“You made it sound like your evening would be ruined if I wasn’t here. Something I totally understand, by the way.”
Everyone laughed.
They talked for a few minutes, then Cassidy took their father upstairs to get settled. Sage followed Daisy into the dining room, where they set the table.
“Are you really okay that I’m here?” Sage asked. “If it’s better to just have a family night, I can come back.”
“You are family,” Daisy said without thinking, then realized she meant it. Sage was part of her family now.
“When you put it like that.” Sage cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
Daisy stared at her stepsister. “Something’s different,” she said, not sure what had caught her attention. Sage hadn’t cut her hair and her makeup was its usual, perfect self. “It’s your smile. It’s very smug. Did you get a promotion at work?”
“I had sex with Adam.”
Daisy felt her mouth drop open. She closed it and grabbed Sage’s hand. “You did? When? Are you happy? Was it great? I always liked Adam so I want it to be great.”
Sage grinned. “It was amazing. He’s funny and smart and kind and he gets me. We had a wonderful night. Seriously, I couldn’t get enough of him.”
Her smile faded. “I like him, Daisy. I haven’t liked anyone in a long time and I don’t want to blow it.”
“Then don’t.”
“It’s not that easy. I tend to screw up every relationship and I don’t want to mess up with him.”
“Then don’t,” she repeated, holding up her hand. “Be aware of what’s happening. When you get to that place where you see danger, turn away. Ask what I would do and then do that. Not that I have the world’s greatest track record, but I don’t instinctively run toward disaster.”
Sage laughed. “What would Daisy do? I like it. I like it a lot.”
* * *
Sage handed the box to the clerk at FedEx, telling herself it was for the greater good. Despite her mother’s promise to come up with a plan, Joanne was still drinking too much and crying throughout the day. Worse, the house was starting to smell like a boys’ locker room. Something had to be done.
When she got home, her mother was curled up on the family room sofa, her eyes puffy, her face pale. She’d managed to pull on wrinkled, stained sweatpants and a T-shirt.
“Hey, Mom,” Sage said cheerfully. “How are you feeling?”
“Lost. Alone. Old. Useless. Unwanted.” Joanne looked up. “And you?”
Sage smiled at her. “I’m sorry you’re still feeling down.”
“Down?” Her mother gave a humorless laugh. “That’s one way to describe it.”
Sage ignored the words and the attitude. “I got you something that should help you feel better.” She paused until her mother was looking at her. “A week at the Golden Door spa.”
Joanne’s eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. She sprang to her feet. “Are you serious? You did that for me?”
“I did.” The gift had come at a steep price, but desperate times and all that. Plus she was looking forward to having the house to herself for a week.
“Oh my God!”
Her mother pulled herself to her feet and hugged her. Sage tried not to wince at how bad she smelled.
“They’re expecting you Saturday,” Sage told her, stepping out of the embrace.
“I haven’t been there in forever. Not since I was married to Wallace.” Her happiness dimmed. “Those were wonderful years.”
“And now you get to go back,” Sage said, hoping to remind her of her good fortune.
“You’re right and it’s wonderful.” She touched her hair, then scrunched up her face. “I need to take a shower and start a detox. I’ll want a pedicure before I go. No need for a facial—I’ll be getting one there. This is just so wonderful, Sage. Thank you so much.”
“Of course.”
Joanne hurried toward her room. Sage spent the next hour picking up the house and cleaning the kitchen. After vacuuming, she glanced outside and saw Adam sitting at his desk in the shade. She walked out to see him.
“Want some company?” she asked, standing by the fence. “Or are you too busy with work?”
He smiled at her, a warm, knowing smile that gave her butterflies in her stomach.
“I’d like a little company,” he said.
She went through her house and over to his, then let herself inside. He met her in the family room and pulled her close. As she stepped into his arms, she thought about how right this all felt.
“What’s going on?” he asked after he’d kissed her and pulled her down next to