Just as she cherished the women embarrassing her with their tales.

When they started in with another story, she shook her head, but let them run with it. It wasn’t as if she could stop them if she’d tried.

She’d heard their stories before, but while listening to them, she realized she didn’t recall their having told them to Richard or any of her past boyfriends. She marveled that they’d opened up so quickly to Bodie. Without even trying, Bodie had them eating out of his hand.

Well, two of the three. Maybelle seemed intent upon withholding her approval.

When an attendant came in to say her tree was ready, a round of disappointment sounded.

“So soon?” Rosie pouted as Sarah and Bodie stood to leave the table.

Bodie pulled his coat off the back of his chair and began putting it on. “Got to help Sarah get this tree in the house and then get back to work. Nice running into you here.”

As Sarah went to slip her arms into her jacket, Bodie came over to help her.

“Yeah, nice running into you here,” Sarah repeated as she zipped her jacket. She met each of the Butterflies’ innocent-appearing gazes. “Such a coincidence that we bumped into each other.”

Maybelle picked up her coffee, brought it to her lips, said, “Isn’t it, though?” then took a sip.

When Bodie’s back was to them, Sarah made a gesture to show she was keeping her eyes on them, too.

All three women laughed.

Thanks to the help of a neighbor, Bodie got Sarah’s “perfect” tree inside Hamilton House. No way could he and Sarah have gotten the tree out of his truck and inside without additional help. He’d mentioned as much to Sarah at Harvey Farms, but, smiling, she’d said they’d figure something out.

She’d given him the biggest grin when the neighbor had pulled in right across the street. When she’d asked for his help, “Robert” had about fallen all over himself doing her bidding and had produced a furniture dolly that had been a godsend.

“You sure this is where you want the tree?” Bodie asked while Robert and his furniture dolly were still there.

Big brown eyes full of question, Sarah looked at him. “You don’t think it looks good here?”

What could Bodie say? It was a tree. It belonged outdoors.

“Looks great, Sarah,” Robert said, looking at Sarah with googly eyes. She’d said they’d gone to school together. Had there once been more than friendship between them?

But that wasn’t any of Bodie’s business.

“My aunt always put her tree here because you can see the lights from outside thanks to the big window,” Sarah continued, her gaze going back and forth between Robert and Bodie. “Where do you think we should put it?”

Bodie glanced around the room. Near the window was the only place the tree could go without doing major furniture shuffling.

“I think this spot does it.”