"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
"ARI'S FINALLY OUT, I think," Kennedy reported. "Poor thing is exhausted."From her spot curled up on the sofa, Pru knit her hands. "I still wish she'd eat more than three bites at a time." She looked up as Maggie squeezed her shoulder."She'll get there. Everybody grieves differently." Maggie took a seat. "But now that she is effectively out of earshot for a bit, we do need to talk about what we're going to do about her."Kennedy dropped into a chair. "Even if Mae finds her parents, she doesn't want to go back to them. They left her. There's no evidence they wouldn't do it again.""I think we can all agree that it's best for Ari if she's kept as stable as possible. But the fact is, with Mom gone, there's no other option for her in the Ridge. The nearest placement would be in Johnson City.""We're not shipping her off to Johnson City," Athena snarled."None of us wants to do that. But let's look at reality. My life is in LA. Yours is in Chicago. That leaves Pru, and as capable as
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
KENNEDY GOT BACK TO the house braced for a fight. She'd meant what she said. With everything on their plates, letting herself be provoked was a waste of precious energy and detrimental to Ari. But she didn't actually expect any of them to let it drop. Why would they? It had been open season on her since she got back Stateside, and Athena in particular seemed determined to get in every verbal jab she could - maybe because Maggie was far too controlled for something like that.Her sisters were still in the kitchen, in the process of doing the dishes and clearing away the leftovers. From her position at the sink Athena smirked. "Back a week and already starting things back up with the ex you left high and dry. Ballsy.""I'm not starting anything back up with Xander. He gave me a ride. That's all.""Clearly not the good kind. You don't look anywhere near relaxed enough for that."Okay, that was it. Kennedy was about to drag her sister into the kind of rip-roaring, hair-pulling fight
"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
"HAVE A GOOD DAY at school, sweetie." Maggie hugged Ari.The girl submitted to the embrace for a few moments before edging away with an awkward shuffle of feet. "Have a good trip back." Ari focused on the toes of her hot pink Chuck Taylors."I'll be back as soon as I'm able to rearrange some things at work," Maggie promised.Another small head bob from Ari."Got your lunch, kiddo?" Kennedy asked. She got actual eye contact, and that felt like a victory."Yeah. Thanks.""Mrs. Balzli is waiting in the driveway," Pru said gently.With another shy wave, Ari headed out the door. As soon as it closed, Maggie blew out a breath. "I thought we'd be on better footing by now.""You're intimidating," Kennedy told her.Insult whipped color into Maggie's fair cheeks. "I am not.""You kind of are," Pru said. "It works for you. Most of the time. You're the woman who Gets Things Done.""Pru is the warm, fuzzy one," Kennedy said."What about you?" Maggie demanded. Was that jealousy in her to
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
THE HOUSE WAS BLESSEDLY empty, at last. It had taken some creative persuasion on Kennedy's part to convince Ari and Pru to go on to the movies without her. Not that she minded being in a house with other people. She was a social person by nature, and this house never felt quite right unless there were several people around. But she'd wanted some time to begin putting all the details of her plan together without drawing Pru's curiosity. And to write the email to Elena she'd been composing in the back of her mind all afternoon. After Xander's enthusiastic support, she'd finally taken the plunge and emailed back that she was interested in further discussion of the possibility of a book. It wasn't a done deal by any means, but Elena had already emailed back to set up a call to talk about details. Caught up in equal parts excitement and terror, Kennedy had set that aside to focus on her business plan for the inn.The living room was covered in lists. It looked like her legal pad had vomite