CHAPTER TWELVE
Friday, January 1

Stephanie leaned back with a big sigh. “So that’s my deal in a nutshell.”

She’d arrived in Hope Springs a couple of hours earlier, and though she was curled up on the sofa dead tired, she was having a good time with her cousins.

Janelle and Libby looked at one another, clearly suppressing their amusement.

“Y’all, it’s not funny. I’m serious.” She propped herself up on an elbow. “I wanted to be real about why I’m here so you wouldn’t be thinking it’s out of the goodness of my heart. This is straight boot camp for me, and you will see me in a funk now and then because it’s not my nature to want to help.”

Libby laughed outright. “You said that like it’s most people’s nature to go above and beyond. Your vision is just skewed because you grew up under that sister of yours. And I was cursed to be the ‘twin’ of this one, who’ll drop everything to take care of her grandmother.” She crossed her legs. “You didn’t hear me volunteer to do a thing.”

“I sure wish people would stop acting like I’m doing something huge,” Janelle said. “If life were normal and David were still here, I wouldn’t have volunteered either. I’m just trying to survive.”

“So I can go ahead and tell God I’m cool then,” Stephanie said. “I’m no more selfish than the next person. No need for boot camp.” She saluted. “Adios, amigas.”

“Uh, little cousin, I hate to tell you,” Libby said, “but you’re here now and might as well do your time—just don’t try to recruit me.”

“And just ’cause you said that, I’m gonna pray God throws you in.”

They laughed as cheers went up on the other side of the room. Kory had come to pick up Dee, and some guy—Stephanie forgot his name, but it wasn’t Al—had come to see Libby. They’d both ended up in front of the television watching the Rose Bowl game.

“But seriously, Janelle,” Stephanie said, “don’t assume I’ll know how to pitch in. I want you to tell me what I can do to help you. That’s why I’m here.”

“How long are you staying?” Libby asked.

“Four weeks, which is how long Lindell will be away.”

“If it was even four days, it would be awesome,” Janelle said. “I really appreciate this, Steph.”

“Girl, pray my strength.” Stephanie chuckled as she got up. “Anybody want anything?” She looked across the room, but the guys shook their head no. She licked her finger and stroked the air. “One point already for offering my assistance.” She got her glass from the coffee table and started down the hall. “Going to get some more Coke and some dip to go with these chips. Thank God this ain’t no diet boot camp. I can only combat one vice at a time.”

Stephanie opened the refrigerator and got the dip. Then she got ice from the freezer, plunked it into her glass, and opened the fridge again for the Coke. She backed up—“Oh.” It was Libby’s guy friend. “Excuse me, I didn’t know you were behind me.”

“No problem.” He hardly moved. “How was your drive? You said you came from Kansas City?”

She didn’t bother to correct him. She moved around him to pour her drink. “It was . . . long, but good.”

He looked at her hand. “Married?”

She looked at him before pouring. “Happily. Why?”

He shrugged. “Just asking.”

She carried the Coke back to the fridge.

“You’re a good-looking woman, you know that?”

Stephanie pushed the fridge to a close and turned. “Must run in the family, because so is the woman you came here to see.”

She picked up her drink and the dip and started back.

Lord, if he says one more thing, I’m going off on him.

The guy returned to the living room minutes later with a bowl of black-eyed peas Aunt Estelle had made before she and Uncle Russell got on the road back to Florida. He sat next to Libby, and they shared it like two lovebirds.

Stephanie hadn’t realized how much she and her cousin Libby had in common. She had lived that same life. She glanced over at her cousin. Maybe she was here for more reasons than she knew. She didn’t know if Libby would ever listen to her—Stephanie had been there too. But one thing was sure . . . the road Libby was on was nowhere near as appealing as it seemed.