CHAPTER 18

Grace

Grace pulled her Honda into the driveway and turned off the engine, the lights shutting off as the rain battered against the car roof. It was raining cats and dogs, pale flashes of lightning rippling through the air, an occasional rumble popping up now and then. Better to wait here until it lightens up.

Smiling, she closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat, tired but happy.

It was late, but Linda had promised to stay until eight, so Grace had ten more minutes before she had to be inside. Ten minutes to sit here and rest and go back through her mental check list. The festival was a scant month away, but she was 99.9 percent sure everything was in place.

Thunder rumbled a little closer, and rain sluiced down. This past month had been a blur. Every time she thought they were set with their plans for the festival, someone on the committee would come up with another great idea. But it was more than the festival. Other things were moving along at a terrific pace.

Daisy was sill enjoying her “job” as Official Town Helper, as Sarah called it, and Grace couldn’t believe the difference in her niece. She wasn’t always in a good mood, but her outbursts had disappeared and she was quickly making friends with everyone in town. Her “job” had made her transition into Sweet Creek Elementary successful too, as she already knew most of the kids from helping with Sarah’s Children’s Hour.

Grace was making friends as well—good ones. Ones she couldn’t imagine not having in her life, especially Sarah. Grace had grown to love the quirky, book-loving, Dove Pond–adoring librarian. As opposite as they were, in some odd way, Sarah’s loose, unplanned approach to life balanced out Grace’s overly structured one.

And then there was Trav. Her head still against the headrest, she opened her eyes and looked at his house. His lights were on, and she had to fight the urge to text him an invitation to come over, late as it was. Since that night over a month ago when she’d had a meltdown upon finding Mama G’s knitting basket, Trav had become something of a fixture at their house. The day after that dreadful night, he’d shown up with a bag of tools and set out to fix every creak and leak that made their rental less than perfect.

Grace appreciated his efforts, but more than that, it was nice having him around. He teased Daisy and was gentle with Mama G. He was quiet, but funny and smart when he did talk. She loved his wry comments.

She also liked that he’d never once put himself forward after the night she’d slept wrapped in his arms. She was aware that he watched her, though, his dark gaze following her every move. Grace wasn’t sure what to make of that and she sometimes wished he would say or do something . . . more. Maybe he was waiting on her? She wasn’t sure.

Well, she had time. She wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon.

Sighing, she dropped her gaze to her satchel and pulled out her binder, flipping through it to double-check the items. One month from tomorrow would be the culmination of the committee’s work, Dove Pond’s very own fresh, newly imagined Apple Festival, two days of stellar family fun. Grace couldn’t wait.

The rain let up some, and, seeing her chance, she collected her things and hopped out of her car, opening her umbrella as she went. She tugged her sweater closer and kept her gaze on the sidewalk to avoid puddles. She was halfway up the walk when she realized the front door was standing wide open.

She stopped in her tracks. Something was wrong.

It wasn’t just the door.

It was the silence.

At this time of the night, she should hear the jazz Mama G liked, or Daisy and Linda talking. But the house was completely silent.

Grace’s heart tightened, and she hurried to the porch, ignoring the splashing rain as she dashed up the crooked steps. She tossed her open umbrella to one side as she hurried into the foyer. “Linda? Daisy? Mama G?” she called.

No one answered.

She dug in her purse for her phone, frowning to see that there were no messages. She called Linda, but it went straight to voice mail.

Irked, she dropped her phone on a side table and hurried through the house, going from room to room, her footsteps echoing loudly.

The house was lit as usual, the blinds drawn, table lamps ablaze, the lights in the dining room and kitchen on, as they usually were. But where were they? What had happened? Had someone been hurt? As she searched the house, she looked for the telltale marks of an accident—a broken vase, a drop of blood, a piece of furniture out of place.

But everything was as it should be. Mama G’s cell phone was tucked in her knitting basket, where she usually left it and then forgot about it. Daisy’s bedroom door was ajar, Little Women open to the final chapter. Linda’s lunch box, part of her dieting efforts, still sat on the kitchen counter. A nearly empty cup of tea sat in the sink.

Nothing was off. Not a single thing.

Which was even more terrifying.

Images began to flicker through Grace’s mind, her overactive imagination spurred by her growing panic.

She turned back to the door, took two steps, and then stopped. Where did she start? Had they gone for a walk? Not at this time of the night. And not in the rain. And heaven knew they wouldn’t have left the front door wide open.

She should . . .

She blinked. God, she had no idea. But something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

She went back to the porch and noticed that only one set of wet tracks led inside—her own. If something had happened and an ambulance had come, it had to have been before the rain began, which was hours ago. But then why hadn’t someone called her?

Where are they? Lightning flashed across the black sky, followed by the sharp crack of thunder. She jumped, her heart already pounding wildly, and hurried back inside. Please, God, let them be okay.

Hands shaking, she found her phone and dialed. She’d barely stammered out one sentence before Sarah said, “Wait for me there.”

Grace called Trav next. He arrived before she put the phone down. He took one look at her and, in two strides, had crossed the room and enveloped her in a hug. “You’ve already searched the house?”

“Yes. They’re not here. No one is. I tried Linda’s phone, but it went straight to voice mail and I—” She looked at Trav. “What do I do? I have no idea where to start.” Grace gave a broken laugh. “You know, growing up, Mama G did everything for me—packed my lunches, bandaged my cuts, taught me how to fight my worst tendencies. When I was little, she even cut my hair. She didn’t do it particularly well, but she tried. And now, I don’t even know where she is or where to start looking for her or Daisy or—”

“Grace.” Trav’s warm hand closed over hers. “Take a deep breath. We’re going to find her and Daisy. Did you call Sarah?”

“Yes.” Grace bit her lip. “You think a book will tell her where—”

He shook his head. “But she’ll know what to do. Did you call Blake?”

“Why would— Oh. Blake, of course. He’s the sheriff.” She reached for her phone, but Sarah appeared in the doorway, her rain slicker dripping, Ava close behind. Big umbrellas rested on the porch behind them.

“We are calling Blake,” Trav said.

“I just spoke to him.” Sarah looked at Grace. “Do you have any idea where they went?”

“No. The door was wide open and the house was left empty.”

Ava and Sarah exchanged glances. Sarah came forward. “We were thinking that perhaps Mama G wandered off, with Daisy and Linda in hot pursuit.”

“That can’t be it,” Grace said. “Linda would have called me. I know she would have.”

“I’m sure there’s a reason why she didn’t. Whatever happened, don’t worry. We’re on it.”

“We?”

“Us. Dove Pond.” Sarah’s smile warmed. “I didn’t just call Blake. I called the prayer chains, too.”

“The what?”

“There are two churches in Dove Pond. Half of the people go to one, half to the other. They each have a prayer chain. You call one person, and they call the next, and they call the next. Everyone knows who they have to call. In about ten minutes, every person in Dove Pond will be out looking for Mama G.”

“Oh, thank God.”

Sarah’s phone rang, and she pulled it out of her pocket. “Hi, Ed. No, no. No word yet. Okay. That sounds good . . . Yes, I called Blake. Of course I did. He said for you guys to cover the town and the main buildings. His squad car has a searchlight, so he’s going to check the farms and such. He doubts they’re that far away, but better safe than sorry.” Sarah listened a minute and then she nodded. “Good idea. Can you do that? . . . Great. Okay. We’ll start here.” She hung up and looked at Trav. “Ed wants us to go up and down this street and check all the houses and sheds. They might have taken shelter once the rain started. He’s already got people assigned to the other streets.”

“Which streets?” Grace asked, feeling as if her world was tilting wildly.

“All of them,” Sarah said. “Ava, you and I should get started. Blake asked Ed to set up a control center at the Moonlight. Zoe’s on her way there, but first she’s stopping at town hall to pick up the city’s walkie-talkies.”

“She won’t have the key,” Grace said.

“She’s meeting Mayor Moore there. She was going to call him as soon as I hung up.”

“He won’t answer his phone. He gets bad reception at his house.”

Sarah snorted. “Did he tell you that? He’ll answer the phone for Zoe. And if he doesn’t, she’ll drive over and grab him by the ear.” Sarah turned to Trav. “Text me the second you find anything. I can alert the others. And none of your brief, noncommunicative texts, either. We need details. It’ll save you a phone call.”

“Fine. Details. Got it.”

“I’ll need my coat.” Grace started for the closet, but Sarah shook her head.

“No. You need to stay here.”

“I can’t just sit here while Mama G and Daisy are out there.”

“You have to. Someone needs to be here when they come back.”

A clap of thunder rumbled ominously. Grace found it hard to swallow, her heart aching. “I have to come.”

Sarah’s face softened. “You’re the one they’re going to want to see when we get them home, the one they’ll ask for. You have to be here.”

As much as Grace hated to admit it, Sarah was right.

Grace’s shoulders slumped. It cost her dearly and tears stung her eyes, but she managed to nod her agreement. What if Mama G has fallen into a ditch or been struck by a falling tree limb, or—

“Grace, don’t.” Trav’s deep voice interrupted her increasingly panicked thoughts.

As she met his gaze, she saw his concern, but more than that, she saw his deep reassurance. “She’s going to be fine,” he said.

“They will all be fine,” Sarah said, nodding firmly, her eyes bright. “I promise.”

I promise. It was an empty promise, but now that Grace was an adult, she knew what it really meant—that no matter what happened, they would be there to help her deal with it.

“We’ve got to go.” Sarah headed for the door, Trav following. Sarah’s phone rang as she stepped out onto the porch, and Grace strained to hear what she was saying as she dashed off through the rain.

Ava had stopped by the door. “Make yourself some of Mama G’s tea.”

“I thought it would only work for her?”

“It only works when it’s needed. Make some.” Ava waved, and then was gone.

Grace remained where she was, listening to the rain pouring down. Outside, thunder cracked loudly, and the lights flickered. She couldn’t bear to think of her loved ones out in this weather. They must be so frightened.

Grace found her phone and sank down on the chaise.

Please let them be found.

Please let them be found.

Please let them be found.

She didn’t know how long she waited. It might have been ten minutes, or it might have been an hour. She waited as the lightning flashed across the black sky and the rain poured down. She sat.

Then she paced.

Then she sat some more.

Her phone buzzed, and she almost dropped it in her eagerness to read the text. It was Trav. Someone saw Linda and Daisy earlier. Checking it out now.

Grace waited, staring at the phone. It was funny how time slowed when you most wanted it to hurry. As if it liked to tease the desperate into losing hope.

She raked a hand through her hair and remembered all the times she and Mama G had waited for news of Hannah, back when she’d been so young and had first started running off. You’d think I’d be good at this by now.

But she wasn’t. If anything, she was worse.

The minutes ticked on relentlessly.

Unable to sit still, she stood and paced again, her gaze locked on the phone screen.

She didn’t have long to wait.

Found them, Trav wrote. They are fine.

“Yes!” Grace texted back, They? All three? Mama G too?

She waited.

Not Mama G. Still looking.

Tears burned her eyes. Are you bringing them home? she asked.

Soon. They want to help search.

Grace waited, fighting the urge to ask a thousand questions. Finally, she typed in, Any news about Mama G?

There was no answer.

She dragged her hand through her hair, realizing she was still dressed for work. That seemed wrong, so she kicked off her high heels and ran upstairs to change. She tugged on jeans, a T-shirt, and sturdy boots in case she needed to go out in the weather.

That done, she went back downstairs.

The house was painfully silent.

Tea. Ava had suggested tea.

Grace went to put some water on to boil, wishing her hands didn’t shake so much. She’d just reached over to turn on the stove when her phone buzzed.

Got her, Trav had texted.

Got who? Mama G? And what did he mean, “got”? God, didn’t this man know she needed information? More than two lousy words? As if in answer, another text showed up. Mama G might need Doc Bolton.

Grace gulped a sob. Might? What the hell?

She’d started to call him when she got another text, this time from Sarah. Trav is an idiot. Ankle sprained, but nothing more. Doc Bolton on way to your house.

Grace kissed the phone as another text arrived, this time from Trav. She’s fine, Grace. She’s going to be okay.

Grace stood in the middle of the kitchen, not sure where to go or what to do, so happy she felt as if she could fly.

Blankets.

Dry clothes.

Towels.

She should get those. She ran upstairs, frantically collecting some of each, and then hurried back downstairs.

She’d just piled them on the chaise when her driveway filled with lights. Two trucks, one of them Trav’s, pulled up.

She grabbed a blanket and hurried onto the porch as Trav walked up the sidewalk, carrying a bundle, Ava following. Mama G’s pale face rested near his shoulder, and she was wrapped in a blue tarp, which looked far too much like a shroud for Grace’s comfort.

Trav stepped onto the porch, water pouring off him and the tarp, the porch light spilling over them. He carefully set Mama G on one of the chairs and tugged off the tarp.

She sat half upright, limp but alive, soaked through and through and shivering, her chin moving as her teeth chattered. She had one hand on her leg, and she winced when her heel touched the floor.

Grace wrapped her in a blanket, hugging her swiftly. “I was so worried about you!”

Mama G tried to talk, but her teeth chattered too much for Grace to understand her.

“I’ll go make some tea.” Ava disappeared inside, pausing by the door to remove her wet raincoat and hang it up.

Grace looked at Trav. “Can you take Mama G inside? We’ve got to get her warm.”

Trav nodded and bent to wrap the blanket more tightly around Mama G. He picked her up and carried her through the door and into the sitting room, where he gently placed her on the couch. He nodded toward the fireplace, which hadn’t been used since she’d first moved in. “Should I start a fire? It’ll warm the house faster. There’s wood on the end of the porch; it should be dry.”

“That would be nice.” Grace put a pillow under Mama G’s injured leg and tucked her in with the lap blanket that hung over one end of the couch. Mama G leaned back and closed her eyes, looking as fragile as glass.

Trav left and came back with some split logs and a handful of bark. “There’s no kindling, but this should work.”

Grace watched as he set the fire. “Where did you find Mama G?”

“About three blocks over, in the field behind the elementary school. I don’t think she knew where she was. The lightning frightened her.”

“I’m so glad you found her.”

“I didn’t.” He reached up on the mantel and pulled down the box of matches Mrs. Phelps had left there. “The Spankles did. They live beside the elementary school.”

Ava returned from the kitchen, apparently just catching Trav’s comment. “When the Spankles got the prayer call, one of their kids mentioned that he’d seen a ghost out in the yard earlier.”

“It wasn’t a ghost,” Trav added unnecessarily as he lit the chunks of bark where they stuck out between the logs.

Ava grinned. “Not this time.”

“Where’re Daisy and Linda?” Grace asked.

“With Sarah. They’re on their way here.”

The fire crackled to life, and soon the welcome warmth soothed Mama G’s shivers.

Someone knocked on the door and Trav went to answer it.

“Hello!” Doc Bolton came inside, a bag in his hand.

Trav took the doc’s wet coat.

“Heck of a night for a stroll, isn’t it?” Doc went to Mama G and took her wrist, patting her hand as he took her pulse. “Causing trouble, are you?”

Mama G stirred, tugging weakly on her arm. She looked exhausted, although her teeth had stopped chattering. “What are you doing?”

Grace knelt beside her. “Doc Bolton came to visit and we’re going to have some tea. I— Oh, the tea.” She looked at Ava.

“I’ll go see if it’s ready.” Ava disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Tea?” Mama G blinked in confusion.

“Something hot to drink would do you some good,” Doc said. “But first, we should get you into some dry clothes and into bed.”

Sarah looked at Trav. “Would you mind?”

“Sure.” Trav picked up Mama G, swinging her into his arms as though she weighed no more than a feather pillow.

Mama G protested weakly, but Trav would have none of it. “Mrs. Giano, do you remember when you used to babysit the Parker boys?”

Mama G stared at him. “The Parker boys.” A weak smile touched her mouth. “You are all trouble, do you know that?”

“I once took a cow to church, or so I’ve been told.” He carried her upstairs, repeating the story she’d told him more than once.

Grace turned to the doctor. “If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll get her into her nightgown.”

“Of course. She seems fine, but I should look her over before I leave.”

“I will. Thank you for coming.”

He smiled. “It’s what I do.”

She hurried upstairs. Trav was with Mama G, who sat on the edge of her bed, looking tired. “Thank you, Trav,” Grace said. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Call if you need me.”

He went to leave the room, but as he walked past her, Grace slipped her arms around him and gave him a quick hug.

He rested his cheek on her head and hugged her back.

She would have stayed like that, warm and safe, but Mama G put her hand on her nightstand and tried to get up, wincing when she put weight on her hurt ankle.

“Mama G!” Grace released Trav. “I’ve got to get her into a nightgown.”

“I’ll be downstairs. The fire will need tending.”

“Thank you.” She hoped he knew how much she meant it.

After he left, she helped Mama G dry off and into a nightgown. Mama G, tired and fretful, complained, but Grace kept her tone light even when her eyes filled with tears at the bruises and scrapes she saw on the older woman’s legs.

Finally dressed, her damp hair combed, Mama G was tucked under her blankets, a mound of pillows behind her head. Her lip quivered as she looked wearily at Grace. “I don’t understand.”

Grace kissed Mama G on the forehead. “You got lost. That’s all. But everything is fine now.”

Outside, the rain eased. We are almost back to normal, Grace told herself.

Mama G plucked at her covers. “I was looking for Theo.” She looked around the room. “Where is he?” She tried to push herself upright. “He hates the rain.”

“He’s fine. Here. We’ll put a pillow at the foot of your bed for when he comes home. He likes that.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Mama G settled back against her pillows. “He keeps my feet warm.”

“Of course he does.” Grace adjusted the covers, noticing that Mama G’s skin appeared almost translucent, the blue veins visible. She looked so fragile, so delicate. Grace brushed the back of her fingers across Mama G’s cheek. “Doc Bolton wants to see you for a minute, to check your ankle.”

“It hurts.”

“I know. That’s why he needs to see it. After he’s done, I’ll bring you some of your special tea.”

Mama G nodded. “I like my tea.”

Grace smiled. “Then you shall have two cups.”

Outside, a car pulled into the drive, followed by another.

Grace kissed Mama G and turned to leave, glad to find Doc Bolton waiting in the hallway. He winked at Grace as she left, but she found herself too choked up with gratitude to do more than give him a tremulous smile.

She reached the sitting room, where she grabbed a towel from the stack before she hurried onto the porch.

Daisy, sopping wet, jumped out of one of the cars almost before it had stopped. She flew up the walkway and into Grace’s arms.

“Oh, Daisy,” Grace said, holding her tight.

Daisy burst into tears.

“Hey, it’s okay. Mama G is here and she’s fine.”

Daisy sobbed harder.

Grace pulled the little girl inside, settling her on the couch in front of the fire. Grace knelt in front of Daisy, holding her tight and ignoring the water that seeped from her clothes. “I was so worried about you.”

Daisy, still burrowed in Grace’s arms, spoke so fast that her words tumbled over one another even as shivers racked her thin body. “She w-w-was here and I opened the door and then she w-w-was gone and Ms. L-L-Linda and I l-l-looked for her, but we didn’t know w-w-w-where she went and Ms. Linda’s cell phone d-d-died and no one knew where we w-w-were and it w-w-was raining so hard and I—” Daisy sobbed.

Grace hugged Daisy tighter and rested her cheek against the girl’s wet hair, catching sight of Trav. She mouthed the words hot chocolate and he sent her a warm smile, then disappeared into the kitchen, where she could hear him talking to Ava.

Grace rocked Daisy, letting the girl weep. Finally, Grace said, “Whatever happened, you’re home safe now. You’re okay.”

This seemed to calm her, for Daisy caught her breath and pulled back. Hiccupping, she gave Grace a miserable, tear-stained look. “M-Mama G got lost b-because of me.”

“Oh, honey. It wasn’t your fault. She gets confused. That’s why I put the bolt on the door, but she’s found a way around it, so—”

“It wasn’t her. It was me.” Daisy gulped loudly. “I undid the bolt. I’ve been undoing it every night after you went to bed.”

Good God. “But . . . why?”

“Killer likes it here. If Mama G’s window isn’t open, he scratches on the door.”

Grace laughed wryly. “That darn cat.” She got up to fetch another towel, wrapping it around Daisy. “So you’ve been unlocking the door and letting him in.” She should have thought of that.

“I use a kitchen chair to reach it. But I always put it back. I didn’t want you to know I was doing it.” Daisy looked at Grace with a miserable expression. “I thought you were just trying to keep Killer out. I didn’t know you were trying to keep Mama G safe. I didn’t think—”

She sobbed again, and Grace pulled her closer. “Oh, honey. I should have told you. But it’s all right. Mama G is fine. Doc Bolton is with her now and he doesn’t look the least worried, so we don’t need to be.”

“I just wanted Killer inside.”

Grace rested her cheek on Daisy’s head. “It is raining . . . and I’ve heard that he hates the rain.”

Daisy pulled back, sniffling. “You’d let Killer inside?”

“I guess I’m going to have to, seeing as both you and Mama G have fallen for him.” She looked around. “I wonder where he is now? That poor cat.”

Daisy wiped her face with the end of the towel. “He’s under my bed. He doesn’t like thunder.”

“No one does, do they?” Grace hugged Daisy. God, but she loved this child. She remembered being at the hospital with Hannah and holding Daisy for the first time. It had been so very special. So right. And now she’s mine to care for. Mama G was right; that’s a gift. “Come Monday, I’m going to call the Callahan brothers and have them install a cat door for Killer.”

Daisy looked up at her, her blue eyes reddened by tears. “Really?”

“Yes. I’d do anything for you and Mama G.”

Daisy’s smile made Grace think of a rainbow after the rain.

A ruckus arose on the porch and Sarah, Linda, and Linda’s husband, Mark, appeared in the doorway, Ed and Maggie Mayhew not far behind.

Sarah closed the door and they all peeled off their wet raincoats and hung them on the coatrack. “We’ve called off the search.”

“Everyone is accounted for.” Mark took off his ball cap and hung it over his coat. “Jules Stewart is serving hot coffee to the rescue parties at the Moonlight.”

“But no snacks,” Ed said, obviously disappointed.

“She would have, if we’d been out longer.” Linda looked at Grace. “How’s Mama G?”

“Tired and a little bruised, but she’s going to be okay.”

“Thank God for the First Baptist Church prayer chain,” Ed said.

Linda snorted. “You mean the Dove Pond Methodist prayer chain.”

“No, I mean the Baptist prayer chain. The Spankles are Baptists.”

“Yes, but Lisa Tilden saw me and Daisy at the corner and she called the Methodist prayer chain and let them know where to find us, so she was first.”

Ed rolled his eyes as he went to stand in front of the fire. “You and Daisy were never lost.”

“We were stuck in a doorway because of the lightning and thunder.” Linda turned to Grace. “My uncle was struck by lightning. I never go out in it if I can help it.”

“I hope your uncle recovered.”

“It turned his hair white, but my aunt said he was an animal in the sack after that, so it wasn’t all bad.” She looked around. “Where is everyone else?”

“Doc is upstairs with Mama G,” Grace said. “Trav and Ava are in the kitchen making tea. Would you throw me another towel? Daisy has been using this one as a tissue.”

Mark picked up a towel, rolled it into a tube, and started to toss it.

Linda muttered at him, then snatched the towel out of his hands and marched it across the room to Grace. “Here.”

Grace wrapped the towel around Daisy.

Linda sat down. Her hair was soaked, and it clung to her head, although small curls were already beginning to pop up. “Grace, I’m sorry we left without calling you. I gave Mama G some of her tea before bedtime and had taken the empty cup to the kitchen. When I came back, she was gone. I was out of that room a minute, maybe less. When I realized she’d escaped, I grabbed Daisy and took off, thinking Mama G would be right outside. I had my cell with me, too, figuring I could give you a buzz if it took longer than a few minutes to find her. I didn’t realize the stupid thing was dead, and once Daisy and I got down the road, the thunder started up and the rain grew worse, so we took shelter under the Kavanaughs’ porch. They’re visiting their kids in New Jersey, so I knew we wouldn’t bother anyone. I figured that once the rain let up, we’d find Mama G and bring her home, but apparently Daisy and I headed the wrong way, and the rain—”

Grace put her hand over Linda’s. “I can’t thank you enough for keeping Daisy safe and trying to find Mama G. I owe you big-time.”

Linda blinked back tears. “I was so worried.”

“Me too, but everything is okay now.”

The kitchen door swung open and Ava appeared. She carried Mama G’s cup of tea and a little plate with two peanut butter crackers. As she went up the steps, she called back, “There’s coffee in the kitchen if anyone wants some, and Trav’s making hot chocolate.”

“Coffee,” Ed Mayhew said fervently, heading for the kitchen.

Linda got up. “I need something warm. Grace, do you want some coffee?”

“Not right now, thank you.”

Linda headed into the kitchen while Mark followed.

Sarah brought a blanket to Grace. “Daisy looks cold.”

Grace tucked the blanket around Daisy. “What you need is a hot bath,” she told the child.

Daisy snuggled under the blanket. “After I have some hot chocolate?”

“Immediately after.”

Daisy nodded meekly, and Grace smiled. The meekness wouldn’t last; the child had too much spirit.

Sarah looked at the chair Linda had just left, and she carefully pushed it out of the way and replaced it with its mate. “Wet seat,” she told Grace. Sarah sat in the new chair and threw her legs out in front of her, basking in the warmth of the fire. “Whew. What a storm. The Cramers lost a tree. They’re two streets over. It hit their truck but missed the house.”

Grace smiled but didn’t answer. She suddenly felt so overwhelmed by all that had happened, too full to speak.

As if she knew, Sarah went on to list all the different storms that had come through Dove Pond over the years, her tone low and soothing.

Grace half listened, Sarah’s voice doing a lot to ease her tension.

After a while, Maggie came out of the kitchen, Ed following. Maggie handed Daisy a cup of hot chocolate. “Here you go, sweetie. Trav said you liked extra marshmallows, so that’s what you’ve got.”

“Thank you.” Daisy took the hot chocolate and soon had a thin line of marshmallow crème on her upper lip.

Maggie turned to Grace. “If you don’t need anything else, Ed and I are going to head out.”

“You’ve both been such a help.” Grace stood and gave them each a hug, then walked them to the door, leaving Sarah with Daisy. “Thank you.”

He beamed. “It wasn’t anything you wouldn’t do for us.”

“Ed’s calm now,” Maggie confided, looking at her husband with admiration. “But you should have seen him when the call came through. He was all business.”

“I don’t know what we’d have done without him.”

Ed beamed. “Thanks. Come on, Maggie. It’s getting late.”

Grace saw them out just as Ava and Doc Bolton came downstairs.

“How is she?” Grace asked.

Doc Bolton removed the stethoscope from his neck and dropped it into his bag. “Blood pressure is a little high, but no more than expected.”

“And her ankle?”

“It’ll be stiff in the morning. She’ll need to rest it, but other than a few scratches and bruises, she’s fine.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. I don’t know what would have happened if we hadn’t found her. Thank you so much for coming.”

“My pleasure. Now that the county EMS is available, I don’t get many late-night calls. I sort of miss them.” He grinned. “Makes me feel like Dr. Quinn.”

“Would you like some coffee?” Ava asked.

“Actually, I’d like some of that tea you made.”

“Oh, it won’t help you.”

“No, but with a little luck, I’ll figure out what’s in it.”

Ava sent him a surprised look. “I already told you what’s in it.”

“Did you? I tried to re-create it but my brew, while tasty, didn’t have any other effect.”

“Maybe you need a little magic to go with it.”

“I don’t believe in magic.”

“That’s your loss.” Ava grinned as she and the doctor went into the kitchen.

“She’ll never tell, and he’ll never figure it out,” Sarah said with satisfaction. She scooted her chair closer to the fire. “My, this is cozy.”

Grace couldn’t agree more. She watched Daisy drink her hot chocolate, smiling when the little girl licked marshmallow off the edge of her cup.

Linda and Mark came out of the kitchen. “We’d better get going. We don’t trust our daughter to be alone this late. She’s at the party-hard stage.”

Linda looked at Daisy. “Don’t get any ideas. She stays grounded all the time.”

“Daisy knows better, don’t you?” Mark asked.

Daisy nodded. “I don’t party. Not yet, anyway.”

Grinning, Mark gathered his and Linda’s coats. “Before we go, Ed was telling me there’s going to be a beer garden at the festival?”

“Featuring eight local craft brewers, no less,” Grace announced with satisfaction.

“And Nate thinks he can get a few more,” Sarah added.

“That’s great,” Mark said. “My cousins are coming up from Hendersonville that weekend. I can’t wait to tell them about it. What time will the tap turn on?”

“Eleven sharp on Saturday, and one o’clock on Sunday.”

“We’ll be there at eleven-oh-five the first day,” Linda said. “You have to give them time to set up and let a little air out of the taps. It’s the only way to get a proper pour.”

“Wow.” Sarah’s eyes sparkled. “Linda, that’s some impressive beer knowledge you have there.”

“Oh, I know my craft beers,” Linda said proudly.

“You know a lot about everything.” Grace gave Linda a big hug. “Thank you again for all you did tonight.”

“I’m just sorry my blasted phone died. I need to get one with a better battery.”

“Yes, you do,” Mark said as he helped Linda into her coat, and then tugged on his own. “You don’t answer half of my text messages because of that stupid battery.”

“If you didn’t send me two hundred texts a day, my battery might last longer,” she retorted as she slipped her arm through his. She waved at the others. “Good night.”

They left, and Sarah beamed at Grace. “The festival is going to be huge. Everyone is talking about it.”

“Apparently so.” She looked down at Daisy. “I’d better get Daisy into her bath and then to bed.”

Daisy, who’d finished her chocolate and was now yawning widely, nodded sleepily.

Grace held out her hand. “Come on, sweetheart.”

Sarah stood. “Go ahead. I’ll clear everyone else out.”

“Would you mind? I’m so very tired.”

“Of course I don’t mind.” Sarah slid the fire screen in front of the fire. “I’ll lock up.”

“Thank you,” Grace said. And although she didn’t list all the many, many things she was thanking Sarah for, Sarah knew.

She smiled. “Go, put that kid to bed.”

Grace bundled up Daisy and took her upstairs. She heard voices downstairs for just a bit longer, and then the front door closed and all was quiet.

After a quick bath, Grace dried Daisy’s hair, pulled her nightshirt over her head, and then tucked her into bed. Daisy, so tired she could barely keep awake, turned on her side under the covers, mumbled a good night, and instantly fell asleep.

Grace, every bit as exhausted, stopped by Mama G’s room. She slept, one hand under her cheek, her hair soft and curly and just as white as her pillow. At her feet, perched on his pillow like a king, lay Killer.

He opened his eyes when Grace came in but didn’t move.

“Well, Theo. I guess you’re here to stay.”

He closed his eyes, unimpressed with her generosity.

Shaking her head, Grace went to her room and got ready for bed. As she slid under the covers, she thought about her evening. She’d needed her friends tonight, and the people of Dove Pond had come without question, without complaining, every one of them. They’d searched the wet corners in the dark, in the rain, without the expectation of being paid back in some mysterious way. They’d come because she’d needed them.

When Grace had first moved here, she’d thought it a prison sentence. She’d wanted to keep to herself, take care of Mama G and Daisy, and pass the time until she could leave.

But now . . . She looked around her cozy bedroom, listened to the sound of the rain on the roof, and knew the people she loved were all here, in this house, on this street, and in this town.