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Chapter One

Late again. Mari Scott hurried down the sidewalk almost thirty minutes after her shop was supposed to be open. She’d lost track of time as she worked through her morning gratitudes and sun salutation. Normally she started her day in her apartment, but the bright sun, calm of the lake front, and the striking blues of the Catmint that lined the banks called to her—who was she to ignore nature when it beckoned? Not to mention the butterfly that emerged from its chrysalis on this luxurious early summer morning. There was no way she would miss that—her customers would simply have to wait.

Grannie was leaning against the front window, her back pressed to the glass, her nose buried in her phone when Mari scurried around the corner.

“Oh, Grannie. I’m sorry. How long have you been waiting?” She slipped her key in the lock, rattled it twice, and twisted both ways as she bumped her hip on the weathered oak door. One of the first things she’d update when her renovation loan came through was the ancient door that gave her nothing but trouble.

“Not too long. I’ve been checking out my followers on this new-fangled place called Facebook.” Grannie smiled. “It seems there are people liking Sanders Corner.”

“You set up a Facebook page for Sanders Corner?” New-fangled? Mari chuckled. Facebook had been around forever, but she never expected her septuagenarian grandmother to log on. And who knew what kind of trouble Grannie would get in now that she had?

Mari stepped into her shop and flipped the wall switch. Despite the dark green walls which would be the second thing she’d change, the room flooded with cool, peaceful light. She nudged her multicolored flower display racks that normally sat on the sidewalk during business hours out of the way, clearing just enough room for Grannie to squeeze by. She loved how successful her flower shop had become, but she had outgrown her space with her various expansion ideas. Hopefully that wouldn’t be a problem for much longer.

“Why not? I hear it’s a great way for people to see what you’re about. We’re growing, Marigold Scott, and as mayor, I have to do something to help. I mean, have you seen the houses Butch is building down on the old Rayburn property? Shoot, in no time at all, people will be calling that part of town.”

Grannie had a point. And she was thrilled that Butch’s business was thriving as a result. Her best friend had worked hard to build his reputation as a contractor, and he deserved every success.

Her face flushed. Best friend. That word had taken on new meaning recently when she’d slipped into Butch’s arms to dance at Callie’s wedding. Like they had done hundreds of times at the monthly town dances. But something had been different at the wedding, and she didn’t know what had changed.

It was a good thing Grannie couldn’t tell what she was feeling right now, because Mari couldn’t explain it herself. “Give me a minute to drag these racks out of the way and then I can help you. I have some new scents on the counter if you wanna check them out.”

Mari stripped her knit bag over her head and flung it on the windowsill, the collection of metal bangles on her wrist providing a melodic tune. She wrestled the display of yellow, pink, purple, and white potted impatiens she’d received last week out the door and onto the sidewalk. As she did, she spotted Walter in front of the mercantile.

She waved at her Grannie’s beau. “Hey, Walter.”

The man who had become like a second grandfather to her in the ten years he’d been dating Grannie waved back. Why wasn’t Grannie visiting with him while she waited for Mari? Was something going on with their relationship? Besides Grannie’s standard refusal to marry him, anyway.

Flowers positioned, she darted back into the shop, clicking on twinkly lights on the way back to the counter where Grannie waited.

“Sorry that took so long.”

“No worries, chickadee. I figured you wouldn’t be open at ten anyway.”

Grannie knew her better than anyone. The woman who’d raised her had never even quirked an eyebrow when Mari arrived late for dinner because she’d followed a butterfly across Caleb Wilson’s pasture or sprawled out by the lake for hours, drawing charcoal pictures of flowers in her sketch book.

“I came by to pick up the flower arrangements I ordered for the ladies’ auxiliary tea.”

“Oh, yeah. Absolutely.” Mari had almost forgotten. She dug under the counter, shoved two rolls of register receipts out of the way, and nudged a stack of unfiled papers to the side in search of floral boxes. Bingo! There they were. She grabbed a half dozen, popped them open one by one, set them on the counter, and then reached into the cooler behind her for the pink and white centerpieces for the tea. Each time she designed another arrangement, she drew on the creativity she’d inherited from her mother. “I finished these last night right before I closed up.” She nestled each bouquet into an open box. “If you put them in the sun for a few minutes, the petals of the alstromeria lilies will open right up.”

“That’s perfect. We’ve moved the tea outside because the weather is so nice. Those arrangements are lovely. I’m so glad we decided to go with the tea pots as vases.”

“I agree. Each arrangement is unique, and I highlighted the colors of the pots in the arrangements themselves.” She leaned in like she had a secret to share. No one loved a good secret better than Grannie. “A little hint… I used live, potted flowers as the core of the arrangements, so you can pull out the cut stems and plant the other one when the event is over.”

“What a sweet idea. You are so much like your mother.” Grannie rested her hand on Mari’s cheek, and Mari sank into the embrace. There was no greater praise, especially from Grannie. Bittersweet that the one person she was most like wasn’t here to see what she had become. It was strange to feel such an acute absence of a person she barely remembered.

While Mari was packing up the last of the arrangements, Holly ambled into the shop. She sidled up to Grannie, towering over their five-foot-nothing of a grandmother. “Hey, Grannie. Fancy meeting you here.”

“I’m picking up the flowers for the ladies’ auxiliary.”

Mari rounded the counter and wrapped her sister and grandmother in a hug. The two of them laughed but didn’t resist. While they might be less comfortable with demonstrations of affection than she was, hugging was as important to Mari as breathing. Besides, it gave her a chance to absorb the happiness bouncing around the room from her sister and grandmother.

When Mari released them, Grannie whipped out her phone. Before Mari knew what was happening, Grannie was adjusting the arrangements and snapping photos.

Holly tilted her head and pursued her lips. “Grannie, what are you doing?”

She waved her phone in the air. “Facebook. It’ll be free publicity for Mari’s shop.”

Mari rolled her eyes as Grannie stepped away. Everyone in Sanders Corner already knew about Mari’s Garden, but she wasn’t about to take away Grannie’s joy. “What can I do for my favorite sister today?”

Holly laughed. “I bet you say that to all of us.”

“Only because you’re all my favorite people.” On a nearby shelf, Mari adjusted two wooden dolls that she’d whittled as well as a dream catcher that hung from the edge of the glass and chrome unit. Those were only a few of the many expansion ideas she’d been cultivating since she’d taken over the flower shop from Mrs. Jenkins and moved into the tiny apartment upstairs.

She loved that she had the opportunity to display her crafts as well as her flowers. It was like this shop reflected who she was as a person. But there was so much more she wanted to do. And that meant money she didn’t have. Not yet, at least. If only the bank manager would call.

She turned to her sister. “Can I help you with something or did you come by to visit?”

“Today’s all business. I’ve got a book signing next month. A debut romance author. I want to order some arrangements for the tables and the counter.”

“You got it. Tell me something about her so I can pick exactly the right flowers.”

Holly spent the next few minutes describing the book that she’d read last week in preparation for the signing. Mari closed her eyes and let the words flow over her, forming an image in her mind of a young woman with a heart-shaped face and an easy smile. She focused on her concept of the woman until an image for the flowers developed. “I think I’ve got it.”

“Thanks. You’ve always designed the perfect arrangements, and I have no doubt you will again.” Her sister leaned her elbows on the glass case that displayed some of Mari’s recent jewelry designs… and doubled as her checkout counter. “How are things going with you?”

“Great. Did you see the new paintings?” She gestured to the north wall to three frames clustered in the only free space she had left. That included her apartment upstairs, which was far too small for Mari’s furniture and any overflow from the shop. “Chad Allen is so talented. And I’ve got some new crafts to bring to the shop, as soon as I can find a spot.”

Holly scanned the room. “You’re already busting at the seams. I don’t know where you can fit anything else.”

Grannie picked that second to step back up to the counter, her nose buried in her phone, and Mari bit her tongue. She didn’t want to say anything in front of Grannie about her expansion plans. Knowing Grannie, she’d go strongarm the bank to approve her loan, and Mari wanted to do this on her own.

Mari’s cell phone rang, a sweet chiming sound, buried somewhere behind the counter. Ah, that was where she’d left it last night. One of these days she’d learn to keep track of it. But today was clearly not that day.

It wasn’t like she used her phone much. She preferred to talk to people in person, so she could see their expressions, feel their emotions, and hear their words all at the same time. But a cell phone was a necessary evil these days.

She hurried around the counter and dug through the papers. All she needed was to miss the banker’s call because she couldn’t find her phone. Finally, she snatched it up and swiped across the screen. “Mari’s Garden, can I help you?”

“Ms. Scott. This is Reginald Tompkins… from the bank.”

“Oh, yes.” She held up one finger for Holly and Grannie. If this was the news she hoped it was, she wanted to share it.

“I’m calling to tell you that we processed all your paperwork and I’m happy to say you’ve been—”

She screeched and jumped up and down before he even finished. “Oh, thank you. Thank you.”

He chuckled. “You’re very welcome. I love giving good news. If you’ll come into the bank in the next couple of days, we can sign the final papers.”

“I will. Thank you again. I will.” She clicked off the phone and dropped it on the counter. “I got it. I got it.”

“You got what?” Holly asked.

“The loan.”

“What loan?” Grannie asked, her gaze focused squarely on Mari and not at her screen. “You know I’d be happy to help you out with any of your financial needs. You’re still my girls, even though you’re all grown.”

And that waswhy she hadn’t told Grannie in advance. Mari had done this herself. She’d developed a business plan and pitched it to the bank. And they approved it. “I got a loan to…” Her heart raced and she could barely catch her breath. After opening this shop and honoring her mother and her love of plants, this was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. “Expand and renovate the shop.”

A huge smile lit Grannie’s face. “You’re expanding?”

“Yeah, isn’t it great?” She gestured to the wall where her favorite beaded curtain hung. “I’m thinking I can knock out that space, and there can be a huge archway between the two shops. I also want to build some antiques sales—maybe on consignment at first. And I’ll have more room for my local artists display.”

“You can afford all of that?” Holly was always the practical one. Mari didn’t have the same approach to her business as Holly did with her bookstore, or Aster the bakery, or even Callie at the medical clinic. But the way she ran her business worked for her and luckily, so far, for the IRS, and that was all that mattered.

“I can with the expansion loan I got.”

Holly rested her hand on Mari’s arm. “I’m really happy for you, sweetie. When does this fabulous expansion start?”

“I don’t know. Soon. I’ve been sketching ideas for a while, but I didn’t want to tell anyone until everything was in place.”

Grannie piped in. “You didn’t need to get a loan from that grumpy old Tompkins. I would have lent you the money.”

Mari snaked her arm around Grannie’s waist. “I know you would have, but I wanted to do this on my own.” Her family had always told her she needed to be more serious. She was trying… and this was just one example.

“Who’s going to do the work for you?” Leave it to Holly to hit on the biggest problem in her entire plan.

And she knew how Grannie would respond before she opened her mouth. “Why, Butch, of course. Why would Mari hire anyone other than her friend?”

Mari didn’t like the way Grannie emphasized the word friend, as if it had more meaning that it should. Was Grannie picking up on the jumble of feelings she’d struggled with since the wedding or was it wishful thinking on Grannie’s part? Mari had to shut that notion down right now before Grannie got any crazy ideas in her head. No one was safe when Grannie set her sights on something.

“Butch is swamped with his company. You yourself mentioned all the new development outside town. Besides, I don’t think we’d work well together. He’d change everything I want and try to do it his way.” She and Butch might be friends—best friends—but they couldn’t be more different. And not in a her-yin-to-his-yang way, but a fight-like-cats-and-dogs way. “He’d yammer on about load bearing walls and termite protection, and before I knew it, he’d take over completely and I’d have a space that looked like every cookie-cutter shop instead of reflecting who I am and my personality.”

“Uh-huh.” Grannie nodded, as if Mari’s words had gone in one ear and out the other.

There was no way Butch was doing her renovation. They didn’t agree on anything and she already knew they weren’t suited for dating. They’d tried that in high school and had nearly lost their whole friendship. And she wasn’t willing to risk that. Nuh-uh. She couldn’t afford to spend hours and hours each day with him. Not until she got a handle on the feelings that had shoved their way into her heart when she was in his arms at Callie’s wedding.

Chapter Two

The early summer sun beat down on Butch Johnson’s shoulders as he slid a two-by-eight off the pile. This was the last joist they had to position and then it was time for lunch. As sweat dripped off his brow, he plodded across the yard and up the makeshift ramp that would soon be replaced by an elegant semicircular brick stoop for the colonial-style house he was currently building.

As soon as he entered the spacious kitchen area, his sub-contractor, Noah, hurried across the room and grabbed the other end of the joist to help steer it into place on the back wall. Normally, Butch employed a crew large enough to complete the primary construction of a project, but he had three houses underway right now and two of his regular guys were overseeing builds of their own. There were worse problems to have than too much work and not enough employees, though, so he couldn’t complain. Except for the fact that he never quite knew whether Noah would show up when Butch needed him. The other man certainly marched to the beat of his own drum, but Butch was used to it.

In that way, Noah was a lot like Butch’s best friend Mari and her malleable relationship with time. And it was clear Noah’s feelings extended beyond friendship, if the way he flirted with Mari every time they saw each other was any indication.

Speaking of Mari… he glanced at his watch, whipped off his gloves, and shoved two fingers in his mouth and whistled. The hammering and sawing stopped. “Lunch. Take extra time to get out of the heat today. Be back in ninety minutes.”

That should be vague enough not to reveal to Noah where Butch was headed. Ninety minutes should also be enough time to swing by the house, hop in the shower, and make it to town for lunch with Mari.

He almost hadn’t checked his phone when it buzzed about an hour ago. She knew he didn’t like to chat while he was at work, and it wasn’t like she texted him all that often anyway. But something told him to glance at the screen. She’d been mysterious in her request to meet for lunch, especially since she knew he was knee-deep in the new housing development. But that didn’t matter—if she wanted to meet for lunch, they were meeting for lunch.

That was what friends did, right?

He and Mari had been friends for about as long as he could remember. Since the day she’d climbed into the sandbox and knocked down his perfectly lined up castle… and then laughed at the result. She genuinely didn’t mean any harm. She just didn’t pay as close attention to things as he did.

Not much had changed in the years he’d known her.

Less than thirty minutes later, he climbed out of his truck in front of Daisy’s diner and hustled through the door. Right on time.

What surprised him, though, was the fact that Mari was waiting at the counter already. When she spotted him, a huge smile broke out on her face. She threw her arms around his neck, a whirlwind of skirts and metal clangs as she leapt into his arms. “Butch!”

He caught her before she knocked them both to the ground. Always a bundle of energy, his Mari. She wasn’t really his Mari. Well, she was his best friend and he was hers, but that was all. They’d confirmed that in high school. Either way, her news must be big for her to have made it to the diner on time. “Hey, Buttercup. What was that greeting for?”

“I’m so excited. I’m expanding my shop.”

He heard the four exclamation points she tacked on the end of that statement as he set her down. “Really? That’s great. When did this happen?”

She bounced on the balls of her feet, unable to contain her energy. One thing about Mari, there was never any doubt of how she felt—it was written on her face. And right now, her expression was pure joy. “You know the space next door has been empty since that insurance agent closed last year. I’ve been eyeing it as a way to include all the ideas I have bouncing around in my head. And finally, I applied for a loan. And it got approved!”

“You’re just now telling me?” Frankly, he was shocked she had kept it a secret this long.

She bit her bottom lip in that cute way she did when she was choosing her words carefully.

“Whatever it is, say it.”

“It’s just that…” She dragged him across the room, and they slipped into their regular booth at the end of the row, him with his back to the wall and her across from him. “I wanted to wait until the loan was approved.”

“Were you worried I would think this is a bad idea?” She had outgrown her shop a long time ago. If she had stuck to flowers, she would have been fine, but first it was flowers, and then it was some of her fantastic wood crafts and some earthy things she called dreamcatchers. Most recently, she’d dedicated a section to local artists. Those were all great ideas in theory, especially the part that brought in members of the community, but she didn’t have the space.

She dropped her gaze to her hands in her lap. “Not exactly. Everyone has been telling me I need to be more serious about my business. I wanted to show you all that I could be.”

He’d joined the chorus of voices crying out for more structure in her life. Heck, he was the conductor. But he’d realized long ago that if he wanted to be her friend, he needed to accept her the way she was, free-spirited and unstructured. And he had. Their friendship was important enough that he gritted his teeth through situations that he would have handled completely differently if faced with them himself. After he offered his opinion, of course, as a concerned friend. Regardless, her unconventional approach usually worked out for her. “It’s great that you’ve taken the initiative to do this on your own. I’m really happy for you.”

“Are you? Really?”

“Of course, I am. If this is what you want, then I want it for you.”

She squealed again and clapped her hands together. “Thanks. I’m so excited. I’ve been sketching out ideas for weeks now. I’ve almost got a vision for how I want it to look, but I need to meditate over the plans before I get started.”

And there was the Mari that he knew and lo— Whoa! Where did that come from? He cut off that thought before it formed in his mind and mentally brushed his hand across his forehead. Whew.

Mari had an uncanny ability to know what he was thinking, or what he was going to say, even before he said it. She called it empathic. He called it freaky. At first, he’d been skeptical, but she’d picked up on feelings from so many people that he was finally convinced. He’d learned to be careful about broadcasting certain thoughts since she would know even when he didn’t voice it.

He’d get over this weirdness soon enough. It was only because he was coming up on a personal deadline that his mind ventured in a direction it shouldn’t. A romantic one.

If they hadn’t been best friends, she could factor into that deadline. But they were and she didn’t. So, it did no good to analyze the tingle in his heart that stirred every time he saw her since they’d danced at her sister Callie’s wedding. Or the feelings that threatened to reveal themselves. He could figure out what that meant later. When he could focus without worrying about Mari picking up on his emotions.

Daisy slid plates in front of them silently. Mari must have placed her order before he arrived. Otherwise, she would have studied the menu for a good ten minutes before deciding what she was in the mood for. Like the menu had changed in the years they’d been coming here.

Which was fine by him. Daisy didn’t have to ask for his order. He always had the open-faced meatloaf sandwich with mashed potatoes and a side of greens. Why mess with a good thing?

Daisy gave him a smile and patted him on the shoulder as she slipped away.

Before Butch could dig in, the bell above the door rang. Almost on instinct, he snapped up his head in time to spot Noah on his way in. Butch hadn’t expected to see him at the diner when he’d left the crew at the site, and he intentionally hadn’t mentioned his lunch date with Mari to anyone.

Of course, Noah would come waltzing in now.

When Noah spotted the two of them, he waved. Butch raised his hand in greeting, hoping Mari wouldn’t notice, but she hopped to her feet with a flourish. “Hey, Noah.”

“Hey, Mari. How’s it going? I stopped by your shop to say hello and I saw you’d closed for lunch. But I didn’t expect to find you here.” Noah’s smile when he looked at Mari was way too bright for Butch’s liking. It seemed that Noah always sought Mari out whenever they were in the same place. Shoot, Butch hadn’t considered that Noah might come into town during the extra-long lunch break instead of hanging back with the other guys.

Why do you care about how Noah feels about Mari? It isn’t like she’s your girlfriend.

Mari threw a glance Butch’s way, her head tilted like she was studying him. Shoot, Noah had rattled him, and he’d let that thought slip through. He busied himself with his lunch, forcing any confusing thoughts about Mari and Noah from his mind. That was all he needed—Mari to pick up on some discomfort from him that absolutely wasn’t jealousy.

But if Noah picked right now to finally ask Mari out, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. A few months back, Noah had asked him about dating Mari. Butch gave the man credit. That was a classy move. At the time, he figured if Mari wanted to date Noah, then who was he to interfere? They were so alike that they were perfect for each other.

Considering the direction his feelings were headed, if he could go back in time, he would tell Noah what a monumentally bad idea it was for him to pursue Mari.

Mari and Noah carried on their conversation for a few more minutes, Butch quietly eating his food, until he heard Mari say, “Why don’t you join us?”

Butch held his breath while he waited for Noah’s answer. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait too long. “That’s all right. I ordered to-go so I can get back to the site. See ya there soon, Butch.”

Butch nodded as Noah ambled to the counter and Mari slipped back into the booth opposite him. He’d dodged a bullet. When he was home later, alone, he’d unpack the uncomfortable feeling in his gut that arose at the thought of Noah dating Mari.

For now, he redirected his attention on her shop and its potential with this expansion. He could almost picture it in his mind. If she built an arched doorway right about where that ridiculous beaded curtain hung, she could have a nice walkthrough into the other side. She didn’t need to open it up completely but could maintain some separation between her current flower shop and whatever she put on the other side. And then he wouldn’t have to reconfigure what was likely a load-bearing wall.

Knowing her, she had different plans for the space. It was no secret that he and Mari didn’t see eye-to-eye about a lot of things. Frankly, it surprised him that they had been able to maintain such a close friendship. Despite the fact they remained at opposite ends of so many discussions, they’d navigated the choppy waters and weathered more than one blowup of epic proportions. It was how their friendship survived their short-lived attempts at dating.

He’d never known a more stubborn person than Mari when she set her mind to something. That was what made her a successful business woman despite her lackadaisical approach to management. That stubbornness had helped her overcome more than one struggle that she could have avoided if she’d pre-planned instead of rushed ahead.

But that was him, and she was her. And he’d given up trying to change her. “So, what’s next?”

She rubbed a palm down her cheek, and the ever-present bracelets on her arm jingled. She’d added one of her favorite leather straps bracelets on her wrist today. He knew without looking that one was engraved with the saying, “She believed she could, so she did.” Fitting for the good news she’d received today. Maybe there was something to her sending it out into the universe, as she called it.

She stared out the window and he realized that she’d lost her focus on their conversation.

“Mari, I was asking what the next steps in your remodel were.”

She blinked a couple of times as she directed her attention to Butch. “Oh, well, I don’t know. I was so intent on sketching out my ideas and sending positive energy toward getting the loan that I hadn’t really thought past that. I guess I need to figure that out, huh?” She directed her bubbly smile toward him. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I mean, I took over the flower shop from Mrs. Jenkins, so everything was already in place. I’ve never built anything from scratch, I mean, except for the figures I carve, and the dreamcatchers, and, well, my flower arrangements. I mean I’ve never, well, you know what I mean. You’ll help me, right? You’ll give me some tips.”

She was cute when she babbled, especially when her smile left little crinkles beside her eyes. Of course, he would help her. Planning was right up his alley. If only he had his notepad and a pencil. He’d started leaving them in the car when Mari teased him one too many times about how geeky it was to carry into lunch with him. It probably was a bit over the top.

That was why they were such great friends—she called him out when he was being too regimented, and he threw a raised eyebrow her way when she wasn’t organized enough.

“Sure, I can help. We can sit down and go over a plan. Lay out the steps of the process. Go over the permits and inspections, decide on a contractor, agree on a schedule.”

She raised her hands in the air “Whoa. Slow down. Do we really need all that, really? If I just take my sketches and figure out what needs to be done, it’ll be fine. But you can help me with the permits and stuff. I certainly don’t want to go through all this and then have somebody from town hall tell me I did something wrong.”

“That’s why you go over all the plans up front, so you don’t have that happen.” He bit his tongue to keep from overwhelming her. With Mari, if he pushed too hard, he would push her away. And he wanted this expansion to be successful for her.

“I know you mean well, but I’m not ready for all of that yet. I just found out about the loan. I’ll give it a couple of days to sink in and decide what I want to do. Then we can talk. How does that sound?”

At least she wasn’t completely writing off his ideas and experience. She wasn’t one for plans, because even if she had them, she rarely followed them. But this was different. There were payments and codes and other things that she couldn’t approach willy-nilly.

But he knew when to shut up. Anything he said now would go in one ear and out the other until she was ready to hear. He only hoped that when she was ready, it wasn’t too late.

Chapter Three

Mari wrapped her gloved hands around the green weed and pulled… and pulled. This was a stubborn sucker. She finally freed the unwanted intruder from the ground, nearly toppling her onto her backside in the process. She threw the offending interloper into the compost pile and straightened. After an admiring glance over the flower bed that comprised a large portion of Grannie’s backyard, she smiled.

The last remnants of the spring flowers that were in full bloom during Callie’s wedding a few weeks ago were giving way to the summer blossoms. While she enjoyed spring with its sense of rejuvenation and rebirth, summer was, by far, her favorite season—the warm sun high in the sky, the vivid colors of the hearty summer plants.

She fingered the zinnia’s bright orange, fuchsia, and white blooms, a wonderful contrast to the butter-yellow lantanas that had surprised Mari when they’d popped up a few weeks ago. Hopefully the butterflies wouldn’t be far behind—they loved the sweet nectar of the lantanas. The plumed celosia was vibrant and thriving, and the Hakone grasses had returned so vigorously they would be due for a trim soon.

She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, sending thanks for the nourishing rain and warm sun that nourished the buds. She pressed her hands to the small of her back as she scanned the rest of the plot. Her past few days had been productive, and the garden was now weed-free and pruned, even between the river stones that formed a winding path through the overflowing beds of green.

If she could, she would spend all day out in the sun, her hands buried in the dark soil, bringing plants to life. It was here that she felt closest to the mother she had never known. Ironic that she shared her love of all things growing with the mother who had died when she was only two. Or maybe it was because of that. Either way, this garden had been her mother’s pride and joy, and as soon as Mari had been old enough, she’d taken it on, reviving plants that had withered in the years after her mother died. And in it she had found solace.

She stripped off her gardening gloves and tossed them on the small pile of tools to be tucked away in the shed.

She sure could use her mother’s advice right about now. Grannie had always said that Mari was most like her free-spirited mother. But Mom had gotten everything she wanted out of life—a career and a man she loved. She hadn’t been afraid to open her heart to someone, but then again, she hadn’t known the loss that Mari had.

Grannie stepped up beside Mari.

“It looks beautiful out here, Marigold.”

Mari snaked her arm around her diminutive grandmother. “Thanks. I told you I’d still maintain the garden after I moved out, didn’t I? It’s so rejuvenating to know that I can nurture these flowers to grow.”

Grannie leaned her slight frame into Mari’s side. “So much like your mother.”

Mari sensed Grannie’s loss when she talked about Mom. It was hard enough for Mari to experience her own grief, much less adding Grannie’s on top. Mari couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a child, no matter the age. And to then raise her four young granddaughters in the wake of the tragedy. “I’m so thankful for you, Grannie.”

Grannie tilted her head up to look at Mari. “Where’s this coming from?”

“You took on so much, raising us after Mom and Dad died. I’m not sure I’ve expressed how grateful I am to you. I know I wasn’t an easy child at times.”

Grannie sniffled and snorted at the same time. “Easy? No, you weren’t. But I knew that you had to discover yourself. All I needed to do was get out of your way and let you discover for yourself who you were meant to be. It worked, I reckon, because you’ve cared for your Mama’s garden, opened up your shop, and now you’re expanding. I’m proud of the woman you’ve become.”

Aw, Grannie had her tearing up. There was no higher praise than pride from Grannie.

Grannie feigned swiping at tears on her cheeks. “Enough of all that mushy stuff… are you staying for dinner?”

She tugged up the sleeve of her shirt, threading her fingers between the leather straps of today’s inspiration bracelet until she could see her watch. The bright colors of today’s choice included a tapestry face—a mini replica of one hanging on the wall in her shop. Five thirty. She hadn’t realized it had gotten so late. “Sure, I need to wash up and then I can help.”

“Great. Your sisters are coming, too. It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper sit-down dinner with my girls.”

“That may have something to do with Callie’s new husband.”

Grannie smiled and rested her hand over her heart. “I knew that boy was right for her the day I met him. Thankfully, she stopped being so stubborn and let herself fall in love.”

Mari laughed. Grannie and her friends, the Bunco Babes, fancied themselves matchmakers. And it was true—the ladies could be credited with helping more than a few couples find their happily-ever-after. Thankfully, she’d stayed off their radar, although Grannie’s recent comments about Butch led Mari to believe she’d have to be careful lest she’d get caught in their snares.

By the time Mari changed into one of the clean outfits she kept at Grannie’s, Callie, Aster, and Holly had all arrived. Grannie was right—it had been too long since they had been together, just the five of them. She stepped up and wrapped her arms around Callie’s shoulders from the back. “Hey, big sis. How’s married life treating you?”

Callie sighed and leaned into the hug. “It’s wonderful. I finally have the dream I always wanted, only not quite how I expected.”

Callie’s new husband Robert had come to Sanders Corner earlier this year to work with Callie in the clinic—a role her first husband had planned to assume before he died from cancer when their son, Ash, was a baby. But there was no doubt by the look on Callie’s face that she had found love for a second time with Robert.

“I can’t wait to get married and have a family,” Aster piped up from where she was slicing cucumbers at the counter. “Maybe I’ll meet someone as wonderful as Robert.”

“I’m sure you will,” Mari said. Her sister closest in age had been dreaming of getting married since she was a little girl wearing a scarf on her head like a veil. And Aster had been the one to name all of the baby dolls and tuck them in to bed each night while Mari was off digging in some dirt pile or running through the woods with Butch. If anyone was meant to be a mother, it was Aster. Not that Mari had that choice. Not anymore.

“If you want some practice, Aster, you can take care of Ash when Robert and I go on our honeymoon.”

“Have you finally been able to schedule a date?” Holly asked as she collected five brightly-colored Fiestaware dishes from the cabinet. “I know it’s been tough.”

“We have… and it has. One of Robert’s med school classmates has carved out two weeks this October so he can cover the clinic.”

Aster threw her arms around Callie. “That’s so great. And yes, I’d love to watch Ash. I can’t wait. We’ll play games and go on long walks and talk about what he wants to be when he grows up—”

“Or you’ll have to drag him in from kicking his ball in the backyard. Robert has definitely made him a soccer fan for life.”

“Then I’ll be out there kicking with him.”

Mari smiled at the exchange. They were lucky to have each other, especially since Callie had gone away to med school. None of them were certain she’d be living in Sanders Corner after that, but she’d come home to run the medical clinic. And now Aster had opened a bakery down the street from Mari’s shop and Holly’s bookstore was doing better than ever. Who would have thought the four very different little girls crying into their Grannie’s apron over the death of their parents would all remain in their home town and become successful business women?

The four of them worked together like a well-oiled machine, and in no time, they’d carted the serving dishes to the table.

“Mari, would you like to say grace?” Grannie extended her hand to Mari and she grabbed it, and then reached out and captured Callie’s on her other side. The four Scott sisters and Grannie—the way it should be.

She closed her eyes and sensed what her sisters were feeling. Not a concern in the room… until she got to Grannie. Mari couldn’t decipher exactly what troubled Grannie, but the worry lingered. “Thank you for this wonderful meal and the effort put into preparing it. Thank you for family and please be with Grannie and comfort her through her troubles. Amen.”

A chorus of “Amens” rang out.

Grannie shook her head. “I swear, young ‘un, one of these days…”

Mari squeezed Grannie’s hand and then released it.

After that, platters and bowls were passed until each of their plates was piled high. For the next few minutes, they ate in comfortable silence.

Grannie was the first to speak. “Did you girls see the garden? Mari has worked so hard and it looks beautiful.”

Callie smiled at Mari. “Thank you for looking after Mama’s garden. I’m so happy I was able to get married back there. It felt like the perfect way to have Mama and Daddy with me, even though they couldn’t be.”

Callie’s comment about her wedding reminded her of that dance she and Butch had shared, and heat crept up her cheeks. Thankfully her sisters were oblivious to her discomfort. That night, a feeling of pure warmth and attraction had washed through her when she was in his arms. The hardest part was she wasn’t sure whether those were her feelings or Butch’s. Or even a mixture of both. Sometimes being able to absorb other people’s emotions had a downside.

It didn’t help that by the time that dance was over, Grannie was off gossiping with Callie in the corner. Mari wouldn’t have thought anything of it until the two of them raised their heads and their gazes landed on her and Butch.

And then later, Grannie cornered Butch. Knowing Grannie, she was sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong. Mari’s family had always bugged her about her friendship with Butch. They didn’t understand why she didn’t want it to be romantic. It was simple, really. Why would she ruin an already good relationship for something that likely wouldn’t go anywhere anyway?

It wasn’t like they hadn’t tried. With as much time as they’d spent together in high school, it made sense that they would date. But two of three stressful dates, both of them trying too hard to be a date and not a friend, and then arguing over the silliest things, made it easy for them to decide they were better off steering clear of any romantic entanglements.

So where had those romantic feelings come from at Callie’s wedding? It could have been the romantic setting, the love that she felt from Callie and Robert. Whatever the cause, she had felt uncomfortable around Butch ever since.

“Speaking of which, how about we talk about Mari and Butch dancing at Callie’s wedding?” Aster added. It was like her sister could read her mind, but that trait didn’t run in the family.

“There’s nothing to talk about. He’s my friend.” She pointed at Grannie, who had opened her mouth to respond. “And don’t you go and try to make it something it isn’t.”

Grannie raised her hands. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but now that you mention it…”

Holly swiped at her mouth with a napkin. “You sure are getting upset about a harmless comment, Mari. Is there something we don’t know?”

Mari could usually count on Holly to have her back. She wasn’t looking to get married any more than Mari was. She’d been dating the same man for three years and they weren’t any closer to a ceremony than they had been at the beginning, as far as Mari knew.

Why weren’t her sisters bugging Holly instead of her? “Nope. He’s my friend and he has been for a long time.” She hoped that would never change, but Butch had had a life plan laid out since he was a kid. If she wasn’t mistaken, his plan indicated he would get married soon himself.

That was the problem with plans—they rarely worked out the way you expected. And when they didn’t, where did that leave you? That was why she was better off living her life alone, going where the wind blew her, not focusing on a specific timeline. And the wind was definitely not blowing her Butch’s way.

Time to change the subject. “I’m about ready to start my renovation.”

“Have I told you how happy I am for you?” Callie piped in. “You’ve done Mama proud with your shop, but I know there is so much more you want to offer.”

“Thanks, Callie. That means a lot.” Particularly since Callie was the family overachiever, graduating from medical school at the top of her class and owning her own practice by the time she was thirty. “I want to expand my local artists section to include sculptures and other crafts, like my woodworking, and I was even considering featuring a few antiques.”

“Have you decided who is going to do the work?” Aster waggled her eyebrows. “I know a great contractor.”

Couldn’t she leave well enough alone? Mari stabbed at the cherry tomato on her plate, swallowing a scoff when it scooted away from the tines of her fork. “I’m leaning toward Noah Gordon.”

Grannie grumbled under her breath.

“Go ahead, Grannie. Say whatever you’re gonna say.” She would anyway. It wasn’t like she needed Mari’s permission.

“You can go that way, I guess. Noah doesn’t seem to be governed so much by a schedule.”

“Exactly. That’s how I like it. I don’t want someone barging in telling me what I have to do and when I have to do it. And he’s a friend and will appreciate the work.”

Grannie slipped a fork of greens in her mouth and made a big show of chewing and swallowing before she continued. “Even so. Do me this one favor… ask Butch for his opinion about your plans before you make any decisions.”

“But Butch will—”

Grannie raised a single finger. “Just ask him.”

She knew when she was fighting the losing end of a battle with Grannie. “Oh, all right. But I know what he’s going to say.” She’d already spotted the warning signs when he rattled off those requirements at the diner.

She wasn’t sure she was ready to hear his suggestions. And she certainly wasn’t ready to spend that much time with him before she had sorted out the emotions fighting for her heart.

Chapter Four

Butch crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder against the doorway of Mari’s shop the next day. He had about thirty minutes before he planned to meet Robert for lunch, but Mari said she had some questions about the renovation. She must finally be ready to listen to him.

She helped a customer at the counter, motioning to different flowers in the case as she described their fragrance and meanings. She was in her element, here among her blooms, her light brown hair flying free, as she laughed at something the customer said.

That niggling feeling gnawed in his gut again. The one that had been lurking since Callie’s wedding. Well, that voice needed to hush—there was nothing between him and Mari. No matter how much he thought about her.

He stepped into the shop and knocked some knitted thing off a bottom shelf with his boot. He bent to pick it up and bumped into a bookshelf displaying wooden carvings. One of them rocked back and forth. Shoot. He grabbed it before it hit the floor. This expansion was long overdue.

“Hey, Buttercup. I’m here… as requested.” Her huge smile grew even bigger and her eyes twinkled as she walked her customer to the door. That smile shot straight into his heart, which kicked up a rapid beat. Daggone it, this was getting out of hand. Hopefully during his time with Robert, he’d find some clarity.

But right now, he recognized Mari’s expression. She was up to something. And that something usually involved him. “That’s great. Hold on a minute…” She directed her attention to the teenager she’d been helping. “I hope that dream catcher helps you find your dreams.”

“Me, too, Ms. Scott. Thanks.”

Mari’s gaze stayed locked on the customer until she passed out of sight. Then she turned to him. “Okay, that’s done. I, uh, I had a question to ask you. And before you say no, I want you to hear me out.”

He shrugged and grinned. “When have I not heard you out?”

“Oh, you mean, like every time I have an idea?”

He ran his thumb and forefinger over his lips and then twisted them at the end, zipping it shut. “I’m all ears.”

She retreated toward the counter. “Here’s the thing. I’m ready to get started on my expansion and I wanted to know what you thought about…” She bit at the corner of her lip. “Well, I was thinking of asking Noah Gordon.”

His heart skipped. Was she asking his advice on her relationship with Noah? “Asking him what?”

“To do the renovation.”

“Wait, what? You’re asking me whether or not you should hire Noah to build your shop?” While he was relieved she wasn’t asking Noah out, having him handle a reno was a monumentally bad idea, and not only because Noah shared Mari’s lack of interest in structured schedules.

“Yeah. He is one of the local handymen. I know he’s subcontracting for you right now, and you’d never hire anyone you didn’t trust.”

He bit his tongue to keep from responding since he’d promised to hear what she had to say. But if he’d realized that his own hiring of Noah would lead to this, he would have reconsidered.

“I figured if you trusted him, that was an endorsement. It needs to be finished by the sidewalk festival at the end of July.”

He held up his hands. Sometimes, Mari could catch hold of an idea and go on and on about it without considering the implications. Thankfully she’d asked for his opinion. This was one time he was happy to offer it. “Slow down. Let’s talk about this. You want the work done by when?”

“The summer sidewalk festival. That way I can display some additional artists’ work and the carvings that I have tucked upstairs in a box because there is no room down here.”

“Six weeks from now?”

“Yeah, is that a problem?”

She really didn’t get it. “Noah does an okay job, I guess. If he shows up. You know how he is.”

“You mean he’s not as stuck up and inflexible as you?” Her smile grew. This was a perpetual back-and-forth between them. As was the teasing. Sometimes she did appreciate his structured approach to life, just as, in some situations, he gave in to her whimsies and was glad he did. The most recent had been to a nearby sheep farm to buy some wool or to the beekeepers so she could start her own hive.

Time to regroup. Mari had taken a huge step in applying for the loan and expanding her business, and he wanted her to succeed. He simply wasn’t sure Noah was the man for the job. “If you have a deadline, aren’t you worried about him finishing on time?”

“I’ll basically tell him when it needs to be finished. That’s usually how you do it, right?” She smiled. She knew it was more complicated than that.

She’d visited his work sites dozens of times and they had discussed his job as much as they’d discussed hers. Even when he simplified his explanation of the Gantt charts that documented the interdependencies that ensured a house was completed on time and in the proper order, the concepts failed to resonate with her free-spirited approach to life. Then again, he wasn’t picking up a knife and whittling a cat figurine, either. But right now, his experience was more relevant in the challenge before her.

He tapped her on the nose and grinned. “You keep thinkin’ that, Buttercup.”

Her brows wrinkled in that way that made him want to smooth out every one of her concerns. “I’m serious. I want to know what you would think if I hired Noah.”

If only it were that simple. Butch spun in a circle as he studied the space. If she jumped on board with his concept for expansion, the job was probably easy enough for Noah to complete in six weeks. And Butch could keep a watchful eye on him. For Mari’s sake. That was what friends did for each other.

But then he imagined Noah and Mari working side by side, sharing easy smiles while they studied blueprints. Pictured her bringing Noah a glass of her super-sweet lemonade. He flashed back to lunch at the diner. It wasn’t the first time Noah smiled like he had at Mari. Like a man who was interested in a woman.

But it was the first time Butch had actively disliked it.

That was what Butch got for not nipping that idea in the bud months ago.

This was ridiculous. He had no business being jealous of Noah.

You keep telling yourself that, buddy. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.

None of his internal arguments explained his next words that slipped out of his mouth. “I’ll do the renovation.”

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