through; she truly believed that having someone to love without judgment made anything bearable—financial ruin, loss, hard times. Was that why everyone insisted you needed love in your life? Lily wondered, her thoughts drifting to the Holloways. Losing Crystal brought home the fact that life was hard and enduring hardship alone was a humbling ordeal.
“Listen to me,” Violet said, “going on about myself.”
Lily smiled. “It’s fine. I think you’re really something.”
“Not sure what, though, huh?” Violet looked around the neat, well-organized kitchen. “We’re so different. How did we turn out so different?”
It was a good question. Only a year apart in age, they’d each branched off in wildly different directions. One became a true believer in love and the other an utter heathen when it came to matters of the heart. Raised by bitter, embattled parents, Violet had rebelled, determined to have her own happy family. She’d rushed headlong into an impractical love and a chaotic family life. Lily, on the other hand, built a wall around herself and refused to take risks with her emotions.
“I bet a psychiatrist would have a field day with us, eh?”
“No, because you never talk about the past,” Violet pointed out. “Then again, I suppose you don’t have to. You live your life in a way that screams out what you won’t say aloud.”
Lily felt as though the air had been sucked out of her lungs. She recovered quickly and smiled as though Violet had made a joke. “How are dear old Mom and Dad, anyway?” she asked.
“Old. But not dear.” Violet shook her head. “Maybe all the fighting is good for them. They are in excellent health, as always.”
“Mom came to see me right after the accident. Surprised the heck out of me. I was surprised to see them at the funeral, too,” Lily admitted.
“They’re not the enemy, you know.”
“No,” Lily conceded. “There are no enemies in this, just like there weren’t any when we lost Evan.” Her family had been forged by tragedy and its aftermath. And now it was happening all over again to Crystal’s family.
“I hope they do a better job than we did,” Violet said.
They were quiet for a while, listening to the children at play in the backyard.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Lily said. “How long can you stay?”
“Only until Rick picks us up in a little while. I’m hoping we won’t have to leave the Winnebago here for long. Just until we get a house with a place to park it. Actually, we’re going to need to sell it.”
“So why not just sell it?”
“You know Rick. He hasn’t come around to my way of thinking yet. So in the meantime, we’ll keep it parked.” She eyed Lily uncertainly. “That is, if it’s okay with you.”
Okay? Having a land yacht parked amid her prize-winning rhododendrons?
She took a deep breath. This was a family affair, she reminded herself. Blood was thicker than…plant matter. “It’s fine,” she said.
“Thanks, Lil. We’ll be forever in your debt. Oh, wait. We are forever in your debt. We’ll never get out.”
“Don’t be silly. I wish I could help you more.”
Violet beamed at her. “You’re a saint, I swear. And hey, you can take it out anytime you want. I mean it. The thing is a lot of fun. It sleeps six. Rick wanted a big one in case we have more kids.”
Good plan, thought Lily, but she held her tongue.
“You could take Crystal’s kids camping, maybe.”
“I doubt I’ll be taking your Winnebago anywhere,” Lily said.
“You never know.”
“That’s the story of my life these days,” Lily confessed. “I never know what’s happening next.”
Violet sobered. “How are you doing?”
“Not great.” Lily felt a now-familiar prickle in her throat. “I miss her so much, Vi. She meant the world to me, and now that she’s gone, I hardly know what to do with myself.”
Violet gave her a hug. “Ah, Lily. I wish you weren’t so alone.” She pulled back and looked Lily in the eye. “Listen, I know what you’re probably thinking. Just because someone you love died doesn’t mean you should never love again.”
How well her sister knew her, Lily thought. “It means I never should have loved in the first place.”
“You don’t get to choose, Lil. Why not let yourself be crazy about Crystal’s kids? Lord knows, they need it. Who’s raising them?”
“Sean, the uncle on Derek’s side. You met him at the funeral.”
“The hunk? How could I forget? So he’s single, right?”
Lily flashed on an image of Maura, all long legs and intelligent eyes. “For