“I know what you mean, Jules. But then Mom got sick, then Dad and Brett died, and—”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I wouldn’t have said anything if I thought it would upset you like this. What’s going on?”
She shook her head. “Nothing, I’m just…antsy.”
“Why?”
Sylvie had no idea what she was supposed to say. She wasn’t ready to go into detail about how she was worried about her mom, that the woman who had always been sharp as atack had been acting a strange these past few months. She was worried her mom’s age might be catching up with her.
“Fiona’s coming to town,” she said at last, casting a glance at Juliette.
“Oh, geez. When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Thanks for the late hurricane warning!” Juliette threw her hands in the air. “You board up the windows; I'll tell Father Patrick to start praying.”
Sylvie knew she shouldn't laugh, but Juliette had a gift for saying inappropriate things in a way that made it impossible not to. “I don't think Father Patrick has had to fend off my sister-in-law before. He may need backup.”
Juliette snorted. “You're right. It's been a few years since she visited. Come to think of it—it wasn't right for Father Mike to retire without warning his replacement. He retired right after her last visit, didn't he?”
“Stop that.” Sylvie laughed, shaking her head as she turned to unpack the groceries. “But yes, it was two years ago. The last time she brought Lilly down for a visit.”
“That is...” Juliette paused, tapping her finger on her chin. “Never mind. I won't say it out loud. But keeping that beautiful grandbaby away from your mom? Criminal.”
“I know. I miss Lilly all the time. But I get it. Fiona lost her husband when Brett died. Lilly lost her daddy. It must have been hard being reminded of him every day.”
“Yeah, and if a stranger ever heard Fiona talk about it, they'd think she and Lilly were the only ones who lost someone that day. But you lost your brother too, Sylv, and your dad. Family is supposed to stick around. Her taking off like that—”
“They did what they had to do. I was thirty when the accident happened. Lilly was only eleven. It's different when you're little.”
“I...” Juliette's blank expression proved she didn't know what to say. “Sorry, I don't know how we even got here. What I actually came to say was that the new guy working at the diner is gorgeous, and he doesn't have a wedding ring—”
“Oh my God!” Sylvie laughed. “You are impossible!”
Juliette winked. “Thank you. Now, I was supposed to be on the road five minutes ago to deliver the next order, so I'd better make a break for it before you distract me any further.”
With that, and a hug Juliette held a second longer than necessary, Sylvie was left alone with her thoughts once again.Leave it to Juliette to show up and wreak havoc in my mind before gleefully skipping away, she thought, watching her friend climb into the delivery van and drive off.
That stirring of unease swelled in her stomach again, and she pressed her hand against her side. Maybe she'd eaten something bad. No, it wasn't nausea. It was—
“Sylvia!”
Her mom’s voice echoed down the stairs. She looked at her watch and her stomach twisted again. It was barely seven o’clock. Normally her mom slept in until at least nine. This was early for her.
“Yes, Mom?” she called, trying to settle herself.
“Come in here, please.”
The knot clenched tighter, sitting just below her sternum and feeling heavier than before.
Chapter 2
“Would you like some coffee?”
A long pause followed, and Sylvie tried to hold her tongue, knowing that the moment she repeated herself, her mom would answer.
“Yes, that would be best.”
