Page 106 of Falling for Keeps

“Emma,” Rosie says. She sounds as weak as she looks.

“Gosh, you look miserable. I brought soup, but it’s in the kitchen. Want me to bring you a bowl?”

“I can’t eat right now.”

Dean smiles. “I can heat it for her when she’s ready to eat.”

“Thanks.” I cross the room and look down at her. “What else can I do?”

“Take care of Dom and remember me fondly.” Rosie rubs her eyes. “I think I’m dying.”

I share a look with Dean. “Well, call me if anything comes up. Love you, Rosie.”

She mutters something incoherent, so I slip from the room and Dean follows me out.

“Hey,” he says. “Thanks for doing that.”

I shrug. “It was nothing. Call me—or have her call me—if there’s anything she needs. I work right across the street, so I can be here quickly.”

He nods. “I’m sure this soup will get her by for a while. You’re a good sister to take care of Rosie like that. I know you mean a lot to her.”

For whatever unknown reason, my eyes water at this. Maybe I don’t always need to be needed in order to show my love, but I’m glad the things I do are communicating how I feel enough. I’m glad Rosie knows.

“Thanks, Dean. I’ll see you around.”

We will definitely be having a conversation about how much this guy is hanging around my sister once she’s well enough for an interrogation.

I let myself out of the inn and find Demi idling in one of the spots in front of the door. I climb in and relax. “Okay, well, she’s dying. I hope whatever flu-like thing she has doesn’t start making its rounds in town.”

Demi pulls onto the street and heads for my house. “It’s the season for it.”

“I prefer to identify fall with apple cider and orange porches and Gilmore Girls.”

“And yet, it’s the start of contracting colds that ruin your weekend.”

“Okay, cynic.”

When Demi pulls into my house, the lights are on and my car is parked in front of the detached garage. “I won’t come in with you, but please send me pictures.”

She won’t even get out of the car? “I’m starting to worry.”

“Get in there. I’ll see you tomorrow. Let’s design new garland for the Witches’ Night Out and make Maggie do all the re-shelving. Mina has a Cricut, so we can find something really cute.”

“Doesn’t your sister live in Burlington?”

“Yeah, so she can cut everything and we’ll only have to string it together. I was thinking letters that read: Brooms Up, Witches!”

“Cute.”

“I’ll keep brainstorming,” Demi says.

“Me too, but I like what you have.” I close the door and head up the porch steps, waving as she drives away. When I push the door open, I’m hit with a wall of damp, earthy, wet cement.

My feet stall. I know what that scent means. I drop my purse on the sofa as I pass through the entryway and head straight for the bathroom. Carson is in the hallway, kneeling on the floor and wiping down all the tiles. They’re laid out and perfectly grouted, and it looks like a marble floor. Penny is sitting in the hall beside him, reading aloud from her book.

They both stop and look at me.

“Surprise!” Penny says, jumping to her feet.