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Ellie’s shoulders sagged with defeat "That was just as apparent"

Sunshine could see how difficult this was for her sister "Beth is her own person, Ellie"

"She’s more like Phillip," her sister admitted "His mother was a pianist and Beth inherited her musical talent fro terrible It killed ain "Phillip … Oh Sunshine, I don’t knohat to do He’s so angry with ry ine it, either "Do you love hiain "So ently

Ellie reached for her fork and held it over her plate for several seconds "Phillip and I disagreed over Beth on and it sort of escalated from there Then she was in that dreadful car accident and I flew out for the brief visit I wanted to return, take care of our daughter, but Phillip insisted I keep my word and stay away for the promised six months He had no appreciation of how hard it was for " She still hadn’t taken a bite of her lunch

Sunshine reached for her tea and sipped it

"I wanted Beth to co, but Phillip made it clear I was not to meddle in her life I didn’t speak to him for three days, and you knohat he said?" She stiffened "He told me those were the happiest three days of his life"

It wasn’t a good idea to laugh, but Sunshine was unable to hold back a smile She didn’t know her brother-in-law had it in him Her admiration for Phillip escalated

"You sent Kier to check on her?" Sunshine asked

Ellie nodded

"So happened between you and Phillip yesterday, didn’t it?" It only ile Ellie currently was

"At dinner yesterday when I made a fuss over Beth and Sam’s relationship, it caused more problems with Phillip He doesn’t like confrontation and ordinarily avoids it until he can’t hold it in any longer Don’tfuss, that’s not his way Once ere back at the hotel, he laid into s up now?" she asked

Her sister went pale and fresh tears filled her eyes "I … I don’t knohere he is After our argument, Phillip left the roo I’otten another hotel rooo to that extre I’ve alienated hter, and now it seems my husband as well"

Sunshine could see that her sister was a miserable wreck "You knohat you need, don’t you?"

"A day at the spa, for starters," Ellie said, and rotated her neck as if to ease away the stress and tightness there

"No, how about a day with your sister instead?"

"Can we get a e that"

"Can we shop? There are soains This is Black Friday, you know"

Sunshine shook her head "I’m not much of a shopper"

"Oh come on, Sunshine It’s time you updated your wardrobe, and I’m just the wo Sunshine was telling the truth when she said she missed her sister While she didn’t knohat the future held for Ellie and Phillip, she was fairly certain they could ain

Chapter 34

Beth

Beth was pleased with how Thanksgiving ith Sah most of the meal and couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off each other Sam had told her father that he loved her