“I was talking to Trey,” Jo said.
I wiped nontoxic glitter from my brush. “I saw.”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not. You’re friends.” Best friends.
“And we’re sisters.”
I met her eyes. Brave, loyal Jo. “Sisters’ Code?” I asked ruefully.
Her smile flickered. “He loves you, you know.”
“I know.” Even with so much left unsaid. And I loved him. Of course. I turned her question back on her. “You don’t mind?”
“No. Now I don’t feel so guilty about dumping him. It just goes to prove there’s a right person for everyone.” Jo’s gaze sought Eric and returned to me. “I’m so glad you’re the right one for Trey.”
My throat thickened. “I always looked up to you. Without you following your dream, I don’t know if I would have had the courage to chase mine.”
“Ha. As if anybody could stop you.”
Was that true?If Trey had loved me three years ago the way I wanted to be loved, would I have created Baggage?
Meg came up holding Daisy’s hand, Beth following with DJ. “The twins have something to say to you.”
Daisy scuffed the ground with her toe. DJ sucked solemnly on a Popsicle.
“Kids?” Meg prompted.
“Thank you, Auntie Jo,” they chorused. “Thank you, Aunt Amy.”
“Aw. You’re welcome,” I said.
“Love you, little monsters.”
“So nice to see my girls together,” our mother said.
She looked relaxed and happy, her hair escaping its bandanna, our father at her elbow.
Jo grinned. “Nice to see you together, too.”
“Weird, but nice,” I said.
“I’m very proud of all of you,” Mom said.
“We both are,” our father said.
There was a shriek as Chris Murphy fell into the water trough and was rescued by John.
“Kill me now,” Meg said, and went off, smiling, to get more towels.
My face painting duties done, I wandered toward the house. Miss Hannah was sitting with Aunt Phee and Mr. Laurence in the shade of a crepe myrtle. I bent to kiss her cheek.
“When does your new shop open?” Hannah asked.
“Two weeks. I have to get the workroom set up first. Flo is coming down to help me catch up on orders.”
“Will she move down here?”
