“I’m sure Mamaw stocked up on all your favorites, sweetheart.” They were spending two nights. “And Aunt Erin made dirt pudding just for you.”
“Yum! Can I eat it first?”
“You have to eat your supper first. But you like turkey and mashed potatoes, and the green beans are the good kind.”
“With bacon and crunchies on top?”
“With bacon and crunchies on top.”
“I love Thanksgiving!”
Maggie chuckled. “Me too.”
The grocery doors slid open, welcoming them inside. The store bustled with last-minute shoppers. She waved to a familiar cashier, then made her way back to the frozen section.
“Ice cream!” Zoey said.
“Mamaw already has ice cream. I’ll bet she even has rainbow sherbet.”
“My favorite!”
As they progressed down the aisle, Maggie spotted stacked tubs of butter pecan ice cream behind the frosty glass. Her heart gave a soft squeeze at the reminder of Ethan. She said a prayer for the family, that the holiday wouldn’t be painful for them. That perhaps Will’s presence might serve as a distraction.
This would be her first time meeting the young man, outside of that quick encounter at the carnival. That night seemed so long ago. The entire family already loved him, and if he was anything like Josh, Maggie was certain to love him too.
She slowed at the whipped cream section and reached for the door handle just as another shopper reached for the one beside it. Maggie’s glance turned into a double take.
Samantha.
She hadn’t seen Josh’s ex-wife since the divorce. Before she could decide what to do, the woman recognized her. She was as beautiful as ever, the rich curtain of mahogany hair framing her pixie face. Maggie had always envied her petite build and delicate features—but those features were less than welcoming today.
“Well, Samantha, hello. Fancy running into you here.”
Samantha offered a brittle smile. “Maggie.”
“Um, it’s been a while. How are you?”
“Well, honestly, I’ve been better.” A gush of arctic air escaped as Samantha pulled open the door.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Once upon a time Samantha had been warm toward her. They’d been fairly close. She’d changed in the latter part of her marriage to Josh, grown distant and cold.
“Divorce tends to take its toll.”
“Yes, it does. I was sorry to hear about you and Josh.”
“Were you now.” Samantha grabbed a tub of Cool Whip.
Maggie frowned at her glib tone. “I always thought you guys were great together. You seemed happy.”
“I thought so too. Which was why it came as such a shock to discover he was in love with someone else and had been since long before me.”
Maggie sucked in a breath.“What?”
“Oh, come now, Maggie. You can’t be that surprised. You of all people, the object of his affection. I never even stood a chance.”
The object of his... Maggie shook her head. “Oh, Samantha. You’re mistaken.”
“When your husband confesses, under the influence of dental sedation, that he’s been in love with his sister-in-law since he was a teenager... well, it makes things pretty clear.”
