Thankfully, the kids went to sleep pretty easily after getting worn out by the rowdy boys next door. When I went to bed, I checked my phone, grateful that Joe had sent me a text.

I miss you. XO

I tossed and turned and spent half the night trying to get everything out of my head. When I woke up the next morning, both kids were laying across the bed, waiting for me to wake up. We snuggled for several minutes, and I let my mind wander to the thought of starting a family with Joe. Now that I knew we were on the same page about kids, I wondered what it would be like to lie in bed with Joe and our own children.

Mikey burrowed his head into the space between my arm and chest, and I leaned over to take a whiff of his hair. He’d outgrown that sweet baby smell, and had begun to smell more like a little boy, but this morning, a hint of the baby scent lingered. I wondered how Violet could give up this moment with them, how she could pick Brody over her own children, but I knew that wasn’t fair. She’d had years with Ashley and plenty of mornings with Mikey. Besides, I’d been around enough to know it wasn’t all peaches and cream at the Beauregard house most mornings. I only hoped that Violet would have a few dates, get it out of her system and try to get back with Mike. I suspected I was wishing for the moon.

After I made the kids pancakes for breakfast, I loaded everyone into the truck, Muffy included. I hated leaving her so much that I decided to try taking her with me to the shop. If nothing else, she’d entertain the kids until Mike showed up. And I could put her in the back room if need be. Besides, I missed my little dog. In the event that Violet didn’t approve, I’d pull my fifty percent ownership card out. Of course, the fact that I’d put up most of the financial backing gave me a higher percentage of ownership, but I’d never throw that in her face. Still, if it came down to it, I’d stand my ground. Muffy was coming to work with me from here on out.

Violet was already at the nursery when we got there. She gave the truck a dirty look, but her face broke into a smile when she caught sight of the kids. They squealed with excitement when they saw her.

“Mommy! I missed you!”

“Momma,” Mikey said, stretching for Violet.

I quickly unfastened his car seat straps while Ashley unbuckled herself and leapt out of the truck and into her mother’s arms. Mikey reached for Violet as soon as I lifted him from the seat. Muffy looked on from the front seat, her tail wagging.

“We brought Muffy to work!” Ashley said.

“I can see that.” Violet’s gaze had moved to Muffy, and thankfully she smiled.

My shoulders relaxed, and I was surprised by how worried I’d been about her reaction. “They had pancakes and chocolate milk for breakfast.”

“You had food in the house?” Violet teased.

Grinning, I shrugged. “Joe was home on Tuesday night. “

Her eyebrows rose, and I was grateful my old sister was back, even if only for a while. “Well, thank God for that man or you’d starve.”

“Mommy, I got to talk to Joe on the phone,” Ashley said. “He was really surprised Aunt Rose got a truck.”

“I bet he was,” Violet snorted.

I expected her to say more, but she took the kids inside, asking more about their night at my house.

After I uncovered the flowers on the sidewalk, I started watering the flats. I was still at it when Neely Kate’s car pulled up. I offered her a bright smile as she walked over to me.

She stopped a few feet away. “I wasn’t sure you would want me here after I told Mason your secret yesterday.”

Violet emerged from the shop and sidled next to Neely Kate, grinning slyly. “What secret?”

“I told Mason about my visions,” I said.

Violet’s smile fell. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

Neely Kate put a hand on her hip. “He’s her friend, Violet. She should have told him months ago. Why keep it a secret?”

Violet glared. “To save her from ridicule, of course. Do you have any idea the torment our poor girl went through in school? Kids didn’t even know her secret, and they still teased her mercilessly.”

Neely Kate tilted her head, a determined look on her face. “And maybe they wouldn’t have been so mean if they’d known the truth.”

“Rose isn’t like you, Neely Kate.” Violet smiled and batted her eyelashes, her voice syrupy sweet. “She doesn’t like bein’ the center of attention. I know you find this hard to believe, but not everyone wants to have some supernatural talent. They want to be normal. What is it for you this week? Tarot cards? Voodoo dolls?”

I gasped at Violet’s rude behavior.

Neely Kate clenched her fists and stood her ground. “Maybe she’d know if she wanted to be the center of attention if you didn’t always try to steal it from her.”

Once again I wondered why I was constantly on the sidelines watching other people battle for me.

“Enough.” I stepped between them. “Neely Kate is right. There’s no reason to keep such an important part of me from people I trust. Secrets cause more harm than good. You of all people know that, Violet.”

Fear filled Violet’s eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”

So she was keeping something from me. I quickly recovered. “You know,” I said. “Like Momma keeping the information about my birth mother from us. And Daddy leaving her for Dora. We didn’t know any of that until after she died and look how upset we both were when Aunt Bessie told us the truth.”