“No, thank you!” she said. “I appreciate it, but I’m going out for lunch soon.”

“Okay, dear. I’ll let you get ready, then.”

She spent the next thirty minutes dressing and doing her makeup and hair. She checked her phone several times, tried calling Stuart twice more, but at 11:45, she still hadn’t heard from anyone. She did an internet search for costume shops in town, but as far as she could tell, none of them were associated with Jai’s sister Julia.

Frustrated with waiting, she got her laptop up and running again, trying to catch up with some of her email. As she was finishing the first one, someone was knocking on her door again.

“Yes?” she called.

“Ryann? It’s me, Janet. I’m so sorry I’m late.”

She opened the door, and Janet came in at once, enveloping her before stepping away, her face red with embarrassment.

“Oh, gosh,” Janet said. “I don’t know why I did that. You must think I’m a fruitcake. I’m so, so sorry. This is exactly why Jai didn’t ask me to help with anything. I always get things mixed up.”

“It’s no problem,” she said. “Really. Let me grab my coat.”

“You’re so nice,” Janet said.

As she donned her coat and checked her hair and makeup again, she watched Janet in the mirror. She was still standing inside the doorway, wringing her hands, clearly worried.

“Is the shop far away?” she asked, indicating the door.

“No, thank God,” Janet said, leading them out. “It’s like ten minutes. But we’re still going to be late.”

“I’m sure it’s fine, Janet.” She put a hand on her shoulder. “You can always blame me.”

Janet laughed, and she was relieved to see her relax a little, some of that pent-up tension loosening her shoulders.

“You’d do that for me?” Janet asked.

“Of course! Stuart’s like a brother to me, so that makes you my new sister-in-law, too. Okay?”

Janet beamed. “You’re the best. Thank you. Just remind me of that when Jos gives me a hard time.”

“Jos is the oldest, I take it?”

Janet sighed. “Yes. And she never lets anyone forget she’s in charge. You’d think, now that we’re all adults, all that crap would be over with, but it’s not. It was kind of a relief when she moved to Denver. We only see her for holidays and things now.” She winced. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be airing the family laundry. I have a bad habit of saying everything that’s on my mind. I blame it on spending all my time with children.”

“It’s fine—I promise.”