And he wanted Lily.

William shrugged. “Big brothers never forget. Anyway, I’ll see you over at Tate’s later. I’m working here another hour or two and then I’ll get home. Cindy will have eleven thousand things she wants me to do in the yard before we go.”

Nathan adored William’s wife. Especially the way she handled his brother and accepted the insanity that came with being a Murphy.

“Thanks for the tip on Lily. Why don’t I stop over in a bit to help with the yard?”

“Damn, I’d have called you before today when she came in if I had any idea I’d be able to get some yard work out of you.”

William walked him out.

“It’s going to work. She already likes your family. We already like her. I’ve never known you not to get what you wanted.”

Nathan scratched his chin a moment. “I hope so. I hate that it’s my fault she doesn’t trust me.” Up until two weeks before, he’d only told Tate and Tim the specifics of what had happened. He hadn’t been proud of it. And he really hadn’t been happy when Anne and Beth had barged into his house early on a Saturday morning after they’d heard what he’d done the night before from Lily.

He’d been pissed she tattled until Beth smacked him upside the head and told him how the details had come out and that Lily had said he was a good man. And then his sisters had promised help on his plan to woo Lily back.

“It was years ago, Nate. A kiss. One. Not that you weren’t an ass, you were. But you’ve grown up and so has she. Take it slow. There’s no timer on it. Get to know her again and let her get to know you. She’ll see.” William clapped him on the back. “In the meantime, it’s awfully amusing to see you have to work for a woman. I’ll see you soon. Bring your gloves. I need to clear out some brush.”

Nathan groaned. “Fine. Thanks for the advice.”

Chapter Five

She pulled into the driveway too late to see Nancy’s car already there. Damn and double damn. Thankfully it was during the day so Chris wasn’t home. She had a hair appointment and she should have just gone straight there.

As if she were made of lead, she climbed out and went inside. It would be good to stand her ground from the start, but it was never fun to be around Nancy. Even when her sister was in a good mood, she was simply a vicious bitch. Self-centered. Lazy.

So it wasn’t a surprise to find Nancy with her feet up, smoking a cigarette. As her mother clearly hadn’t, Lily felt less than comfortable telling her sister to put it out. At the same time, one of the things Lily had just gotten under control was not only her own asthma but Chris’s.

“Hey, Nancy. Didn’t expect to see you here.” Keep it civil and brief. Over the years, Lily knew the best way to deal with her sister was to not let herself be goaded into a fight over nothing.

“I bet. I was just telling Mom that if you lived with me you’d have to do a lot more for your rent.”

But being civil didn’t mean she’d line up to be abused either. “Oh, bless your heart, hon. Guess it’s a good thing I’m here and not in your tiny little studio in Atlanta.” She smiled calmly. “By the way, please don’t smoke in the house. Chris’s asthma is just barely under control again.”

“I was saying the same thing.” Pamela looked to Lily and for the first time, she saw relief there.

“You should have said.” Nancy stabbed it out and turned her gaze back to Lily.

Before she could drag Lily into another verbal round of hurt your sister, Lily pulled her bag up on her shoulder, standing tall. “It was nice to see you, Nancy. Mom, I dropped off the stuff for the jumble sale. Merline says she’d sure love to see you on Saturday afternoons again.”

Pamela brightened a little. Lily wanted to see it more. Wanted her mother to get back to her activities and friends.

“I should call her.”

“You should. I know they’d love to have you helping over there. Caroline Cutler can’t find her behind with both hands.”

Pamela’s laugh was knowing and sadly rusty. It made it worth having to deal with Nancy just to get that response.

But Nancy didn’t want to let go of a chance to fight. “Rushing off so soon? Busy life of leisure you’ve got here?”

“Chris has an after-school thing with his tutor.” She pointedly ignored her sister. “But I’ll pick him up at four thirty from there.”

“Thank you, honey.”

“If you’re gone when I return, have a safe trip home.”

“I’m spending the night. Wish I’d thought of cleaning out the apartment over the garage. Must be pretty cozy up there.”

But that would have taken work. Effort. Never would have happened as her sister was a total loser, which went hand-in-hand with lazy.

“It sure is. Thanks for asking.” Her smile was forced, she knew, but she brushed a kiss over her mother’s cheek.

She escaped quickly, almost feeling bad for leaving their mother with Nancy. But not that bad. Anyway, she had an appointment at Tate’s salon to have Anne cut her hair, and she wasn’t going to miss that to hang out and trade insults with her sister.

“Hey, ladies. And you too, Beth,” Lily called out as she entered the salon.

Beth hooted a laugh and tossed a curler at her, which she caught handily. “Nancy’s in my mother’s living room. I need some prettifying to take my mind off that.”