On Saturday Mia and Levi returned from their honeymoon, a nice distraction from Grace’s heartbreak. She’d always found that word to be so overwrought and sappy. Who knew that the actual experience caused a literal ache in the chest right where the heart resided?
After sleeping off their jet lag on Saturday, Mia and Levi awakened refreshed and ready to gush about their time abroad. They’d strolled the streets of Paris, visited the Louvre, floated down the Seine River, and taken the elevator up the Eiffel Tower.
As Mia spoke she wore a beautiful flush, and Levi watched her with affection. Every once in a while they traded private little smiles that made Grace happy for them even while she was sad for herself. She despaired of ever finding someone she could love as much as she loved Wyatt.
The whole family went to church on Sunday, leaving Jada in charge of the inn. Molly shifted and twitched beside her until Grace was ready to put an elbow in her ribs. After church they went back home and had lunch in the dining room.
Levi and Mia were flying to LA tomorrow with as much of Levi’s belongings as he could stash in his suitcases. There’d be a press release and interviews about their wedding, which had still gone unnoticed.
They feasted on Miss Della’s fried chicken and potato salad until they were stuffed. Lunch was slowly winding down, and the other guests had already finished and gone on about their day, leaving the dining room to the family.
Grace glanced around the table, acutely aware that her siblings were now coupled up, making her the proverbial fifth wheel. Would it always be this way?
Mia pushed back her empty plate. “I’m not ready to get back on a plane tomorrow.”
“Or travel across three more time zones,” Levi said.
“And I don’t even want to get on the scale. I ate my body weight in baguettes.”
“You look great. Please tell me I’m not going to be subsisting on tofu and seaweed once we get to LA.”
Mia shrugged and gave him ayou’ll just have to wait and seelook.
“Well,” Grace said, “I know you’re excited about moving, but don’t forget to sign the Johnsons’ offer before you leave.”
“Did the attorney review it?” Levi asked. “Everything’s on the up-and-up?”
“Um...” Molly cleared her throat and traded a peculiar look with Adam. “I wanted to talk to you guys about that...”
A niggle of anxiety wormed into Grace’s heart. If that offer fell through she’d lose her house—and her earnest money. “What? Everything’s all right with the offer, isn’t it? They didn’t back out or something?”
“No, no,” Molly said. “That’s not it.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Tension threaded Levi’s words.
Mia had also come to attention.
Molly shifted her weight, giving Adam a nervous look, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders.
“I was just thinking...,” Molly began. “What if we didn’t sell the inn after all?”
“What?”Levi said.
Grace threw down her napkin. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Wait, wait, give me a chance to explain.”
“I have a house on the line here, Molly.”
“In case you forgot, I’m moving to LA.”
“Seriously,” Grace said. “Hasn’t he done enough for us?”
Levi looked at her in surprise, and she gave a sheepish shrug. So she usually took Molly’s side.
“Hear her out, guys,” Adam broke in with that quiet but firm voice of his.
Grace took a deep breath, as did Levi. The room was as quiet as the lake at daybreak, every eye on Molly, waiting for her to explain herself.
