“What does that make you, smarty-pants?” Lettie shot a dirty look her way. “If she wasn’t old and worn-out, I’d give her to you, Jennie Sue. But you deserve a younger sister.”

“If you still want one, I’ll give you mine,” Rick offered.

Cricket shot a dirty look his way. “Better yet, I’ll give you a brother. They’re twice the pain in the ass.”

“For real?” Jennie Sue asked.

“Oh, yeah.” Cricket nodded seriously.

“A brother couldn’t be as bad as Flora was,” Nadine laughed.

“I really love bein’ around young folks. Makes me feel young all over again,” Lettie said.

Makes me feel like a king, just sitting here with Jennie Sue Baker beside me, even if it does create more rumors, Rick thought, but he didn’t say a word.

Chapter Four

The blazes of hell could never compete with Texas in July. Jennie Sue arose even earlier than usual the morning of the Fourth. She took a glass of iced coffee to the balcony, where she propped her long legs up on the banister and watched the sunrise. There wasn’t a city, state, or country in the world that could lay claim to a prettier sunrise or sunset than West Texas. That was one of the many things she’d missed when she moved to New York.

Her cell phone rang, and her father’s picture popped up on the screen. “Good mornin’, Daddy. Are you on your third cup of coffee?”

“Fourth, baby girl. What’s all this talk I’m hearing?” Like always, his deep drawl made her homesick to see him. He might disappoint her horribly with his lifestyle, but there was no doubt that he loved her.

“It’s the truth, Daddy. I’m cleaning house for the Clifford sisters two days a week and chauffeuring them around when they need it. The other three days I’m working for Amos in the bookshop, and I’m living in Lettie Clifford’s garage apartment,” she said.

“Your mama is pitching a hissy,” he said.

“I don’t doubt it.”

“You need anything? Money? A car?” he asked.

“I need to be independent, to stand on my own two feet and figure out exactly who I am. As far as money, I’ve got a couple hundred dollars left in my purse, and I get paid each week. Besides, Daddy, this town is so small, I can walk most of the places I need to go. Lettie and Nadine take me with them to Walmart, too. But thanks,” she answered.

“Why do you kids all have to get on this bandwagon about finding yourself? Why can’t you just be happy with what you inherit? And it’s three miles out here. You goin’ to walk that far?” he asked.

“After my marriage with Percy, I need to be independent, Daddy. I need to prove to myself that I can make it on my own. And yes, I can walk three miles. I used to jog farther than that every day.”

“Okay, baby girl. You’ll call me if you need help. Promise me that, and, honey, your mama will come around. Just give her time.”

“There is one thing, Daddy. You could hire me. I have a business degree.” She set her glass on the floor and crossed her fingers.

“That’s the one thing I can’t do. Wilshire money built my company, and your mama owns more than eighty percent of the stock. She says that she didn’t raise you to work in the company. You’ve been groomed to take her place in the Belles.” Dill’s tone sounded sincerely apologetic.

“After what I’ve been through, the Belles aren’t real high on my bucket list. Am I invited to the party this afternoon?” she asked.

“Honey, that’s one line I will draw in the sand. You come home anytime you want and stay as long as you want,” he answered.

“Can I eat bacon?” she asked.

“I’ll make sure there’s always five pounds in the refrigerator,” he said.

“Then maybe I’ll show up. Mama might not be able to stay mad at me if I’m right there, right?” She could always dream, couldn’t she?

“Don’t count on it. She’ll be nice in front of her Sweetwater Belles, though. Can I pick you up or send a car for you?” Dill asked.

“No, I’ll find my own way.”

“Just promise me one more time to call me if you need anything. Even if it’s only to talk,” Dill said.

“Promise. Love you, Daddy,” she said.

“Right back atcha, kid. See you later.”

Dill hated goodbyes and had always ended his conversations with her by saying that he would see her later. She’d asked him about it once, and he’d said that he’d had an argument with his mother and left by yelling goodbye and slamming the door. She’d died that night and he’d never gotten to apologize.

She laid the phone in her lap and decided that she would go to the party that afternoon, but she wouldn’t stay for the fireworks. Lettie and Nadine needed her to drive them to the football field for the public show. She finished her coffee and went inside to make breakfast.

“So Mama doesn’t work, but she practically owns Daddy’s company. I wonder why she puts up with his flings,” she mused as she got out a skillet and put half a dozen strips of bacon into it.

The Baker place really was three miles from where Jennie Sue lived now, but she had little choice other than to walk. No such thing as a taxi company in Bloom, population less than twelve hundred. She dressed in her best—khaki shorts, a navy-blue knit shirt, and a pair of sandals. She even took time to polish her toenails so she wouldn’t be a complete disappointment to her mother.

She was halfway down the stairs when she saw Lettie standing at the bottom. “Well, hello, Miz Lettie.”

“Same to you. Reckon you could drive me over to Nadine’s place? We’re goin’ to do our cookin’ over there this morning, and then you can have the truck for the day. Ain’t no use in it sittin’ here when you need a ride out to your folks’ place.” Lettie mopped the sweat off her face with a hankie that she pulled from the pocket of her jeans.

Jennie Sue gave a little silent prayer of thanks that she didn’t have to walk all that distance. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll be glad to drive you to Nadine’s. Thank you for the use of the truck.”

“Anytime. Wilma and her husband only had one vehicle, and her husband had to take it to get to work down in Sweetwater, so I let her drive it anytime she needed to. I miss her, but it was time for both of them to retire. They were both from Tennessee before they came here to Bloom about ten years ago, so they moved back.”

“Do you need me to help carry anything out to take to Nadine’s?” Jennie Sue asked, not really caring to hear Wilma’s life story, but then, this was Bloom. Everyone knew everything about their friends and neighbors.

“Oh, no, honey, I done got it all in the truck. You can help me take it inside when we get there. Just be careful of that pretty shirt.” Lettie talked as she got into the passenger side and hit a button on the garage opener.

By the time Jennie Sue was inside, the door was up. “You could rent out this garage in New York City for a lot of money.”

“I wouldn’t live in that place for all the money in the world. I like it just fine here in Bloom where I know everyone.” Lettie touched the device, and the doors rolled down as soon as they were outside. “It’s goin’ to be a hot one. Maybe it’ll cool down a little bit by dark when we go see the fireworks. You goin’ to be back to drive us?”

“I sure will. Shall I bring the truck to Nadine’s and we’ll go from there?”

Lettie nodded. “That’ll be fine, and if you get bored over at your mama’s, come on to Nadine’s and you can help us get ready for our little party.”

“Who all’s comin’?” Jennie Sue asked.

“Much as Amos makes me mad with his constant chatter, his dear wife was my friend, so I invited him and the folks that go to our book club. Nadine always invites her Sunday-school class, so we’ll have quite a little bunch. Then afterward we have desserts at my house. Already got them made and ready to serve. If you’ll help me with them, I’ll keep track of your hours and pay the same as when you clean for me.”

“My benefit package includes the apartment. Your benefit includes anything I do other than the cleaning responsibilities.” Jennie Sue pulled into Nadine’s driveway.