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  Karli’s fingers curled into fists. “Which one of you won the lottery and didn’t tell me?”

  No one said a thing.

  “All right, I’m calling Axel to try to figure out what’s going on.”

  Kurt blurted, “When he gave you grocery money, I knew he had cash stashed somewhere. I found it in his sock drawer in the bathroom.”

  How original. She thought Axel was smarter than that. “So you decided to have a party on your dad?”

  “It’s not like he’s volunteered to buy us anything!” Ida snapped. “If you didn’t pay for groceries, we’d go hungry.”

  Okay, she had a point. “How much?” Karli asked.

  “A thousand dollars,” Kurt said.

  Karli shrugged. “Have fun. I need help with groceries, though, and since I paid for them, and you didn’t contribute anything, you can put them away.”

  Sylvie opened her mouth to argue, but Kurt gave her a sharp shove. “Just shut up for once.”

  While they carried everything into the house and put it away, Karli went upstairs and cleaned a bedroom for her mom. When she was finished, it was dust free and the bed had fresh sheets and a clean blanket. Then she went downstairs to start a chicken-rice casserole for supper, one of Mom’s favorites. She was starting work on a tossed salad when she glanced out the kitchen window and looked across the fields to the white house in the distance.

  Tomorrow was Sunday, and Keagan wouldn’t be going to his parents’ house. They’d planned on having a picnic and hopefully make love, but everything had changed. She reached for her phone and texted him. My mom’s coming tonight. Can’t leave the house tomorrow. Want to come here to eat?

  He returned a message almost immediately. No worries. Enjoy your mom. Can you still make Thanksgiving?

  Lord, I hope so. She’d written the text and sent it before she stopped to think about it. It surprised her. Would she really leave her mom with the fab three and take off to see Keagan? Hell, yes.

  Her phone beeped. She read, I hope so, too. Love you. K

  Love you? Her heart sped up. He loved her! Without thinking, she texted back, Love you, too. Thanks for everything. She did love him. But as she told her friend, who had a knack for always picking the wrong man, love wasn’t always enough. She and Keagan were going in different directions. It sucked.

  Chapter 39

  Her mom pulled in the driveway early in the afternoon. Karli ran out to the front porch to meet her. Mom got out of the car, looked at the house, stopped and stared, and then burst out crying.

  “Mom?” Karli ran to her. “Are you okay?”

  Wiping her eyes, her mom took a deep breath. “It’s just so beautiful. I always knew it could be.”

  Karli had thought fixing the house would make her mom happy, but she’d never expected this much emotion. “I painted inside, too.”

  More tears fell.

  Karli wrapped her arms around her mom’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “Come on. I’ll help you carry in your stuff.”

  “I didn’t bring much.” Her mom pulled a suitcase from the back seat.

  Karli took it and motioned her into the house. When Mom stepped inside, she gasped and then bit her bottom lip.

  “It’s so pretty.” Her gaze went to the archway and the kitchen with its white cupboards and oak floor. “Oh my!”

  Dusty ran to the door to greet them. He eyed her mom with suspicion, then rubbed against Karli’s ankles. He hadn’t liked all the commotion when the medics came for Axel.

  Mom smiled. “He looks like a feral cat to me.”

  Before Karli could answer, Ida and Sylvie came down the steps. They stopped and stared at their sister.

  Sylvie’s lips curved down as usual. “Hey, Donna, sounds like you’ve been livin’ the good life.”

  Her mom eyed her warily. “I’ve been lucky. I married a wonderful man, and I have a good job and two great daughters.”

  “Ain’t that nice?”

  Mom’s chin went up. “I bet you’re happy for me.”

  As if . . . Karli didn’t get it. What was with Sylvie? Her mom’s happiness didn’t cost her anything.

  Ida waved a hand. “Your kid’s spent a lot of her own, good money to fix this place up. Nice of her, isn’t it? Did you teach her to be as wimpy as you were?”

  What a bitch! Karli glared. Did Mom’s siblings hate her? Resent her? Karli raised an eyebrow. “Screw you, Ida. What’s the deal? Why are you picking on my mom?”

  Sylvie snorted. “Because she’s a weenie. She never stood up for herself.”

  “Why should she have to? Especially against her own sisters? Mom’s only four years older than Ida. Was she mean to you or something?”

  Ida flinched. “How would I know? I got out of here as fast as I could.”

  “You all did, but was Mom nice to you when you were little?”

  “She was a kid. She couldn’t make any difference.”

  “None of you could, so cut her some slack.”

  Sylvie raised a finger to point. “She doesn’t need Dad’s money. Why did she come?”

  “Because I told her Axel was dying, and she wanted to see him before he was gone.”

  Ida looked genuinely confused. “Why?”

  Mom answered. “Because he’s our dad.”

  “So what?”

  “A lot of time’s passed. Things might be different now.”

  Sylvie barked a laugh. “You think the old goat turned nice? You haven’t lived with him.”

  Kurt walked in from the back room to see what the commotion was. “Hey, Donna.”

  Ida sneered. “Donna cried when she saw how pretty the house is.”

  Mom locked gazes with her. “Maybe someone will buy the house that loves it.”

  Kurt looked out the windows at the fields that surrounded them. “More likely somebody will buy it for the property and let it fall apart.”

  Karli hadn’t thought of that. Her stomach clenched. But Kurt was wrong. She shook her head. “Too many people came to help fix it, and there’s a housing shortage around here. No one wants to see it turn back into rubble.”

  Sylvie walked to the refrigerator to get herself a beer. “You’re just like your mama, too sentimental.”

  “Shut the hell up!”

  They all turned to stare at her mom. Karli had never heard her mother curse before. Her jaw dropped.

  Sylvie’s eyes went round.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Ida hissed.

  “Neither are you two.” Mom squared her shoulders. “I’m not the girl you can push around anymore. Give me any more grief, and I’ll tell Dad you’re trying to have him put in a home.”

  “But we’re not!” Kurt stared at her, upset.

  Her mom shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Guess who he’ll believe.”

  Sylvie threw back her head and laughed. “Little Donna grew a backbone! I think I like you better since you’re a big girl.”

  “Who cares?” Her mom turned away from them and looked at Karli. “Where did you put me?”

  Karli realized she’d made a mistake. Her mom wouldn’t want to be near her siblings. “I cleaned a room upstairs, but I’m staying in the parlor.”

  “I bought a twin mattress when I heard how bad the house was. I’ll put it in your room. I’m not sleeping anywhere close to them.”

  Karli glanced in their direction. “They blew it. I’ve been taking them in my stride. No more.”

  Kurt spread his hands by his sides. “I just said hi.”

  True, but if push came to shove, he’d side with the evil twins. Karli narrowed her eyes at him. “You’d better be on your best behavior.”

  He grimaced. “What about supper?”

  “You have lots of money. Eat out. No one touches the extras I bought for Axel, or so help me, you’ll be a
t Art’s grocery, buying your own food.” Karli turned to show her mom to her room.

  “Are they always like that?” Mom asked.

  “They try to be pleasant if they think they can use you. They haven’t given me too much grief.” Karli showed her mom the parlor.

  “Rose walls. They’re beautiful.” Mom sighed. “You’ve done a gorgeous job here.”

  “Thanks.” Karli liked the way everything had turned out, too. They went to Mom’s car, got the mattress, and placed it against the far wall. Then they shut the pocket doors and sat down to catch up with each other.

  Chapter 40

  On Sunday, since he wasn’t going to his parents’ house to eat and he couldn’t take Karli to the forest and ravish her, Keagan went to his studio to finish as many orders as possible. If he kept busy, he wouldn’t find himself wandering to Axel’s place to see her. She’d said I love you. The words thrilled him and crushed him. Love might not be enough this time. How could he make her stay? But her mom was coming. He needed to leave her alone.

  Shaping clay on his wheel took enough concentration, the time passed quickly. Then he moved to the glazing table, readying plates for the kiln. As usual, he ended up with splatters of clay and splotches of glaze on his old sweats, so he went home and changed into jeans and a sweater for his trip to Bloomington. Axel had called him, asking for something to read, so he stopped at Art’s to grab a couple sports magazines and a Field & Stream. Tomorrow, he’d buy more at the cigar store in town. It had a huge selection of reading material.

  Libby lived on the way out of town, so he decided to check on her, too. It was a gray, dreary day. The front of her Cape Cod was dark, but there was a light on in the back. He didn’t think she went out much, so he was guessing she was home.

  She opened the door on his third knock and blinked up at him. Pushing her glasses higher on her nose, she gave a shy smile. “I didn’t really think you’d come.”

  “I told you I would, didn’t I?”

  Her cheeks turned scarlet and the blush spread to her hairline. “I thought you were just being nice.”

  “I don’t want you to give up because you get discouraged, so I’m stopping every once in a while. Did you sign up for any classes?”

  “They won’t start until January.” She opened the door a bit wider and motioned him inside. She was dressed in baggy jeans and an oversized sweater. Her thick, brown hair was in a messy knot. The sofa and coffee table were covered with sections of the Sunday paper.

  “January’s not that far away.” He glanced to her well-lit kitchen. “Cooking?”

  Her blush deepened. “I’m heating a frozen dinner.” At his grimace, she asked, “Do you cook?”

  “When I have to. I go out a lot, and my mom sends food home for me.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “My mom never cooked, didn’t like to.”

  Keagan cocked his head to study her. “Your mom doesn’t live in Mill Pond, does she?”

  “No, she and my new step-father live in Bloomington.”

  He smiled. “So, if you sign up for classes there, you could stop to say hi to her sometimes.”

  “She’s usually busy.”

  “I see.” Keagan stopped to regroup. “But this is about you, not your mom. You need to sign up for a class before it fills up.”

  She pressed her lips together, unsure.

  “Have you looked online to see what kind of photography classes are available?”

  She looked away.

  He leaned against the doorframe. “I’ll let you off the hook this time, but I’ll be back, so you’d better get busy.”

  “You don’t have to coddle me, you know. I’m not your responsibility.”

  He shook his head. “I’m Mill Pond’s mailman. I keep an eye on things, and now that you’ve caught my attention, I’ll be watching out for you.”

  She raised her hand to salute him, then stopped herself. He chuckled. “That’s good. You have a sense of humor. Get moving, though, or I’ll tell Grams about you. She’s Mill Pond’s mover and shaker. If she takes you under her wing, you’ll meet people whether you want to or not.”

  Libby looked horrified. She should be.

  “You can do this. I like you. So will most everyone else.” He walked to his SUV, then drove to the hospital in Bloomington.

  When he got there, Sylvie and Ida were in the room with Axel. He hadn’t expected them to come, but if Karli’s mom drove all the way from Indy to see her dad, they probably felt like they had to. Karli had told him that she and Donna were planning on bringing Axel something for lunch. The old nuisance was already complaining about the hospital food. Keagan was guessing that Sylvie and Ida didn’t want to be shown up.

  It was cowardly, he knew, but he went down to the cafeteria to grab something to eat. He didn’t want to see them. He was sitting at a table by himself when Kendall came to join him.

  “Do you mind?” She had a plate full of nachos. They didn’t look any more appealing than his sorry excuse for a burger. He couldn’t blame Axel for complaining. Kendall smiled at the ketchup and mustard oozing from the sides of his bun. “No flavor, is there?”

  “I didn’t know food could be this boring.”

  “You’ve never eaten in a hospital before.” She demolished a pile of chips. “Never got to stop for lunch today,” she told him between bites.

  He finished his burger and pushed his tray to the side.

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

  Uh-oh. He braced himself. “Shoot.”

  “Is Brad seeing anyone?”

  Relief! His roommate had claimed another girlie fan. “He’s seeing lots of people.”

  “Anyone in particular?”

  “Brad?” He couldn’t hide his surprise.

  Her expression brightened. “So he’s not serious about any one woman?”

  Keagan liked Kendall. He decided to give her fair warning. “Not Brad’s style.”

  “Good, I’ll have a clear playing field.”

  Keagan leaned forward to make his point. “As long as you’re okay with just playing, you two will get along well. Brad doesn’t believe in monogamy.”

  “We’ll just have to test that out.” She finished her food and stood. “I have to get back to my floor.”

  He stood, too. Hopefully, Sylvie and Ida would be gone by now. When he reached Axel’s door, though, they were exiting his room. Sylvie cocked an eyebrow when she saw him.

  “The white knight comes again. What’s your angle?”

  “Axel asked me to buy him some magazines and crossword puzzles to help him pass the time.” He showed them to her.

  Ida motioned to a book of devotions on Axel’s rolling tray. “He should spend more time on those.”

  Yeah, right. Like that would happen.

  Sylvie didn’t give him time to answer. “Do you do everything Axel asks?”

  She annoyed him, so he nodded. “Afraid so, that’s why I became a serial killer. I dispose of anyone who aggravates him.”

  She stared, then her lips pulled back in a snarl. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? But I can see why Dad likes you. You’re a good, little lapdog.”

  Keagan’s humor took a hike. He gave her a hard look. “Not really, but I try to be a decent human being. You should try it sometime.”

  If looks could kill, he’d be dead. She stomped away. Exactly what he’d hoped for.

  Chapter 41

  The next day, after breakfast, Karli drove her mom to Bloomington again to see Axel. He was sitting up in bed, pillows propped behind him, and he looked pretty happy with himself.

  “The doc says I can go home on Wednesday and have Thanksgiving with my family.”

  “He’s happy with you?” Karli asked.

  “As happy as he gets.”

  Karli nod
ded. He probably thought he’d done everything he could.

  “Remember. You promised to make white bean chili and chocolate cake when I got back.”

  Karli raised an eyebrow. “Thursday’s Thanksgiving. You’re going to stuff yourself. Why not hold off on the cake?”

  “I’ve earned it, girlie. I beat the Grim Reaper this round. I want my cake.”

  She looked at her mom and shrugged. “I said I’d make it, I will.”

  Axel grinned and leaned back with a sigh. “The nurses come in all night long, never let a body rest. I’m a little wiped out. Why don’t you two go to town and buy the stuff to fix my homecoming meal?”

  “Are you telling us to leave?” Her mom sounded amused.

  Axel closed his eyes. “I’m an old man. I tire easily.”

  “What? There’s no football on TV?” Karli knew his habits. He was probably just bored.

  Mom laughed. “Good enough. Karli and I will go shopping today. It’s time I see what Mill Pond is really like.”

  He opened one eye. “You could tell your sisters the doctor recommended no visitors tonight. I need to get strong enough to come home.”

  “You don’t want to see them?”

  “Do you?”

  A fair question. “All you have to do is tell your nurse,” Karli told him. “She won’t let them in.”

  Mom shook her head. “I’ll tell them. See you tomorrow, Dad.”

  “No need, just be here to pick me up on Wednesday.”

  Karli and her mom took the unsubtle hints and found themselves back in Mill Pond by lunchtime. They were both hungry.

  “Want to try Joel’s microbrewery?” Karli asked.

  “Why not?”

  After they got their food and sat down, people started stopping by to ask about Axel.

  “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen you,” Buck Krieger said, taking a seat across from her mother.

  Mom grinned at him. “You were ahead of me in school, but you were always nice to me.”

  “Someone had to be.” He glanced at Karli’s French fries and when she nodded, he took a few. “Your sister Sylvie was in a lot of my classes. Never met a more spiteful person. I thought your dad was the meanest man on earth, but Sylvie had a way of saying things that really hurt.”