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“I’ll start with that iced tea. You’re making a ham.”

“A whole, big-ass ham.” Cleo said it with glee. “Bree said if I don’t screw it up, and there’s any left over, she can make it work for tomorrow.”

“The size of that ham?” Sonya poured iced tea. “There’ll be leftovers. I already made a card for it.Cleo’s Honey-Glazed Ham from The Manor.”

“Then I really better not screw it up.”

They placed flowers, then helped Cleo quarter potatoes for roasting. Cleo pulled the enormous glazed ham out of the oven, set it aside to rest.

They arranged a bar in the butler’s pantry, and worked on a colorful platter of crudités.

“I have to say it’s nice seeing you girls work together in the kitchen. I won’t worry about you going hungry.”

Yoda raced to the front door before Sonya heard it open. Then raced back with Mookie.

“Oh! Look at this dog! Aren’t you something! Look how Yoda’s introducing me to his friend.”

Mookie sat and looked up at Winter with eyes full of desperate love.

When Trey came in, Winter stopped crooning to the dogs and gave him a long, assessing look.

“Mom, this is Trey Doyle.”

“I’ve seen his picture on the law office’s website, along with this handsome boy. Winter MacTavish.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He took the extended hand. And he smiled. “I see you in her. I saw her father because I knew Collin. Now I see you, too.”

“I can’t look out for her anymore. Do you?”

“Mom, seriously?”

“When she’ll let me.”

“That’s a very good answer.”

The dogs raced; the doorbell bonged.

“I’ll get that.”

When she opened the door, it was Cleo’s turn to throw her arms around her mother. Then her father, then her grandmother.

In the kitchen, Sonya heard the excited mix of French and English.

“That’s Cleo’s mom, dad, grandmother. Trey, why don’t you get my mother a glass of wine? She likes the pinot grigio.”

“Sure.” When he went into the butler’s pantry, Sonya shot a finger at her mother.

Winter just smiled.

Melly came in first. She didn’t have Cleo’s stature, and her hair was true black and pin straight. But she’d passed on her eyes, tawny and tipped at the corners.

She hugged Winter first, said: “Mmm-mmm-mmm.” Then embraced Sonya the same way as Trey came back with a glass of wine.

“My goodness, aren’t you handsome? I’ll give you a hug, too, if you give me a glass of that.”

“Melly Fabares, Trey Doyle.”

“Well now, Sonya, I see your taste in men has improved considerably. Winter, look at our girls living in this big old beautiful house. I think it must take half a day to walk from one end of it to the other.”