The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane

As if chocolate fixed everything. But Bailey obeyed and popped it in her mouth. It didn’t fix anything, but it did make her feel better.

“Another toast,” Samantha proposed. “To the bitches who try to ruin us. May their chocolate supply dry up and their boobs fall off.”

Here Bailey was aware of her mother frowning in disapproval, and despite everything she had to smile just a little.

“Amen,” she said even as their mother murmured, “Really, Samantha.”

Sammy grinned. “It made her smile.”

For a moment. Bailey set down her mug with a frown. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“You’ll figure it out,” her mother assured her.

She sure hoped Mama was right.

* * *

Cecily couldn’t help feeling guilty as she got ready for her date with Luke. Her little sister was barely home, and here she was, leaving her. Bailey had a naturally happy disposition, so she’d managed to rally during the dinner at their mother’s the night before. She’d been impressed with the changes Cecily had made to the condo after buying it from Samantha, approving the sunny yellow walls and the cream-colored leather sofa and chair. She’d gotten tears in her eyes when she saw the Welcome Home, Bailey sign Cecily had hung on the door, and she’d been delighted with her room.

“This is almost as good as when we shared a room growing up,” she’d said with a smile. “I was always kind of sad when Mama and Daddy bought that bigger house and we each got our own room.”

Cecily had diplomatically kept her mouth shut on that subject. She’d enjoyed having the privacy.

“This will be fun,” Bailey had said, smiling brightly.

But later that night Cecily had heard her crying.

It was hard to come home feeling like a failure, but Cecily hoped that once some of the pain wore off, Bailey would be glad she’d decided to return. Meanwhile, she was going to have to keep working her way through the misery.

“Are you sure you don’t mind if I go out?” she asked as she came into the living room.

Bailey was parked on the couch with a can of pop, a bag of veggie chips and a stack of Oreos. She had the TV on and turned to the Food Network. Cecily looked to see what program she was watching, and Bailey quickly aimed the remote and killed it.

But not before Cecily had seen what was playing. “Isn’t that Serve It Up?”

Bailey pulled a chip out of the bag and studied it. “I was channel surfing.”

“Uh-huh.” Just what her sister needed—to sit around watching a reality TV show about successful caterers. “Why don’t you come out with us,” she suggested.

Bailey stared at her in horror. “On your date?”

“Luke wouldn’t mind.” Well, maybe he would, but Cecily was sure he’d understand.

“No,” Bailey said with a firm shake of the head. “I’ll be fine. Really.”

“If you watch that show, it’s only going to make you feel worse,” Cecily cautioned.

“I don’t think anything can make me feel worse.”

Cecily remembered how she’d tortured herself watching The Bachelorette after breaking up with Fiancé Number Two. “Trust me,” she said over her shoulder. “There’s always something that can make you feel worse. Come on,” she urged. “Come out with us.”

“No way,” Bailey said stubbornly. “I’ll be fine here. Really.”

“Okay, then promise me you won’t watch Serve It Up.”

Bailey heaved a dramatic sigh. “I promise.”

The doorbell rang and Cecily went to let Luke in. She opened the door, and there he stood, holding a single red rose and wearing a smile. Luke Goodman wasn’t the handsomest man Cecily had ever dated. He certainly didn’t have the swarthy good looks of a Todd Black. But he had a strong chin and broad shoulders. Broad enough to cry on. Hmm. Maybe he and Bailey...

“Hi,” he said and handed over the flower.

“Thanks,” she said. “That was really sweet.”

“I figured there was no sense bringing chocolate.”

She opened the door wide and invited him in.

He saw Bailey camped out on the couch and gave her a nod and a friendly smile. No chemistry there, Cecily could immediately tell. “Hi, Bailey,” he said. “You home visiting?”

“No,” she replied. “I’m...home.”

“Yeah? Did you come back to work at Sweet Dreams?”

“No. I...” She bit her lip. “I’m...I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do.”

He nodded, taking that in. “Well, it’s good to see you. Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” she said and frowned at her can of pop.

“We should get going,” Cecily said. “Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to come with us?” she asked in one last attempt to get her sister out and having fun. She was aware of Luke next to her, blinking in astonishment.

But he recovered quickly. “Schwangau has a killer new menu.”

If she’d had any doubts (which she hadn’t), here was proof positive that Luke Goodman was a super nice man. Yes, for once in her life she was being smart about love.

Bailey passed on the offer and shooed them on their way.

“So now we have all the Sterling sisters back in Icicle Falls, huh?” Luke said as they walked to his car.

“It looks like it. Of course, she’s not exactly home because she wants to be.”

“I know.”

She glanced at him in surprise. Although why should she have been surprised? It was a small town, and, for all she knew, Luke had even contributed to Bailey’s legal war chest.

“Hey, I check out the magazine covers when I’m waiting in the checkout line, too,” he said. Then, as though he’d read her mind, he added, “Yeah, I kicked in a few bucks for the cause.”

Once inside the car, which was a hybrid, she smiled. Luke’s head practically reached the ceiling. “Do you ever get claustrophobic in this?”