He studied my face. “Are you really worried?”

“No . . . yes. But not enough that I’d change anything.” I brushed loose hairs from my cheek. “Still, the reason we almost lost it all is because Violet tried to build us too big, too fast.”

“Rose, I won’t let that happen again.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but there’s no reason to put everything at risk. Let’s just wait and see how it goes.”

“Sometimes great risk means great reward.”

He wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t read in my business books. “Maybe next spring I’ll be willing to bet it all and let it ride, but right now I could use a little safe and easy.”

He grinned. “Since when do you do safe and easy?”

“I’d like to give it a chance.”

He studied me again, and a war waged in his eyes before he nodded. “Safe and easy it is, Rose. But when you’re willing to start gambling again, let me know.” As he gathered up the paperwork, I couldn’t help thinking that safe and easy was a pipe dream.

Chapter Eight

I left the nursery later than planned, so I texted Mason to let him know I’d signed the papers with Joe, and then called Bruce Wayne to check on the situation at the office.

“The phones and Wi-Fi have been set up without a problem. Now all we need is a working fuse box.”

“I’m going to go help Mason’s mom unpack. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I might need medical attention after breathing in the fumes from that mess in the plastic tub on your desk. The place stank to high heaven when I walked in after you left. I spent five minutes searching for Muffy, ’cause she’s the only thing I know that stinks that much.”

“Oh dear. Neely Kate left the gourmet food there, didn’t she?”

“It’s gone now. I tried to feed it to a stray dog out back, but he got close enough to sniff it and took off running. You know something’s bad when even starving dogs won’t eat it.” He laughed. “You’re gonna have to tell ’er, Rose. That or risk food poisoning.”

“I know,” I grumbled. “I’ll figure something out.”

I got to Violet’s house at right about the time Ashley came home from school. Violet had spent more time at home than at work over the last couple of weeks, and she genuinely did seem happier. She greeted me at the door with a bright smile. “Hi, Rose.”

“Hi,” I said, still wary.

“Ashley is so excited to spend the afternoon with you. Thank you so much for thinking of it.”

“Of course. I love her.” I paused. “I thought you should know that Joe and I signed the business papers today.” I handed her the folder tucked under my arm. “I brought them for you to sign too.”

“Oh.” She looked surprised.

I lowered my voice so Ashley wouldn’t hear. “I know you’re upset that you only have ten percent ownership now, but you still have a say in things, Violet.”

Tears filled her eyes. “It was my dream, Rose.”

A lump filled my throat, but I couldn’t back down. “I know, Vi, and I’m sorry.”

She nodded and turned, her face breaking out into a bright smile when Ashley emerged from her room. “All ready to go with Aunt Rose?”

Ashley nodded and gave us a wide grin.

Violet dropped to her knees and pulled Ashley into a hug, stroking the back of her head for several seconds before pulling back to stare into her daughter’s face. “Now you be a good girl for Aunt Rose and mind your manners with Miss Maeve.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ashley’s head bobbed.

Violet gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You have fun now.”

“Do you want me to go over the papers with you?” I asked as Violet stood.

She shook her head, tears shining in her eyes. “No. I know what’s in there.”

“Okay.” But I felt bad that I was just dumping them off after Joe and I had signed them together. I didn’t want her to think she was some kind of afterthought. “I can pick them up after I bring Ashley home.”

She nodded and disappeared into the kids’ room without another word.

As I drove Ashley to Maeve’s new house, I couldn’t shake the thought that something was going on with my sister.

The moving men had come and gone by the time Ashley and I arrived. We spent the next two hours helping Maeve unpack the kitchen. Maeve asked Ashley her opinion on where to store everything from her bakeware to her spices. Thankfully the little girl had inherited her mother’s organizational skills, so she was a help rather than a hindrance.

The sun set, and we turned on the lamps we’d unpacked, filling the small house with a cozy glow, even though we were surrounded by boxes and piles of bubble wrap and packing peanuts. Mason showed up at around six with two pizza boxes. “Who’s hungry?” he called out as he made his way through the maze of empty boxes.

“Me!” Ashley shouted.

We cleared off the dining room table, and Maeve disappeared into the kitchen to look for a roll of paper towels for us to use as plates while Ashley washed her hands in the bathroom.

Mason pulled me into a hug and gave me a kiss. “I was worried about you today,” he murmured in my ear. “Did you have any problems?”

“I had a weird vision, but I’m not sure what to make of it.”

He leaned back, worry in his eyes.