to her sister’s house. Her parents had returned her car to her two days after Jenny had run off with it. Anna had been grateful. Even though she’d told her sister not to worry about getting the car back to her, driving Phillip’s car had proven too difficult. In so many ways. Since the car had sat for months, Anna had to call a mechanic to get it started. Then someone had to clean it from the inside out. Looking at the once-pristine vehicle, she couldn’t help drawing a comparison between that damn car and her marriage. The car wasn’t the only thing in their household that needed revitalization.
She glanced at Cody in the rearview mirror. As usual, he was doing his best to ignore her. She’d tried to convince him to sit up front with her, but he’d refused. Like he had been refusing every effort she made to reach out to him. Thankfully, school was out, and he’d managed to get all of his missing assignments turned in. Even though he’d only ended up missing two of his baseball games while he worked with the tutor, he still hadn’t forgiven her.
When they pulled into Jenny’s driveway, Anna nearly stomped on the brakes, sure she was at the wrong place. Four cars were in the parking lot, and a group of people were boarding the plane. But the obvious business activity wasn’t the only difference. The place looked amazing. Beautiful. The yard was in pristine condition, the cedar shingles on the house had been cleaned and were once again a soft dove gray. Fresh white paint coated the window trim and the porch railing, and the garden was in glorious full bloom.
She’d barely gotten the car parked before Cody jumped out. He headed straight for Jenny, who was exiting the hangar, a stack of folders in her hand. Always beautiful, her sister still looked gorgeous but . . . different. She wore a flowered print skirt, white lace top, and pink flip-flops. Her blonde hair was piled at the back of her head in a mass of riotous curls. But as she bent down and hugged Cody, Anna realized there was something more to her sister today than her breathtakingly good looks. There was an air of self-confidence about her that Anna had never seen.
Slowly, Anna got out of the car and grabbed Cody’s things.
“Hi, Anna.” Jenny sounded genuinely happy to see her.
“So, I guess we’re stuck with the rug rat for a couple of days.”
“Hey,” Cody said, trying to sound offended, but his smile ruined the effect.
Jenny gave him a playful bump on the shoulder. “Just kidding, kiddo.”
“I hope you don’t mind. It’s just that—”
“I know,” Jenny said with a smile. “You have to work. I understand.”
The plane started up, and they turned to watch as the pontoons parted the water and the plane taxied out toward the middle of the lake. Sunshine glistened off the water like Christmas tinsel. A few puffy, snow white clouds dotted the blue sky.
“Looks like you had a full plane today,” Anna said over the noise.
“Almost. One empty seat.”
“Only one?”
“Yeah.” Jenny’s smile was big and bright. “It’s really wonderful, Anna. I know I should have called, but I’ve been swamped. In a very, very good way.” She laughed. “Blue Sky has recently landed several new accounts, and I’m getting new bookings almost daily for the vacation packages I put together. Most of the information is on the website, but there are a few details I still need to iron out.”
“Website? Accounts? Vacation packages?”
Jenny laughed again. “I know. A bit overwhelming.”
Cody turned his eyes away from the plane. “Hey, Aunt Jenny. Guess what?”
“What?”
“My team made the playoffs. Can you come?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Anna stared at her sister. She hadn’t asked a single question. Not when, where, or what time. Without hesitation, she’d agreed, and Anna knew Jenny meant it. She would be there, no matter what.
“Cool. Grandma and Grandpa said they’d be there, too. What about Jared? Will he come?”
A shadow crossed over her sister. It was there and then gone so quickly that Anna wondered if she’d imagined it.
“You’ll have to ask him. But it’s going to be a tight fit in the stands with your mom, me, Grandma, and—”
“Mom can’t make it. She’s gonna be at work. Just like Dad.”
Jenny put her arm around Cody and gave him a hug. Cody leaned into her embrace, and Anna couldn’t help but feel a pinch of jealousy. “You know your