The Misfit Inn

BY THE TIME THE Uber dropped her off at the house - and she was deliberately not thinking about how much that ride from the airport actually cost her - Kennedy was so far past exhausted, she felt practically out of body. She hadn't felt right bothering her sisters for a ride, and she was used to finding her own way from one point to another. When one of her flights was canceled and another delayed for weather, it had taken a series of planes, trains, and automobiles to get her from the west coast of Ireland back Stateside. Her luggage was - somewhere else, and she was a day later than planned, cutting it so close that she'd ended up finding funeral attire in a shop in the Amsterdam airport. The long-sleeved, jersey dress was simple and unadorned. Perhaps not as nice as she'd have chosen had she had any time to prepare, but beggars couldn't be choosers. At least it was the appropriate color.Kennedy didn't recognize any of the vehicles in the drive. And why should she? She'd left this

"I DON'T KNOW WHY we're here," Pru said. "We've still got enough casseroles to get us through the end of the month."Kennedy grabbed a shopping cart and headed toward the produce aisle. "Because woman cannot live on casseroles alone, even in Tennessee. If I don't have some vegetables that aren't globbed in cheese or wrapped in bacon, my arteries are going to clog in a week. Plus, I need to pick up some basic toiletries and stuff since my luggage still hasn't arrived." She'd have to pick up some clothes, too, if it didn't show up soon. "You realize you've just blasphemed, right? Bacon and cheese are their own food groups here. Or had you forgotten?""I hadn't forgotten. But my tolerance is down after all the time away." Plus she'd wanted an excuse to get out of the house and away from the tension. Maggie had sequestered herself with copies of the financial records Robert sent over the day before. Whatever the news, it wasn't good. Athena was pacing the place like a caged jungle ca

KENNEDY'S HEART BEAT SO hard and fast, she wondered she didn't just bleed out from the pain of seeing him look at her with all that guilt and shame. She'd been prepared for him to hate her. Ready for him to rail and rant and curse her for slinking off in the middle of the night without a word. She deserved all of that and more. But he thought he was why she'd left. All these years, he'd thought it was because of that stupid fight. She'd barely even remembered it. Why would she, given what came after? But clearly he remembered, and he blamed himself.The absolute wrongness of that had her stepping into him before she could think better of it, laying a hand over his heart. "Xander, I - " But what could she say to allay his fears? She couldn't tell him the truth, and she didn't want to lie. Another round of tears welled up as she realized all the other ways she'd hurt him besides just walking away. "I'm so sorry."His hand covered hers, pinning it in place. "I get why you ran. But why s

"I DON'T KNOW ABOUT this." Pru bit her lip as they all scanned Joan's sitting room."With the half-bath, this room makes the most sense," Maggie said practically. "Clients can undress or dress in there and feel a bit more private than they might anywhere else. Plus, it's got a door and can be closed off from the rest of the house if something else were going on. It's quiet. That was the whole reason Mom picked it.""But it was Mom's space," Pru said. "To do this, we have to move all her stuff, and that just feels...wrong. Too soon."Kennedy wrapped an arm around her. "We're not getting rid of anything. We're just rearranging. You agreed that having a room for your massage clients to come here makes the most sense for now.""I know, but...""And the guys are going to be here soon to help move furniture, so we need to clear things out as best we can. Plus, I have a plane to catch, so this is literally the last thing I can help with before I go," Athena added. "Chop chop."Pru sighe

IF EDEN'S RIDGE WANTED to bring tourism in, they needed a better web presence. That was Kennedy's estimation after she spent some time Googling to see what services and accommodations were available. The information that was out there was spotty and disconnected. The town itself needed something dedicated to tourism to connect prospective visitors with all the various options. But despite the less than stellar representation, there was the seed of tourism out there. Tourism in the Ridge.She could just hear Athena scoffing at the idea, as she'd scoffed at the suggestion that anyone would think of Pru's new workspace as a mini-spa. But the kind of people who'd be drawn to a place like Eden's Ridge absolutely weren't the demographic her sister was used to serving in her upscale Chicago restaurant. They weren't celebrities, or rich women with purse dogs, or snobby businessmen, who probably took off to St. Moritz on a whim - Kennedy knew that type and had catered to them often in various