Sorrow caught her line of sight—the change in Ma’s condition would soon be obvious to everyone, if it wasn’t already. She gave Marlene’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “I swear, this is the prettiest room. So cozy, especially with all that snow outside. ”
She was a sweet girl, that Sorrow. Marlene gave her a heartfelt smile. Having a house full of women might be just the thing to take her mind off her troubles.
“Snow?” Laura flopped down on one of the wing chairs, stretching her feet in front of her. “Gray slush, you mean. I am so over this weather. ”
“The spring festival will be here before we know it,” Edith said.
Sorrow cringed and went to the buffet. “Don’t remind me. There’s too much to do. I need food first. ”
Marlene had assembled their favorites—sandwiches made with olives and cream cheese, pimento spread on triangles of thin white bread, mint Milano cookies, and those crispy chocolate tubes Aunt Pearl loved.
“Oh, yum,” Sorrow said, grabbing a plate. “I’m thinking we need to meet here more often. ”
“That town hall is too chilly. ” Pearl buttoned up her cardigan, as if the mere recollection made her cold, even though the gas fireplace had the sitting room downright balmy. “And Bear’s restaurant can be so gusty. ”
Bear was a tightwad when it came to his heating bill. But then she smiled to herself, thinking how she never felt cold when that Sully was around.
“It’s a treat to get away from the tavern for the afternoon,” Edith agreed, ignoring the jab against her family business.
“Totally good to get away. ” Laura caught her sister’s eye. “Did you see Dad this morning?”
Sorrow laughed. “The man was on a rampage. ”
That tidbit engaged Ruby’s attention at once. “Why was your father on a rampage?”
A broad smile lit Edith’s face. “We got a letter from my boy today. ”
“That’s wonderful news, but…” Marlene frowned at the nonsensica
l connection. “I don’t understand. Why is Bear in a sour mood if you heard from BJ?”
“Hearing from him always does it,” Sorrow said.
“Thank God he hasn’t figured out how to Skype BJ over in Afghanistan,” Laura joked. “That’d really put Dad over the edge. ”
The sisters shared an amused, understanding look. It was good to see them getting along. Hearing from Bear Junior sure had put the Bailey women in a good mood. But Bear’s inexplicable mood swings remained a mystery. “I still don’t see why it should make him so crotchety,” she said.
Laura raised a brow. “You mean more crotchety than usual?”
“BJ is spending more time near the front lines,” Sorrow explained. “His unit’s in Kabul now. I think it worries Dad. ”
Laura grew serious. “He’s doing stuff like air reconnaissance and troop transport in that giant helicopter of his. ”
The barrage of military words put Marlene in mind of Tom Sullivan. He’d shown Craig some of his Vietnam memorabilia. Not that Sully had told her about it—the man wasn’t exactly a big talker, and she’d had to hear the report from her grandson. According to Craig, Sully had a stack of medals.
She had no idea he’d been such a hero.
Apparently, there were other things in his collection, too. A few photos, something called a boonie hat—whatever that was—and his dress uniform. Her mind drifted. The man kept himself in great shape—she bet he could still fit himself into that uniform.
Marlene gave a shake to her head, clearing those thoughts. They were talking about BJ’s letter, not aging retired officers.
She began to pour the women tea from her great-granny’s old silver service. “Well, I’d just think Bear would be thrilled to hear from the boy. ”
“He was,” Edith assured her brightly. “Absolutely thrilled. ”
She gave her friend a probing look, though what she wanted to do was demand what gave Bear the right to be such a sourpuss. And Edith enabled it, too—she acted like Bear’s chief apologist. They had a curious relationship, those two. Marlene had known the Bailey family for decades, and she suspected more happened behind closed doors than people knew. Bear acted, well, like a bear, but she guessed it was really Edith who called the shots in her quiet way.
Edith must’ve sensed Marlene’s opinion, because she added, “He lives to get those letters. ”