“Think how tediously peaceful things would be around here if it wasn’t for me.” Britt wasn’t really joking. If left to mature Willow and studious Nora, the Bradford family would be a dead bore.
“I wouldn’t mind a little tedious peace,” Willow commented.
“Same,” Corbin agreed.
“You can count on me to provide you with plenty of tedious peace, as always,” Nora assured them.
“Much appreciated, Nora,” Corbin said. “Where’s John?”
“My husband’s in the kitchen.”
“Heading that way myself.” He left the three Bradford sisters together in Bradfordwood’s grand entrance hall.
“Your husband’sin the kitchen?” Willow repeated to Nora. Humor danced in her jade green eyes.
“Yes. My husband—”
“Don’t get her started,” Britt said to Willow.
“Fine.” Willow crossed her arms over her simple ivory sundress. No one could make simple look chic more effortlessly than Willow. “Let’s talk about you instead.”
Britt’s mood twisted south. “Not necessary—”
“You went through something terrible yesterday,” Willow stated.
“Notthatterrible,” Britt said.
“Pretty terrible,” Nora said.
Willow held Britt’s eyes. “I’m worried about you.”
“What can we do to help?” Nora asked.
“Nothing. I’m fine—”
“No, really,” Willow said, unruffled. “What can we do to help?”
They weren’t going to let her brush them off. Persistent sisters. Which meant she’d have to think of something that would appease them. “You can bring Ben & Jerry’s to my place on Sunday after church. We can eat it for lunch.”
“Done,” Nora said.
“And you’ll talk to us then? About everything that happened and how you’re dealing with it?” Willow asked.
Britt winced. “Not if I can help it. I’m grateful to you for wanting to comfort me and all. But honestly, I don’t want to talk about it yet. Or even think about it. All I really want to do is hang out with you and laugh and eat ice cream.”
“Understood,” Willow said. “But are you communicating about this with someone? Zander?”
Again, not if she could help it.
“He can relate because he went through it, too,” Nora pointed out.
“And he’s a great listener,” Willow said.
“And he’s as reliable as the Rock of Gibraltar,” Nora said.
“And he loves you,” Willow said.
“So do we,” Nora added. “But if you’d rather talk to him about it, we get it.”
