“I’ll be happy to,” Vera said, and went out with the ladies. She took several pictures with all three of their phones, until they decided they had one they liked.

They were already talking about how nice the girls were in the salon as they drove away.

Vera waved and then walked back inside, quivering from excitement.

“They’re driving a silver Lexus! Do you know what those cost? And did you see the diamonds on those girls’ hands? Lord, lord, Vesta. Why didn’t we grow up in Texas?”

Ruby grinned. “Not everybody in Texas is wealthy.”

“Oh, I know,” Vera said. “But I just waved goodbye to some who sure are.”

“What’s even more special is having family to lean on in the sad times and the bad times,” Ruby said.

They all knew Ruby had no family left, which was why people often called Ruby Sister instead, because she was loved by the residents of Blessings as if she were one of their own.

* * *

In another part of Blessings, Melissa was in her office working on payroll, while Sully was on his way to Elliot Graham’s house with the letter his adoptive mother had written to him, revealing their deceit in keeping the circumstances of his birth a secret.

The GPS directions were precise and easy to follow, and he was soon turning up into Elliot’s drive. It was ten o’clock on the dot as he parked. He couldn’t help but admire the stately elegance of the house, but it was obvious all through Blessings how the landscaping of the homes had suffered through the storm.

His stomach was in knots by the time he rang the doorbell, but when Elliot appeared at the door, his anxiety disappeared.

The smile that dominated the little man’s face was framed by the soft sweep of cotton-white hair, bright-blue eyes almost dancing with secrets, and the ascot he was wearing beneath a black velvet jacket.

“Mr. Raines, I presume?” Elliot said, and then chuckled. “Do come in.”

“Thank you for seeing me,” Sully said.

“Of course,” Elliot said as he led Sully into his library. “We’ll sit here,” he said, indicating a leather sofa near a massive fireplace.

Sully sat at one end of the sofa, and Elliot sat at the other end, then turned to face him.

“Where are you from, Mr. Raines?”

“Please call me Sully, and I’m from Kansas City, Missouri.”

“Missouri… It’s a beautiful state,” Elliot said. “Even though I already know the answer to this from Dan’s phone call, would you please state your intentions for coming?”

“I’m looking for my birth mother and have been following leads through several states with help from a DNA researcher I hired. I didn’t know I was adopted until after her passing, and she wrote an apology letter and left it for me.”

He got up and handed the letter to Elliot, who put it in the palm of his hand and then closed his fingers over it.