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“In that case, allow me to usher you quickly toward the door.”
She laughed. “Here’s your hat. What’s your hurry?”
“I’m not stupid, either. Your car is out back. Go this way and save some steps.” He escorted Willow through the kitchen toward his back door.
Before he opened it and allowed winter inside, she extended her hand. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, NoahTannehill. Thank you for your kindness to my son and for being a good neighbor and Good Samaritan. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. I owe you.”
He hesitated a moment before extending his own hand. Only then did Willow notice the burn scars.Oh great. How appropriate that I’d end this encounter with a faux pas.
Because it wasn’t in her to ignore another’s pain, she asked, “Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore.” He clasped her hand and shook it. “Goodbye, Willow.”
“Good-bye, Noah. I’ll let you return to whatever you were doing before we invaded your world. But before I go, may I ask… do you make the other kind of dollhouse? My little girl turns five soon. I think a dollhouse would be a perfect gift for her. She’s just the right age.”
“Sorry, I don’t,” Noah said with a note of finality.
Willow shrugged. “Hey, never hurts to ask. Thanks again, Noah. Maybe we’ll see you around town sometime.”
“Don’t count on it. I stay swamped burying bodies.”
Willow laughed as she exited Noah Tannehill’s house. Nothing like ghoulish humor to brighten a girl’s day.
Leaning against the passenger-side door of Willow’s SUV, Genevieve watched her grandchildren roll a ball of snow destined to become the torso of a snowman. “You’d think they’d get tired of snowmen, but they don’t.”
“A field of fresh, unspoiled snow is difficult to resist,” her sister responded. Helen remained inside the vehicle, but had the back passenger window rolled down.
Genevieve frowned. “I wonder what’s keeping Willowso long? At this rate, she’ll have to reschedule her vendor appointments. It could prove to be a problem with only six weeks to the wedding.”
“Maybe she’s flirting with Noah Tannehill.”
Genevieve whipped her head around and looked at Helen with interest. “Now, why would you say that?”
“He’s gorgeous. I saw him in the post office around Thanksgiving. He’s the kind of pretty that makes a room full of women burst out into excited giggles in his wake.”
“Oh.” Genevieve glanced toward the house. “Interesting. I do wish she’d show some interest in men again. But as far as I know, she hasn’t dated since Andy died.”
“Actually, she has been dating some.”
The words struck Genevieve like a dart to the heart. On the one hand, she was thrilled to learn that Willow had taken that all-important step in moving forward with her life. And yet it hurt Genevieve that Willow would tell her aunt about it, not her mother. “I see.”
“Stop it, Genevieve,” her sister warned. She exited the SUV and stood beside Genevieve. Helen knew her better than anyone alive, so it was no surprise that she correctly surmised what Genevieve was thinking. Helen added, “There’s no need to get pissy about this. Last summer, Willow talked about it with Brooke when we all met in Texas at your Fourth of July get-together at the family lake house. I just happened to overhear.”
Genevieve’s sidelong look was sharp enough to cut steel.
Helen continued. “Okay, it’s possible I intentionally eavesdropped. The girls were downstairs in the playroom, and I’d come in to mix more Bloody Marys. When I heard Brooke mention the worddivorce, my ears couldn’t help but perk up.”
“Mine would have, too,” Genevieve conceded.
“Willow was reassuring her sister that life did go on after a relationship ended. Then she said she spoke from experience and that her heart had healed to the point where she’d wanted to date again. She signed up on a dating app.”
Genevieve’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Willow?”
Helen responded with a knowing nod. “Surprised me, too. She said she’d been on two first dates that didn’t click. She had seen another man four times before deciding it wasn’t right. Brooke had just asked her if she’d slept with any of them when Drew ran into the house yelling for his mom. It was right after that boat ride where Lucas played Dastardly Boat Driver.”
Genevieve recalled the moment. Drew’s laughter and excitement had attracted the attention of the entire gathering. He’d giggled his way through a description of his “wild and wooly best ever” tube ride. It made everybody smile.
“Anyway,” Helen continued. “I cornered Willow afterward.”
