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Instead he was standing at the top of Sarah’s driveway, listening to the sound of ly cheerful So here

But if he didn’t show up his sisters and hisif he was okay and was he depressed and had he seen someone and how doctors make the worst patients and he’d explode Truth was, he wasn’t okay He was grieving Erin was gone and he’d never be able to s he’d said to her before she left

So he took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and started the walk down the driveway, around the corner of the house and into the backyard, carrying a six-pack of beer and a manufactured smile

The sight of red, white, and blue banners and ribbons nearly wiped it off his face Shit They were going for the whole Me, weren’t they? He closed his eyes and gathered hi halfway Ever He should have expected she’d go whole hog

“Josh!”

Jess was the first of his sisters to spot higer “God, you’re skinny Sarah’s going to have a field day fattening you up” She gave hih for hih? Have another muffin Why don’t you come for dinner?”

He laughed despite hirateful she was the first “You sound just like her”

Jess raised an eyebrow “She mothers everyone”

“Including you?”

“She tries” Jess laughed “If Sarah had her way, I’d be married with a baby on my hip Settled down”

Josh’s sh Jess?

?s had stayed pasted on her lips “In your own good tiazes ers clench sih years ago besides him Her asshole of an ex, Mike, had been an alcoholic and atwo of theit clear that Mike would leave Jewell Cove and never come back

He didn’t blaun-shy

“Josh!” Sarah had finally noticed hi up, a can of soda in her hand and a smile that made it hard to stay mad at her Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes danced as she pulled hirabbed his ar up into his face “Now you’re back where you belong,” she stated, satisfaction filling her voice “I hope you’re hungry You’re thin as a rail”

Josh rolled his eyes at Jess over Sarah’s shoulder and Jess gave hiroup, he shook hands with Mark and hugged the kids and popped the top on a beer while the latest Top 40 songs were cranked out of a stereo Last in line was his ie to anyone who really knew her