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“I’m putting it away. I have to put it away.”

“Uh-uh. You’re going to tell me what that asshole said to you.”

“In detail. But I’m going to change out of these shoes so I can feel my feet again, take several long breaths. And I’m going to take you and Mom out to dinner.”

“I’m going to tell you now, your mom has other ideas. She’s home now, and she’s making her famous garlic and sage roast chicken. She wanted you home tonight, Son. Wanted you to relax. For us all to relax.”

“You know what? I want that, too. We did a good job, and I’m letting it go. Doing a good job’s enough.”

Chapter Twenty-three

She enjoyed every minute in the home of her childhood with her two favorite women.

Some of the presentation blur faded, and what didn’t, Cleo filled in.

After dinner, now cozy in pajamas, they sat in the living room with wine and lemon chiffon cake.

“I can’t believe that son of a bitch came after you right before your presentation.”

“Winter MacTavish!” Cleo snorted. “Do you kiss your daughter with that mouth?”

“I do.” Winter leaned over, kissed Sonya to prove it. “And he actually claimedhe’dbroken the engagement.”

“It’s easy to rewrite history and make yourself the hero of the piece.” Sonya shrugged. “Seeing him like that? So slick and smug and patronizing? It just made me more determined to show off my stuff. And it made me appreciate Trey even more.

“They’re there again tonight,” she added. “Trey and Owen at the manor. I called him when I went up to change. He—they—didn’t have to do that. I think he feels, and Owen, too, they’re not just taking care of Yoda and Pye, but the manor, and what’s in it.”

She sipped some wine. “They both watched Dobbs jump again last night.”

Winter shuddered. “I can’t imagine that. And don’t really want to. I like better imagining the girl—because she was just a girl—whogave birth to your dad playing music for you, looking out for you. I like knowing you have four pieces of your father’s art in the manor. The one you took with you, and the three you found there. It matters to me. It puts him there with you, too.”

“And here with you,” Sonya murmured.

“Always. I wonder if knowing he is—with me—made it easier to accept what goes on in your manor. I worry about you, both of you,” she admitted. “But I worry less knowing you’re there for each other, and Clover and Molly, and the rest you’ve told me about.”

“And next month, for a couple of days, you’ll be there, too.”

“Can’t wait. Summer called me today. She got your invitation. I didn’t ask if you’d included her because I didn’t want to pressure you.”

“Mom, I don’t blame her for what Tracie did. It was her choice to get naked with Brandon, several times. It’s not her mother’s fault.”

“She’s coming. Her and Martin. She’s booking a room at the hotel.”

“We have room for them. They’re welcome to stay at the manor.”

“Martin? Ghosts? Never.” Winter laughed at the idea. “If Summer and I ever take a sisters’ trip up there, she’d stay. But Martin, that’s a hard no.”

“I forgot. He won’t watch scary movies either.” Remembering now made Sonya grin. “He wouldn’t make it through a single night at the manor.”

“Your grandparents, both sets, will want to come. If they can, the hotel’s a better fit there, too. You let me worry about that end of things.”

In the morning, they loaded the car again.

“Drive safe and—”

“Text when we get there.” Sonya hugged Winter hard. “I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

“I love you right back, both of you. Oh, and let me know when you hear from Ryder.”