“It was lurking.”
Maggie laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep in her chest, and pulled her mother into a hug. Grandma Sarah felt smaller than when Maggie last hugged her, more fragile somehow, but her grip was still strong and her perfume was still the same floral scent she'd worn for as long as Maggie could remember.
“I'm so glad you're here,” Maggie whispered.
“Where else would I be?” Grandma Sarah pulled back and studied her daughter's face with sharp eyes. “You look tired.”
“I am tired. It's been quite a week.”
“It's been quite a lifetime from what I hear.” Grandma Sarah glanced toward the house. “Where are my great-grandchildren? I didn't drive fifteen hundred miles to stand in a driveway.”
Lauren had reached Maggie by now, and she wrapped her arms around her mother in a tight embrace. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, sweetheart.” Maggie breathed in the familiar scent of her daughter's shampoo. “How was the drive? Really?”
“Educational. I learned that Grandma has opinions about every rest stop between here and Florida. I also learned that Sarah snores.”
“I do not snore,” Sarah protested, joining the huddle.
“I have recordings.”
“Inadmissible.”
Maggie pulled Sarah into the embrace as well, holding both her daughters close. These women who had once been small enough to carry on her hip, who had once needed her for everything, were now grown with children and lives of their own. And yet, in moments like this, they were still her babies.
“Where's Paolo?” Lauren asked, looking toward the house.
“Inside with the twins. Beth is resting, she was up half the night with Charlotte, and Gabriel is trying to fix something in the barn that apparently couldn't wait.”
“Some things never change,” Sarah said. “There's always something in the barn that can't wait.”
Chelsea had bounded down the porch steps and was making her way toward the group, her face bright with excitement. “You're here! Finally! I was starting to think you'd driven to Canada by mistake.”
“Canada is north,” Grandma Sarah said. “We went north. It was a reasonable concern.”
Chelsea hugged each of them in turn, Lauren, Sarah, then a more careful embrace for Grandma Sarah. “How are you? How was the trip? Did you survive being trapped with two Wheeler women for three days?”
“Don’t listen to any of their complaints. The ride was perfect. You’ll see when I get the two of you to join us for the ride back.”
Maggie looked at Chelsea who was as shocked as she was. “There is no way Chelsea and I are going to ride south in that thing.”
“We’ll see,” Grandma said as she winked at Lauren and Sarah.
A figure appeared from the direction of the orchard, walking toward them with purpose. Emily Wheeler, her boots muddy and her jacket dusted with something that looked like tree bark, approached the group with her characteristic directness.
“The RV made it,” Emily observed. “I heard it from the north section. The engine has a distinctive sound. Slightly unbalanced, probably needs a tune-up.”
Grandma Sarah turned to look at her, and a smile spread across her face. “Emily. There you are. I was wondering when you'd appear.”
“I was assessing the pruning needs on the older trees. Thomas showed me this morning.” Emily stopped a few feet from the group, her posture slightly stiff but her expression open. “Hello, Grandma Sarah. Hello, Lauren. Hello, Sarah.”
“Hello yourself.” Lauren stepped forward and, after a brief hesitation, pulled Emily into a hug. Emily stood still for a moment, then relaxed slightly. “Beth told us you've been amazing. That she doesn't know what she'd do without you.”
“I’m happy I can help.” Emily paused.
Sarah hugged Emily too, a quick embrace that Emily tolerated with good grace. “It's good to see you, Emily. Really good.”
Grandma Sarah approached Emily and took her hand. “I heard what you've been doing here,” Grandma Sarah said. “I bet your mother is very proud of you.”
