Two-Part Harmony

He put a hand on her shoulder. That had been part of it. “Did it work?”

“Maybe a little. It may sound weird, but I still wish Grammy could be here to see this. She’d be so grateful, and probably taken aback by everyone showing up for her.” She collected a couple of empty coffee mugs on the table closest to them. “I’ve got to get back to playing hostess.”

She started to walk away, then glanced back at him. “I think the lawyer told you about the reading of the will tomorrow?”

Zac Hall, the family lawyer, had approached Sam at the funeral home and mentioned that he would need to be there, since Grammy had named him in her will. Not that she owed him anything or that he deserved it. “Which doesn’t make any sense. Why do I have to be there?”

“Just remember that Grammy wanted what was best for all of us. And that includes you, too.” She paused to watch Kelly behind the glass pastry cases, handling a new box of tea bags. “Tomorrow is going to change a lot of things around here. I hope we can still all be friends at the end of the day.”

She rushed over to a table at the far side of the bakery, and he was left confused. What in the world was that all about?

* * *

KELLY COLLECTED THE last of the china tea cups and brought the full tray into the kitchen where Megs was washing and placing them on the rack next to the sink. Her sister had told her that Grammy had meant to replace the old dishwasher, but had never gotten around to it. Now she never would.

Kelly grabbed a dish towel and started drying the cups and other dishes, and stacking them neatly on the standing carts. They worked in silence until every bowl, fork and last cookie tray was put away.

Megs gave her a soft smile, collapsing onto a stool. “Glad that’s over.”

“It’s been a long day.” Kelly yawned and rolled her shoulders, trying to ease away some of the tension that seemed to have lodged there.

“More like a long three days.” Megs pulled her hair off her neck and twisted it into a knot on top of her head. “We could have a late dinner at the diner before going home.”

“I’m not hungry.”

Megs stood and grabbed up a cleaning rag. “Nah. Me, either.”

Kelly stretched her arms above her head and gestured to the front of the bakery. “Sam’s almost finished sweeping out there. He said he’d mop, too. I don’t know where he’s got all this energy after a day like this.”

Megs wiped down the last counter then turned to her. “I told Gina and Tom that we’ll reopen Saturday at four a.m. I need one more day before we attempt normal life.”

“Everybody understands that.”

Megs flicked the rag back and forth. “The longer we stay closed, the less money the bakery brings in, which means the less available to pay my employees. And our suppliers.”

“And you said you don’t know anything about running the business.”

“I’m serious.” Megs slowly ran a hand down the clean counter top. “I won’t lose the bakery because Grammy isn’t here anymore. I’ll do everything required to keep it going.”

Now that sounded like the Megs she knew and loved. “So take a small-business class or something. Get educated so you can manage it all better.”

Megs bit her lip, looking hesitant. “You think I could do that?”

“Doesn’t the library offer things like that? Or the community college?” Kelly took out her phone and started the search app. “I know they’ve got stuff like that online at least.” She found one course and held the phone out to her sister. “You can do it on your own time at your own pace.”

Megs took the phone and read the screen, then gave a shrug. “What own time? With Grammy gone, it’s all on me. I won’t have time to breathe much less take a class. I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can.” Kelly walked over to her sister and took her phone back, slipping it into one of the front pockets of her apron. “You can do anything. Especially if you have help.”

Her sister stared at her with undisguised skepticism. “Who’s going to help me?”

Kelly took a deep breath and pointed at her chest. “Me.”

Megs laughed as she scooted away to retrieve the stack of dry trays that needed to be stored away. She continued to chortle while she placed them on the shelves. Kelly frowned. “It’s not that funny.”

“You don’t know the first thing about the science of baking. Or what it requires to create a superior product.”

There was a science to it? She’d barely passed that particular class more than once. “Okay, so I don’t.” Kelly narrowed her eyes. “But you do. And so do Gina and Tom. Surely there’s something I can do to lend a hand around here.”

Her sister grimaced and put her hands on her waist. “And what about Nashville?”

“I’ve been thinking about that for the past few days, and Nashville will still be there once you get the bakery going again.” She hoped the panic that rose in her chest wouldn’t show on her face. She would go back to her singing, eventually, but it wouldn’t hurt to take some time to assist Megs. Or make it something more permanent. She frowned. “Besides, it could be time for me to come back home. Give up that pipe dream.”

Megs shook her head. “Oh, no. No way. If I have to keep Grammy’s bakery dream alive, then you have to keep pursuing your music.”

“Maybe I’m done with music. Or maybe it’s done with me. You heard what happened at the funeral when I tried to sing.” She’d barely been able to choke out the words after being rescued by her sister and the congregation. “Are you actually turning down my help? After everything you’ve said to me about not doing my fair share?”

For a long moment, the swish of Sam’s mop was the only sound that could be heard, until Megs sighed. “Fine.” She held up one finger. “But it’s only temporary. Grammy would never forgive me if I let you give up on your talent.”

“Don’t you think she’d appreciate that I’m helping you, so that you don’t?”

Sam pushed through the swinging doors. “It’s all set up front. Do you need my help back here?”

Megs and Kelly kept their eyes on each other rather than turning to face him. Sam asked, “Uh. Am I interrupting something?”

Megs gave him a quick smile. “Thanks for staying and cleaning up.”

Sam grinned. “Have to be honest. It wasn’t without an ulterior motive.”

Of course, Kelly thought. No one ever helped out for free. She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for him to continue. All of a sudden, he looked sheepish. “I was hoping to take home some of those leftover cheese croissants for my breakfast tomorrow.”

Megs’s smile widened and she hurried to retrieve a white paper bag. She took several pieces of wax paper and carefully wrapped three rolls. Once they were inside the bag, she folded the top over a couple of times and then handed it to him. “Payment in kind. Thanks again for your assistance.”

He clutched the bag to his heart. “I’m getting the better end of this deal.” He peered around the kitchen. “Are you done in here? I’ll follow you two back home.”

Kelly couldn’t stifle a yawn. “I’m done in. Megs?”

She shook her head and swept a look around the kitchen. “You two go ahead. I have something I need to do. Alone.”

Kelly put her hand on her sister’s arm. “It can wait until tomorrow, can’t it?”

She felt someone pulling at her other hand. Sam.

“Let’s give her some time. I’ll get you back to the house.”

She took her hand away from his, then watched her sister who was fussing with canisters and some cutlery on the marble counter. Megs waved her off. “Go. I’ll be five, maybe ten minutes behind you.”

Kelly retrieved her sweater from the hook by the back door as well as her purse then followed Sam out to his pickup. She waited while he hit the button on his key fob to unlock the doors. She turned to look at the bakery. When Sam got in on the driver’s side, she got into the passenger seat, but kept her gaze out the window. “Do you think she’ll be okay there alone?”