Kacey forked some salad into a bowl before passing it to her mother. “Yes. Now let’s change the subject. Riley needs to tell you about choir practice.”
Her niece shot her a panicked expression.
“Tell them what song you sang,” Kacey said, her words measured.
“Oh.” Riley’s expression relaxed. “‘Joy to the World.’”
Kacey shook her head. “Yes, over and over again. I heard every word in the bakery.”
“Oh, I know what you mean.” Dani swirled her fork in the air. “You should have been there when the Zumba class was going on last spring. I was dancing around the bakery along with the pop music.”
Travis snickered. “I’m sorry I missed that.”
All the adults laughed, and Kacey glanced around the table as her heart warmed. She simply adored her family.
“So you like choir?” Mom asked.
Riley nodded while eating a meatball. “It’s fun.”
“I can’t believe the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival is only a month away,” Mom said. “Before you know it Christmas will be here. Where has the year gone?”
“That means Santa will be coming soon, Kelly.” Riley grinned at her baby sister.
“I like Santa,” Kelly announced, and everyone laughed.
Dani lifted her glass of water. “Thanksgiving is three weeks from today.”
“That’s right,” Kacey said, forking more salad. “I feel like we were just at church for Easter.”
Dani looked at Mom. “Are we going to your house for Thanksgiving again this year?”
Mom nodded. “Sure.”
“I’ll help cook,” Kacey volunteered.
“Oh, don’t do us any favors.” Travis held his hands up in mock horror.
Kacey pointed her fork at her brother-in-law. “That’s not nice.”
“But it’s true,” Mom said as everyone laughed.
Kacey settled back in her chair and laughed along with them.
Yes, it was great to be back in Splendid Lake.
Later, Kacey parked behind her mother’s Subaru at the small house her mother had purchased shortly after her father passed away. While it was painful for Mom, Dani, and Kacey to say good-bye to the four-bedroom, two-story home closer to the lake, Mom had explained that they needed to downsize so she could manage the bills without Dad’s income.
Located a few blocks from Dani’s home, the house had a similar floor plan to her sister’s house with its moderate-size primary bedroom, two small bedrooms, two bathrooms, and small kitchen, family room, and dining room.
Once inside, Mom went to take a shower while Kacey retired to the guest bedroom, which had once been Dani’s bedroom since Kacey’s bedroom was now Mom’s craft and sewing room.
Kacey sat at the desk, powered up her computer, and perused her work email. She clicked through messages from her supervisor, coworkers, and customers, responding when necessary. Then she checked her calendar and created a list of projects she needed to address tomorrow.
While she worked, her mind replayed her brief conversation with Drew, and his face filled her mind. She pondered what her mother and sister had said about her and Drew—that perhaps their time together would happen now, so many years after they’d last spoken in person. Yet, it seemed impossible that Drew would suddenly be interested after so many years. If he hadn’t liked her as more than a friend back in high school, it seemed preposterous that he would now.
Against her better judgment, Kacey popped over to Facebook and found his profile. She browsed photos of him conducting the middle school band in the auditorium, smiling with students holding their instruments, laughing with friends, and then photos of two cats—one fat orange tabby and a gray cat that seemed to always have a look of disdain.
Her eyes flitted to where he’d listed himself as single, and her pulse fluttered.
