, only to realize I was in a strange place alone, and with people I didn’t know. After that, time just slipped away from me.”

Hope leaned forward. “That was then, and this is now. I’m a person who believes there’s no such thing as a coincidence. I always think it’s a God thing. Like when my sister and I found each other again. If I hadn’t been in that wreck and needed a blood transfusion, the rare blood directory would not have called Mercy. And if she had been living farther away than Savannah, she wouldn’t have arrived in time. Synchronicity. When the universe is perfectly aligned for something special to happen.”

Melissa shrugged. “Never thought of it that way. I do want to talk to him though. Hope I feel better tomorrow.”

“I predict you’re going to be fine,” Hope said. “And don’t let a few bruises stop you. I mean…you’ve both shared part of your childhood, and now a life-threatening experience. It shouldn’t be that hard to share coffee and conversation. Anyway, think about it. Do you want seconds on anything?”

“No. I couldn’t finish all this,” Melissa said.

Hope arched an eyebrow. “Oh, so this means you don’t want any pecan pie?”

“No, that’s not what it means at all,” Melissa said. “It means I was just saving room for pie.”

Hope grinned. “I thought so. Do you want me to make coffee to go with it?”

“Not for me,” Melissa said. “I’ll stick to sweet tea tonight.”

“Me too,” Hope said. “Just keep your seat. I’ll get the dirty dishes off the table and bring dessert. It won’t take but a couple of minutes.”

“You’re the best,” Melissa said.

“Why, thank you, honey. Next time you see my husband, I want you to remind him of that.”

They both laughed and then settled into a comfortable conversation as the meal ended on a sweet note.

* * *

Ruby was at home, making a list of everything she needed to reorder at the salon. She’d written down everything she could think of, and before she went online and placed the order with the beauty supply in Savannah, she needed to call Vera and Vesta to see if they needed anything. She knew it was late, but she also knew the sisters’ penchant for watching old movies on the classics channel and rang their number.

Vera was in the kitchen popping corn, and Vesta was in the living room sobbing. Niles Holland had been her customer for as long as she could remember. Normally, he came twice a month to get a haircut, and tomorrow morning would have been his day.