watched her with affection. Every once in a while they traded private little smiles that made Grace happy for them even while she was sad for herself. She despaired of ever finding someone she could love as much as she loved Wyatt.
The whole family went to church on Sunday, leaving Jada in charge of the inn. Molly shifted and twitched beside her until Grace was ready to put an elbow in her ribs. After church they went back home and had lunch in the dining room.
Levi and Mia were flying to LA tomorrow with as much of Levi’s belongings as he could stash in his suitcases. There’d be a press release and interviews about their wedding, which had still gone unnoticed.
They feasted on Miss Della’s fried chicken and potato salad until they were stuffed. Lunch was slowly winding down, and the other guests had already finished and gone on about their day, leaving the dining room to the family.
Grace glanced around the table, acutely aware that her siblings were now coupled up, making her the proverbial fifth wheel. Would it always be this way?
Mia pushed back her empty plate. “I’m not ready to get back on a plane tomorrow.”
“Or travel across three more time zones,” Levi said.
“And I don’t even want to get on the scale. I ate my body weight in baguettes.”
“You look great. Please tell me I’m not going to be subsisting on tofu and seaweed once we get to LA.”
Mia shrugged and gave him a you’ll just have to wait and see look.
“Well,” Grace said, “I know you’re excited about moving, but don’t forget to sign the Johnsons’ offer before you leave.”
“Did the attorney review it?” Levi asked. “Everything’s on the up-and-up?”
“Um . . .” Molly cleared her throat and traded a peculiar look with Adam. “I wanted to talk to you guys about that . . .”
A niggle of anxiety wormed into Grace’s heart. If that offer fell through she’d lose her house—and her earnest money. “What? Everything’s all right with the offer, isn’t it? They didn’t back out or something?”
Molly shifted her weight, giving Adam a nervous look, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders.
“I was just thinking . . . ,” Molly began. “What if we didn’t sell the inn after all?”
“What?” Levi said.
Grace threw down her napkin. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Wait, wait, give me a chance to explain.”
“I have a house on the line here, Molly.”
“In case you forgot, I’m moving to LA.”
“Seriously,” Grace said. “Hasn’t he done enough for us?”
Levi looked at her in surprise, and she gave a sheepish shrug. So she usually took Molly’s side.
“Hear her out, guys,” Adam broke in with that quiet but firm voice of his.
Grace took a deep breath, as did Levi. The room was as quiet as the lake at daybreak, every eye on Molly, waiting for her to explain herself.
“None of that has to change.” Molly looked at Grace. “I know what that house and your business mean to you. And Levi, you have done so much for us. I’d never ask you to stay longer than you already have. You and Mia deserve a chance to start your lives in LA together. I’d never suggest derailing your plans, any of you.”
“Then what are you suggesting?” Levi asked, somewhat mollified.
Molly sat up straight and met each of their eyes, one by one. “I want to stay here and run the inn myself.”
Grace blinked at her sister.
Levi seemed to be equally surprised, but he was the first to recover. “Okay . . . What about Italy?”
“No.” Grace shook her head. “I know you guys are financially set here, but some of us need the money from the sale. Molly, you know I don’t have the resources to refurbish that house and get my business off the—”
“You wouldn’t have to.” She traded a look with Adam. “We want to buy the inn, Adam and me. We’ll pay each of you your shares, and I’ll run the inn myself—with hired help, of course. I’ll hire a bookkeeper; we can afford it. And I promise, I won’t bother either of you for anything. I won’t beg you to keep the books, Levi. And Grace, I won’t ask you to clean rooms or work the desk. I know you’re both ready to move on, and you deserve that. And I know you have your heart set on that house,