“Oh no, it wasn’t generous at all. It was pure selfishness,” Melissa said.

Sully laughed. “I always did like a woman who spoke her mind. Is tonight too soon for my arrival?”

Melissa’s heart skipped a beat. Oh my God, oh my God, this is actually happening. “Nope. I’d say it was perfect timing.”

* * *

Barb Holland was also surrounded by desserts and casseroles, but with no appetite to sample them. However, her family was due in from Texas sometime before dark, and they’d take care of that in no time.

When she’d called them two days ago to let them know what had happened, their sincere dismay and the love she felt from their voices finally eased the pain she’d been feeling. Her daddy was nearly eighty years old, but he was on the way, riding with one of her brothers, while the other brother was bringing her aunt and another carful of cousins.

When it came time for the family to be seated at the funeral, she would be surrounded by people who loved her, not the snide, catty people who’d destroyed, beyond repair, what she thought was friendship.

They’d released Niles’s body to the local funeral home at just one o’clock this morning. Barb had gone in after sunrise to take clothes to bury him in and to set the day and time of the service. She’d walked in with his favorite suit on a hanger and was leaving with the receipt for his service marked Paid in Full. What she wasn’t going to do was bury him here. They would be giving her his ashes to take away with her. His funeral was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, 3:00 p.m. at Blessings Baptist Church, and tonight, her heart was breaking.

* * *

When Sully got back to the B and B, Bud was behind the front desk, dozing in his chair. He woke up as Sully approached.

“Oops, you caught me,” Bud said as he got up.

“Can’t fault a man for taking a rest,” Sully said. “I’m going upstairs to pack, so would you have my bill ready when I come back?”

“Sure. Did you get another lead on your birth mother?”

“No. Right now I’m on hold. All the leads have run out. But in the meantime, I’m going to be a guest at Melissa’s house.”

Bud grinned. “That’s great. She’s a wonderful woman and deserves some happiness. I’ll have your bill ready.”

“Thanks,” Sully said, and went upstairs to pack.

About an hour later, he was on his way back to Melissa.

* * *

Melissa chose the best guest bedroom in the house for Sully. It had a king-size bed, a jetted tub and a separate shower in the en suite, and a mirror that ran the length of a very ornate vanity. All of the needed toiletry items were in one of the drawers.

The fact that it was across from her bedroom was immaterial. Things would develop between them as they were meant to, or they wouldn’t. But she wasn’t going to turn her back on this twist of fate and was anxiously waiting for him to return.