Hilary didn’t answer, yet her anger seemed to have faded.

“Let’s just start simple. With cupcakes,” Neely Kate said, gesturing to the box. “Why don’t you sit down and take a rest, and maybe we can have a chat?”

Tears filled Hilary’s eyes, and when she blinked, two streams rolled down her cheeks.

Damn her. She was even a pretty crier.

Hilary glanced back at Jonah for confirmation, and I decided this bridge we were building was too important for us to blow it up. Especially when there was little chance of her knowing anything about Joe’s housekeeper. I just needed to tell Neely Kate.

I motioned to the table. “Why don’t you two have a seat, and I’ll take this other box to Miss Mildred to see if she wants one.”

Neely Kate gave me an odd look, but I picked up the box and slipped out into the hall.

I pulled out my phone and quickly sent Neely Kate a text: We need to think long term here and not blow it with H. If the opportunity comes up to bring up Roberta, do it. Otherwise, let it be. I meant what I said about getting along.

She texted back moments later. Got it.

Was that just an acknowledgment, or did she agree?

“What in the Sam Hill is takin’ so long?” Miss Mildred grumped behind me.

I stuffed my phone into my pocket and turned to face my perpetually grumpy ex-neighbor. “Hilary is takin’ a break. We figured she might need one with the baby and all. But I was just heading back here to find you.”

“Back in my day, you kept on workin’ until it was time to have the kid. Then you got yourself to the hospital where they knocked you out, and when you woke up, you had a kid.”

I wasn’t sure what any of that had to do with Hilary and her break, but I just nodded and opened the lid of the box.

“Would you like a cupcake?” I asked.

She leaned forward and peered into the box. “Those don’t look like Ima Jean’s cupcakes.”

“That’s because they’re Dena’s.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t eat her cupcakes.”

“Why not?” I asked. “They taste a whole lot better than Ima Jean’s.”

She pointed her bony finger at me. “And that’s precisely why. Too much of a good thing is bad.”

“Okay . . .” I had to wonder if Miss Mildred was turning senile. In what world were good cupcakes a bad thing?

I closed the lid. “Miss Mildred, have you talked to Violet lately?”

“Of course. I saw her the day before last.”

“Did she tell you that she’s gonna be gone for a while?”

“Of course. Something about a gardening class in Texas. A month or so. Who would have thought up such a thing? I offered to teach her everything I know, but she refused to take any more of my help.”

I gave her a weak smile. Miss Mildred had always loved my sister.

“Well, you know Violet.”

She nodded, and then her eyes turned glassy. “You tell your sister not to worry about the house. I’ll be watching. She needs to devote all her energy to her . . . class.”

My eyes widened.

“She’s been looking under the weather lately. I hope that Texas sunshine helps her while she’s down there.”

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. She knew.

“I hope it does, too,” I choked out.

Then to my surprise, Miss Mildred put her hand on mine and patted it. “Violet comes from good stock. Both of you girls do. You’re fighters. You can overcome anything. Even a cantankerous old woman.”

Then, before I could say anything, she pushed past me and continued down the hall. “Jonah! If that new woman is takin’ a break, then you and I can discuss the offering plates,” she shouted into the empty hallway, although we both knew he likely heard her.

I was fairly certain that the figure I’d seen darting out of sight at the end of the hallway was him.

“I do not approve of passing around wicker baskets like we’re some poor church. I know darn good and well you have some perfectly usable silver-plated ones in the closet,” Miss Mildred continued.

Her voice faded as I started to slip back into the kitchen, surprised to find Neely Kate and Hilary deep in conversation. They were sitting at the table, and of both of them had cupcakes and bottles of water in front of them. I decided to stay put in the hall, peering around the corner. Hilary was more likely to spill things to Neely Kate if I wasn’t around.

“Dena’s Bakery is better than Ima Jean’s ever was,” Neely Kate said.“Dena is the first person brave enough to take Ima Jean on.”

“I made the mistake of eating a brownie from Ima Jean’s once,” Hilary said, looking embarrassed. “My pregnancy hormones didn’t give me constipation problems for days. I think I lost a pound or two.” Hilary cringed. “Oh, Neely Kate. I’m sorry. That was so insensitive of me. How are you doing?” She lowered her voice. “Really.”

Neely Kate looked confused by the sincerity in Hilary’s voice. “I have my good days and my bad.”

“Honestly, it’s a wonder you’re even here talking to me,” Hilary said softly. “I’m ashamed to say I’m not sure I’d be talking to you if our roles were reversed. This baby means everything to me. I don’t think I could go on without him.”

Her voice broke, and Neely Kate hesitated before patting her hand.

“You’d find a way,” she said to Hilary. “It’s still hard. I think about them all the time. They were so small. Most people wouldn’t think of them as real babies, but they sure as shoot were real to me.”

Hilary looked into her eyes. “I understand. And I am so sorry you lost them. You would have made a wonderful mother.” She paused and looked down at her cupcake, then pinched off a tiny piece and lifted it to her lips. “Maybe it would hurt more than help, but once little Joe is born, you’re welcome to come hold him anytime you want.” Hilary paused. “But no pressure, okay? You just do what feels best for you.”

Neely Kate stared at her in apparent shock.

“I know you’re best friends with Rose, and Rose and I haven’t been on good terms, but I really like you, Neely Kate. So I’m going to work extra hard to get along with Rose.”

“Why?”

“Because she seems to want to mend bridges, too. And, well . . . it’s silly, really.” Hilary pinched off another piece of cupcake. “Me being jealous of Rose when she’s clearly so in love with Mason.”