make peace. One couple fighting is all this family can handle right now.”
“I’ll call him in the morning,” Samantha said. “Or see him at that brunch you’re planning. I imagine you’ll figure out some way to be sure we’re seated together.”
Cora Jane gave her an impatient look. “Allowing bad feelings to simmer overnight is never a good thing. Haven’t I told all you girls that good marriages mean going to bed with a kiss, not a frown?”
Samantha shook her head. “I can’t help believing that an occasional night of someone being banished to sleep on the couch can get a point across.”
Cora Jane shook her head. “Okay, let’s look at it another way. When is it easier to apologize, the second you know you’ve done something wrong or after you’ve allowed the misdeed to grow and grow in the other person’s mind and in your own?”
Samantha scowled at her. “You’re talking about me waiting to tell you I was sorry when I broke the antique silver mirror that had belonged to your grandmother, aren’t you?”
“How many days did you suffer before you finally told the truth and apologized? Was that any fun? Was it any easier after waiting all that time?”
“No,” Samantha said grudgingly. “And I didn’t sleep a wink for two nights. Maybe, though, that was the punishment I deserved.”
“So this is about punishing Ethan for being loyal to his friend rather than to you?” Cora Jane asked.
She could tell from Samantha’s resigned expression that she’d nailed her feelings on the very first try.
“Something like that,” Samantha conceded with unmistakable reluctance.
Gabi had been listening intently, and now a grin broke across her face. “Here comes the lecture on maturity, right, Grandmother?”
“Save it,” Samantha pleaded. “I get it. I will call Ethan. I hope you won’t mind, though, if I take a little delight in waking him out of a sound sleep.”
“Something tells me he’s going to be every bit as wide awake as you are,” Cora Jane said. “Nobody sleeps well when things between them and a person they care about are unresolved.” She stood up. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to give Jerry a call. I all but abandoned him at that dinner party. He’s owed an apology, too.”
Samantha turned to Gabi. “What about you? Anyone you need to mend fences with tonight?”
“Nope. Wade and I are good. In fact, he’s in Daniella’s room right now, rocking her to sleep.”
“Well, for once, just tell the man to stay put and spend the night here,” Cora Jane said. “Sending him out the door at midnight isn’t fooling anyone.”
That said, she walked out of the bedroom, leaving Samantha and Gabi staring after her. Nothing pleased her more than surprising her granddaughters and leaving them with a little something to think about. She’d done a good night’s work just now, hopefully given them a push to get their lives back on an even keel. She could hardly wait to tell Jerry all about it.
* * *
Ethan had been stewing ever since Samantha had hung up on him. He would have gone barging in over there to set the record straight, but he figured with Boone trying to work things out with Emily, there was enough drama going on.
He’d taken a shower, crawled into bed and was staring at the ceiling when his phone rang. He glanced at caller ID and saw that it was Samantha.
“Hello,” he said, his tone chilly.
“You’re furious,” she said at once.
“Not furious,” he contradicted. “I am a little confused about how this thing between Boone and Emily got to be about you and me.”
“Because I made it about us,” she admitted. “And I shouldn’t have. I’m sure Boone talked to you in confidence.”
“He did.”
“And I would have thought less of you if you’d betrayed his trust,” she admitted.
“Sort of a catch-22 for me, wouldn’t you say?”
She laughed. “Pretty much. I’m sorry.”
“Are you? Or did Cora Jane insist you apologize?”
“She might have mentioned she thought I was in the wrong and owed you an apology. Still, I really am sorry.”
Ethan relented. “Me, too. How are things over there?”
“Boone’s here. Emily went downstairs to talk to him. So far there’s been no yelling. No doors have slammed. And Boone’s car is still outside.”
“Then it’s possible they’re working things out?” he said, relieved.
“You afraid you weren’t going to get to dress up in your tuxedo?”
“Believe me, that was not even on my list of worries,” he said. “If Boone weren’t counting on me, I’d have happily skipped that