“You’re a natural, Rose,” Neely Kate said.

“I get plenty of practice with my niece and my nephew.” I kissed the baby’s head and then handed her back to Heidi Joy. “Maybe someday,” I said.

I listened to my two friends talk about pregnancies and labor for ten minutes before I stood. “I need to get home and pack before Mason gets off work. He’s been overdoing it. Plus, the sooner I get everything packed, the sooner I can get out to the farm.”

Heidi Joy grabbed my wrist. “You look really happy, Rose.”

“You know what? I really am. Who would have thought?” I smiled and leaned down to kiss the baby’s head one last time. “I’ll see you guys later.”

With a last glance at my friends, I left the room and was surprised to see Violet walking toward me.

“Rose.”

I stopped in front of her, feeling awkward. We’d hardly spoken since our argument. I knew we needed to address it, but Violet changed the subject whenever I tried.

She had on a pretty green dress and was carrying a present wrapped in white paper and a pink tulle bow. “You look pretty, Vi.” It was true—she could be a model from a magazine.

Violet smoothed her skirt. “Thanks, so do you. How’s the packing going?”

“Good. Almost done. We’ll be out by the time you move in next week.”

“Can Mason help much with his leg in that brace?”

“He’s helping as much as he can, but the big shakeup in the sheriff’s department has created a lot of extra work for him.” Not to mention his sadness over his friend’s betrayal.

Violet pressed her lips together in disapproval. “He’s always working, Rose. He’s a workaholic.”

I bristled. “He has an important job.”

She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes in a pointed gaze. “I just think he should be home more. Your relationship is so new and he’s obviously crazy about you. But then again, Joe was crazy about you too and look how that turned out.”

Anger burned in my chest. “What are you insinuating, Violet?”

Her eyes widened. “Nothing.”

I put my hand on my hip. “I know you’ll never approve of anyone I’m with, Vi. I don’t know why you’re so mean to me, but Jonah’s helped me realize that it’s not up to me to figure that out.” I leaned toward her and lowered my voice. “But just know that you cannot steal my joy. I do not give you that power. I want your support and approval, but I don’t need it.”

She lifted her chin and her eyes were filled with sadness when she met my gaze. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

My mouth dropped open.

“I’ve done some soul-searching myself lately.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I haven’t told you this yet because I wasn’t sure it would come to anything, but Mike and I are seeing a marriage counselor.”

The shocks just kept coming. “That’s…great.”

“Yeah.” She glanced up. “My attorney insisted I go to help my divorce case, so we started about a month ago as part of mediation, but then when the sheriff sent the kids and me to Aunt Bessie and Uncle Earl’s farm, they had Mike go with us. And while we were out there…we started working some things out.”

“What about Brody?”

“He broke up with me a couple of weeks ago.” Her face reddened. “He’s planning to go back to his wife.”

“Oh.” I knew she loved Brody and I thought he loved her. “So if you and Mike are trying to work things out, are you still moving into Momma’s house?”

She shrugged. “Yeah, Mike and I aren’t rushing things. We’re gonna date. Can you imagine that?” She flashed me a smile like old times, and then it fell. “Anyway, we’re just seeing each other and I can’t pay the mortgage on the house by myself, so this is good. This will work.”

But I knew how much she liked her house in her cookie-cutter neighborhood. I knew how hard it was for her to give it up.

“I’m really sorry about your house, Violet.”

Tears filled her eyes and she nodded, looking at her gift.

“I don’t like fighting with you.”

Her face lifted to mine. “Me, neither. I’m trying to be a better sister, Rose, believe it or not. Don’t give up on me.”

I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. “I could never give up on you. You were there for me before anyone else. I would have never survived growing up without you.” And for all our recent troubles, I could never forget the love and support she’d given me when I had felt so unloved and alone. Mason had said it was all about intent, and when we were scared little girls, huddled in the dark, her intent had been pure, unconditional love. She could have sided with Momma and she never did. “I love you, Violet.”

Her chin quivered. “I love you too.” Then she brushed past me. “Tell Mason that I said hello.”

I drove home, marveling over our conversation. The possibility of Violet and Mike getting back together made me happy. They had been a couple so long it was hard to think of them with other people. I suddenly wondered if people had felt the same way about Joe and me.

When I pulled onto my street, I was surprised to see Mason’s car parked in front of my house. We’d had lunch together and he told me he would have to work late. Happiness bubbling in my chest, I burst through the side door. He stood next to the kitchen table, putting a newspaper-wrapped item in a cardboard box. His crutches were leaned against the table and his leg was propped on a chair.