Sadie focused on setting the plates in front of each of the chairs. Only six plus one high chair tonight. Unluckily for her, Cody and his wife Jenna were traveling along the West Coast for a week. She loved Jenna and was thrilled that a number of libraries had booked her to read her children’s books during story hour. But without the one sibling who understood her best to save her from Marc, she felt the dread knot up in her stomach.
She counted the plates again. “Where’s Laurel?” she asked of their oldest sister. “I need my Eli fix.”
“Don’t change the subject,” Haylee said, maneuvering Melly into her high chair. The toddler was waking up, her eyes brightening with mischief. She was the cutest little girl on the entire planet. If Sadie never had kids on account of her indefinite single status, at least she would have a niece to spoil rotten. “You’ve been working so hard to prove to everyone that you’re more responsible and reliable. Why would you flake tonight?”
It was no use pretending she wasn’t trying to make an escape. The best she could hope for was to throw Haylee completely off the trail. “I had something I needed to take care of, that’s all.”
“Where?”
“What’s with the nine hundred questions?” Sadie rolled her eyes playfully at Haylee. Their relationship was so much different than it had been a year ago. There was five years between them. They hadn’t gotten along since Sadie entered high school. For a solid decade, they fought more than they did anything else. There’d been a lot of hair pulling andMom, she hit me! Mom, she stole my shirt!
“I don’t want you to screw this up,” Haylee said, her voice low and honest.
“Screw what up?”
Before Haylee could answer, Marc and Conner’s voices traveled down the hall and into the dining room.Oh, Marc. Right.
For months, Sadie had been trying anything and everything to prove to her oldest brother that she was turning a new leaf. She was Sadie 2.0. But it didn’t matter what she tried—bringing him his favorite bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich fromMoosecakesby the clinic, making good on her promise to help him spring clean his massive yard—which had cost her an entire weekend and her favorite pair of jeans—or even showing up religiously for family dinnerseverySunday for the past ten months. He was still convinced she’d never change.
“Will we be able to manage without her?” Conner asked Marc as they entered the dining room and took seats on the opposite side of the table. Sadie wished she didn’t have to sit facing Conner. Especially since her brother had a front row seat to scrutinize every facial expression she made during dinner.
“It’s only for a week,” Marc said to Conner. “But you’d think Marylou thought we’d fed her to the wolves.”
“I hope you two came hungry,” Mom announced, carrying a covered casserole dish filled with the world’s best oven-roasted chicken to the table. Dad followed behind with a giant bowl of mashed potatoes. Mom’s homemade potatoes were almost better than strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Almost.
“I made extra,” Mom said to Sadie.
“I don’t understand how someone can love mashed potatoes so much,” Haylee said with an eyeroll.
“It’s because Mom measures the butter with her heart.”
Conner let out a chuckle at her comment, warming her from the inside out. It drew her attention to his lips again, making her fingers itch with the need to comb through his beard. Until Marc’s cold scowl landed on her. That straightened her out quicker than a cold shower. “My mom makes them the same way,” Conner said, unaffected by Marc’s grimace. “She sprinkles in some green onions too.”
“Oh, I might have to try that next time.”
“Mom, don’t you dare contaminate my mashed potatoes,” Sadie interjected. She looked at Conner and said, “Sorry. I can’t stand onions.”
“I guessed.” Darn the man and his megawatt killer smile. That thing was dangerous when set loose. The only thing keeping her from overheating was Marc’s icy glare. Some days Sadie felt certain Marc had convinced Conner to move to Sunset Ridge just to test her. Except, Connerwasan exceptional vet. Every day she worked at her parents’ store, she overheard praises for Dr. Michaelson.
Just as everyone was getting seated, Marc’s phone vibrated obnoxiously loud against the table.
Mom lifted a scolding eyebrow at him.
“Sorry,” he said, sending the call to voicemail. “Marylou is having a mild meltdown.”
“Oh, no,” Mom said as she handed the bowl of mashed potatoes to Conner. Wise decision to ensure Sadie got them last or there wouldn’t be anything left to share. “I hope she’s okay. Do I need to make a casserole?”
“No, Mom,” Marc said. “Judy had to leave for Fairbanks tonight last minute. Her sister’s in labor and all alone. Her husband’s deployed and isn’t due to be stateside until next week. She’s going to help with the baby until he gets back.”
“That was kind of her,” Mom said.
His phone vibrated against the table again. Marc sent it to voicemailagainand typed out a quick text. “Marylou is convinced the world will crumble and fall next week. We’ve been slammed at the clinic and she doesn’t think she can cover the front desk alone with how busy we’ve been.”
“Did you call around?” Dad asked.
“Called every clinic within fifty miles to see if they could spare someone, but no dice.” Marc picked through the chicken, taking all the drumsticks. Sadie glared at him, butthathe didn’t seem to notice.
“I’ll pop up front and help Marylou out when I can,” Conner offered.
