Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“No.” I shake my head and then turn to my brother and give him a kiss on the cheek. “We won’t do this for him. I’m sorry they hurt you, Scott.”
“Hurt both of us.” He jerks his shoulder. “And we lived through it. Maybe we’re better because of them. Despite them.”
“Maybe.” I lean on the car and look up at the chapel. “Took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I deserve to be loved, though. A really long damn time. And I’m not convinced that you’re there yet.”
“Let’s not psychoanalyze ourselves today.” He reaches up and ruffles my hair. “What are your plans this weekend?”
“I have a girls’ night thing tonight at Luna’s. Gonna eat a bunch of food and drink some drinks.”
“Call me if you need a ride. I’m gonna go to Lighthouse Pizza with the guys and collect their money at pool.”
“Looks like we’re both going to blow off some steam tonight. I think that’s good. Have fun, and let me know if you need a ride.”
He grins and reaches for his door handle. “I don’t plan to go home alone tonight.”
“I don’t need to know that.”
He laughs and waits for me to get in my car to drive away. Before I pull away from the curb, I take one last look toward the small grave.
“Goodbye, Mom.”
I’m the last to arrive at Luna’s. It took me a while to decide what to wear, and then Tanner wanted to make out in the closet, and really, who can resist that?
Not me.
So, when I pull up to the lighthouse, I’m not surprised to find several cars already parked by the main house.
I let myself in and find Luna and June, along with Cordelia, Mira, and Darla from Three Sisters Kitchen, all in Luna’s kitchen, just setting out a spread of food.
“I’m so glad I’m not too late for all of this deliciousness.”
Their heads all turn to me, and then they welcome me in a way that is so special, and it is something I hadn’t felt in more than a decade before I moved back home last year.
I belong here. This is my home, with this community of people, and I love it so much.
“What’s on the menu?” I ask.
“We’re trying out even more things for the inn’s menu,” Mira informs me with a smile that lights up all of Oregon. “I keep finding new things, thinking up new recipes, and I want to use them all, so we’ve decided to offer a rotating menu, with a few staples that will be available all the time. Tonight, we’re starting with the staples.”
“I love staples,” I say and dance a little jig. “And I love your cooking, so I can’t wait for this. Did you give them a tour of the inn, Luna?”
“Not yet,” she says. “We were waiting for you.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to. I’ve seen it.”
“You’re going to want to see this,” June says with a wink. “But first, food.”
I go to grab some ChapStick out of my purse, but when I pull it out, it’s completely empty.
Like it’s been broken off.
“Okay, you guys. Little things have been happening lately that totally irritate me. Like, I forget that I was out of something and don’t replace it. Or things are in different places than I remember putting them. Is this memory loss menopause? I’m in the middle of menopause, aren’t I?”
“I don’t think menopause happens in your early thirties,” Darla says. “So I don’t think it’s that.”
“Ugh, I’m so sick of this. This morning, I went to finish the painting I did for Tanner, and my brushes were moved. Then, I went to start my car, and all of my gas was gone, and I’m sure it wasn’t on empty. Just now, this ChapStick is gone. Like, I broke it off at some point, but I have absolutely no recollection of doing that.”
“Maybe you should see a doctor,” Mira suggests.
“It could just be stress,” June points out. “You’ve had a lot going on, Sarah.”
“That’s true.” I sigh, but then grin when Mira slides a plate loaded with apple turnovers. “We’re starting with dessert?”
“We’re starting with breakfast,” she says and passes plates to the others. “This will be a breakfast option every day. It’s easy for guests to take on the go or to grab as a morning snack.”
“Holy shit, I just had an orgasm,” June moans, and I laugh but totally agree with her.
“These are divine.” I wipe my mouth with my napkin and take another bite. “So buttery and light. And the apple filling is just the right amount.”
“Does it need more brown sugar?”
“No!” we all exclaim in unison.
For the next hour, we devour everything from the turnovers to turkey sandwiches and so many other delicious things that my stomach doesn’t know what to do with itself when we’re finally finished.