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overnight case into the back of Sage’s car for the return trip to Eternity Springs. “I had such a nice time.”
“Me too.” Sage closed the door, then took her seat behind the wheel.
Sarah sat in the front passenger seat, then twisted, reaching behind her to rub Snowdrop’s head and greet her before fastening her seat belt. “After the way I whipped your butt at Trivial Pursuit last night, I halfway expected you to move Snowdrop’s car safety seat to the front and make me ride in the back on the way home.”
“Nah.” Sage started the car. “The backseat is safer.”
Sarah turned around to speak to the dog. “Now I know how I rate. Snowdrop, your mommy loves …” She broke off, then frowned at Sage. “Sage, you painted that dog’s toenails.”
“We were awake in the middle of the night and it seemed like the thing to do. It’s a great color, isn’t it? Paint My Moji-Toes Red.”
“That’s just wrong.” Sarah pulled two bottles of water from the tote bag at her feet, set them in the cup holders on the console, then settled in for the trip. “I know the whole costume thing is a dig at Colt Rafferty, but you are beginning to worry me. Your dog has more hair bows than my daughter ever did.”
“You always said Lori was a tomboy. Snowdrop is a diva.”
“And she has the rhinestone tiara to prove it.” Sarah shook her head in disgust.
Grinning, Sage shifted the car into reverse as Gabe Callahan exited the bed and breakfast with his arms loaded with baby paraphernalia. Rather than driving west like the rest of their party, Gabe and his family were heading south to Texas for a Callahan family get-together. As she exited the B&B’s parking lot, Sage gave her horn a little honk for one more good-bye.
“I still can’t believe they’re taking Clarence with them,” Sarah said, referring to Gabe’s dog. “They sure will have their hands full.”
“Nic told me Gabe worried himself sick about the dog over Christmas.”
“He did. He called every day to check on him, but he didn’t need to fret. Clarence gets along fine with Daisy and Duke,” Sarah said, speaking of her own golden retrievers. “I’d have kept Clarence this time, too, but Nic said Gabe’s father wanted the whole family down in Brazos Bend.”
As she waited to pull out onto the street, Sage glanced in her rearview mirror and saw Celeste exit the B&B along with LaNelle Harrison, Emily Hall, the owner of the town newspaper, and the town’s librarian, Margaret Rhodes. LaNelle and Margaret were riding back with Emily.
“We have such a good group,” Sarah observed as she waved good-bye to the others. “I can’t say I’m sorry Marlene cancelled her plans to tag along. She can really be a downer.”
“She’s better than she used to be. Actually, ever since Marcus Burnes invited her to tag along on his photography shoot up in Rocky Mountain National Park, she’s been downright cheerful. That romance is really heating up.” Sage’s thoughts drifted over the members of their group, and she added, “It’s too bad Lori couldn’t join us.”
A shadow passed over Sarah’s face. “It’s not that she couldn’t. She didn’t want to join us. Well, join me, anyway. She might have come if it meant riding with you or Nic and not me. These days, it’s like we’re strangers—seems like all we do is fight.”
“I think that’s normal, especially for a mother and daughter as close as the two of you. She has to separate some in order to make that frightening leap that is going off to college.”
“I know. Knowing it’s normal doesn’t make living it easier.” She blew out a heavy sigh, then said, “Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
In the way of good friends, Sage and Sarah spent the drive in alternating bouts of conversation and silence. They talked music and baseball and the upcoming planning meeting for the summer arts festival. They had decided to dawdle their way home, so they took the scenic route and made frequent stops including a leisurely lunch. Sage enjoyed the trip tremendously and she was happy and relaxed and ever so glad she’d joined the Patchwork Angels for the road trip.
As they started up Sinner’s Prayer Pass, Sarah said, “Ali showed me that box of Cavanaugh stuff. I think I’m going to take her up on her offer to give those coins to Lori.”
Sage glanced over in surprise. Sarah had been adamantly against this since Ali first told