“Well, in this garden was one special plant—a pumpkin plant. But these weren’t just any old pumpkins; they were pie pumpkins. The pumpkins were small and sweet to the taste. We couldn’t carve them for jack-o’-lanterns, but she assured us they would make the best pie we’d ever had. Well, someone else on the farm knew how sweet the pumpkins were—Tessa.”
Hattie’s eyes were wide open. Maybe she should have picked a less entertaining story.
“Tessa was a cow.”
“A cow?” asked her niece in disbelief.
“Yep. She was a purebred Holstein with black spots and a long tail and beautiful brown eyes.”
“Cows aren’t bootiful.”
“This one was, and she was smart too. She could get out of the pasture without us even knowing how.” Kenzi leaned forward. “I think she was magic.”
Hattie nodded as if a magic cow were possible.
“Anyway, that cow must have been waiting for just the right time, because when Mrs. Raymond made her first pie of the season and left it on the window sill to cool, Tessa came right through the yard and ate that pie!”
Hattie’s gasp was muffled by her hands covering her mouth.
“Me and Harrison didn’t even get a taste, and we had to go home before any more pumpkins were ready to make into pies.” Kenzi kissed Hattie on the forehead. “And that is why you never leave a pie where a magic cow can find it.”
Hattie smiled. “I wuv you, Aunt Kenzi.”
“I wuv you too.”
Kenzi stood, and Raquel took her place. “Did you have a good birthday?”
“My bestest one ever.”
Her response made Kenzi smile. She’d had three birthdays in total, yet spoke with the authority of someone who’d celebrated thirty.
“Good. You remember we’re going to the aquarium on Saturday—just me and you?”
“I ’member.” Hattie yawned, exposing her tonsils.
Raquel kissed both her cheeks and stood up. “Love you to the moon.”
“And back,” answered Hattie as she snuggled in.
Kenzi turned on the night light, and Raquel got the light switch. They closed the door partway and paused in the hallway.
“I heard about Lunette’s binge. I’m guessing Clyde pushed her over the edge.” Raquel folded her arms across her chest. “I wish you’d never met that man.”
“That makes two of us.”
They headed toward Lunette’s room, the silence between them stretching tight. Raquel opened the door to a snore so loud it could strip the shingles off a house.
“That woman could cause a stampede just by taking a nap.” Kenzi didn’t bother to whisper. She could set off 4thof July fireworks, and Lunette wouldn’t wake up.
Her sister’s red silk pajamas were wrinkled. She’d probably worn them the night before and not bothered changing out of them this morning before she started drinking. Who knew what time Clyde called? Kenzi did her best to straighten the sheets and blankets around Lunette from one side of the bed while Raquel did the other.
“You know, I was always jealous you got to go to the farm every summer.”
Kenzi’s spine straightened right up, and she was standing stock-still in shock. “You were?”
Raquel nodded, moving Lunette’s arm down by her side.
“Why didn’t you?”
