She’d spent time with all three women during the past months.
“And Fern. Although I don’t know that I want to take the blame for Tansy.” It was clear Sonora’s words were a tease. “All my granddaughters are wonderful.”
“Your granddaughters have made me very welcome in Heart Falls,” Lisa told her.
“Good. It’s nice to occasionally do something right.”
“Tansy’s baking at Buns and Roses has made me put on at least ten pounds since I got here in December.” Lisa thought for a moment. “There’s one thing I haven’t done yet. Visited the local book store—that’s named after you, isn’t it?”
Sonora brightened. “Fallen Books. It was too adorable of a pun to pass up.”
“I can see why. But you don’t work at the store yourself? Or not anymore?”
“I help out from time to time, but it’s my daughter and son-in-law’s responsibility.” Sonora made a face.
“Something wrong?” Lisa asked.
The older woman pulled herself together. “No. Of course not.”
Lisa eyed her with curiosity.
Sonora shrugged. “To be honest, retirement is a challenge. It’s good to let them take care of the shop, but sometimes I miss having a clock to punch.”
There hadn’t been an appropriate moment before to comment. “You seem too young to have retired. Or to have granddaughters as old as me, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
Sonora grinned. “You really think I’m about to complain you think I’m aging well?”
“I guess not, but I’m fairly sure it’s more than that.” Lisa paused. “Unless you have a magic pond on your property that offers eternal youth.”
She got a laugh at that suggestion. “Ivy suspects I use wild magic, but no, the truth is much simpler. I’m sixty, and my daughter is fifty-one. Amazing things happen when you’re eighteen and fall in love with a man who has a nine-year-old daughter.”
“That does make sense.” Lisa smiled. “You’re still a very young sixty.”
Sonora preened for a moment then gestured toward a low set of buildings in the near distance. “My place. Can I offer you a cup of coffee and some of my brownies? The ones I refuse to give Tansy the recipe for?”
“You’re offering me secret recipe chocolate? I accept.”
They tucked the horses into the warm barn. Lisa helped unsaddle Sonora’s ride, wondering how the woman managed the heavy equipment when she was alone.
She removed the saddle from Licorice, covering the mare with a blanket before following Sonora into the cozy cabin.
Ten minutes later Lisa had her fingers wrapped around a cup of steaming hot coffee, and a chocolate brownie was melting in her mouth. “Oh my God, what do I need to do to convince you to adopt me?”
Sonora laughed. “Honey, that’s exactly how everybody gets into the Fields family. You’re welcome to join us, although I think you probably have a few people who’d be sad if you stopped being a Coleman.”
“I’ll be an honorary Fields, then.” Lisa took another bite and fought to keep from moaning in ecstasy. “You need to give Tansy the recipe for this. Sales at the coffee shop will triple.”
“Life is not all about the money,” Sonora teased. Her gaze softened. “But you understand that, considering you’re here helping your sister instead of off somewhere adding cash to your pocket.”
Lisa hesitated.
“Oh, you’re just trying to find some way to not be boastful, but obviously, I’m right. You’re here.”
“Caleb offered to pay me,” Lisa said. “But that’s not what family is about, you know?”
Sonora sipped her coffee, dipping her chin rapidly like a bird approving the arrival of spring. “So tell me, what are your plans after the baby arrives? Are you going to find a job in Heart Falls?”
Lisa thought about the journal waiting for her in the backpack. She thought about the date she had with Josiah lined up for that evening.
