Rachel glanced at Sully and saw he was reading something on his phone as he ate. She smiled and was starting to go back in the kitchen when he laid down his fork and began texting, smiling as he did it. Before, she’d only spoken to him face-to-face, but now she was seeing him in profile, and as he suddenly threw his head back and laughed at a reply he’d just received, the hair stood up on the back of her neck. The moment of déjà vu was startling, which was weird because they’d only met yesterday. Then it hit her. He reminded her of someone she knew. Someone here in Blessings!

Oh my God. I must know his mother! But who does he remind me of?

* * *

Hope was used to getting up early, so she was already dressed and in the kitchen making coffee before daylight. After putting it on to brew, she peeked into the bedroom to check on Melissa, who was still asleep, and was in the kitchen when her phone signaled a text. It was from her husband, Jack.

It’s lonesome in bed without you. How’s Melissa? Duke and I send her best wishes and swift healing.

Hope smiled. She’d missed Jack last night, too. Her brother-in-law, Duke, was another story, but she was used to his clueless, often brash behavior. As soon as the coffee was done, she poured herself a cup and went into the living room to watch the early-morning news.

About an hour later, she thought she heard Melissa moving around and ran back into the kitchen to get her a cup of coffee.

* * *

Melissa had dreamed of the wreck all night. In one dream, Niles kept trying to apologize while Sully was pulling her out of the car. The last dream was her husband, Andy, telling her to be happy.

She woke up with tears on her face. She hadn’t dreamed of him like that in a while, and the message he gave her was curious.

She got up, eased her way to the bathroom, and when she came out, her hair was brushed, her teeth were clean, and she was thinking about getting into the shower. She was still debating about that when Hope knocked on the door, then came in with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee.

“Here you go, honey,” Hope said.

Melissa reached for it gladly.

“Thank you so much.”

“Absolutely,” Hope said. “So how do you feel?”

“Sore, of course, but better. I’m not dizzy anymore. Not even when I first get out of bed. I still have the headache from hell, but I haven’t had pain pills since midnight.”

“I’ll get you some,” Hope said. “Let the coffee cool a bit. I’ll get you some water to take the pills.”

Melissa set the coffee down and then sat down on the side of the bed and shook two pills out into the palm of her hand as Hope came back with the water. Melissa took the pills, then scooted to the back of the bed, using the headboard for a backrest.