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Willow Brook Road(81)

By:Sherryl Woods


“Personal experience?”

Rather than answering directly, she told the story of the warfare among her grandfather and his brothers when the town was being built. “Uncle Thomas took Grandpa Mick to court because he didn’t think he was working hard enough to protect the bay. Uncle Jeff sided with Thomas and war was declared. It was Gram who brokered peace, mostly by insisting that the Sunday-dinner tradition would not be broken and that they had to get over themselves.”

“And just like that, they did?”

Carrie laughed. “Hardly. It took years. According to Mom, Sunday dinners were sometimes very tense if anyone ventured onto a dangerous topic. Of course by the time Caitlyn and I came along, Chesapeake Shores had been built and peace once again reigned, at least most of the time.”

“Well, I certainly didn’t notice any strain today,” Sam said.

Again, though, he had the sense that Carrie wanted to dispute that, but she remained discreetly silent.

“We should go,” he said eventually. “Thanks for asking us to join you today.”

“I’m sorry I bailed on you. I hope Mom explained.”

“She did,” Sam said, though with no mountain of paperwork in sight, he was well aware he still didn’t have the whole picture. Given Carrie’s reticence just now, he wondered if he ever would.

Or why he had a gut feeling that it mattered.



“Book club is on again for tomorrow night at Susie’s,” Shanna announced happily on Monday morning.

“I thought she’d agreed the other day when you first spoke to her about it, then canceled an hour later.” Heather said, looking surprised. “What makes you think she won’t cancel again?”

“I pinned her down yesterday at Mick’s and badgered her till she couldn’t say no,” Shanna said, clearly pleased with herself. “You’ll all be there, right? And you’ll bring something. I promised her she wouldn’t have to lift a finger.”

Heather and Bree immediately offered to shop for sandwich wraps and salads from Panini Bistro.

“And I’ll bake brownies,” Shanna said. “And I’ll ask Jess to bring another dessert from the inn. What about you, Carrie?”

“I can’t make it,” Carrie said stiffly. “I’m swamped with paperwork for the day-care center.”

Bree studied her with a narrowed gaze. “And that’s more important than being there for Susie?”

“Actually it is,” Carrie said defensively. “I have to get the ball rolling, and Connor needs this paperwork to file all the applications.”

“Surely one night won’t make that big a difference,” Shanna said.

“Sorry. Not this time,” Carrie repeated.

Bree gave her a penetrating look, then sighed. “So it’s true.”

The other women stared at her curiously, even as Carrie wanted to jump up and leave before her aunt opened this can of worms.

“What’s true?” Heather asked.

“There’s some sort of rift between Carrie and Susie,” Bree said, her gaze on Carrie. “Am I right?”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” Carrie said. “And I have to run. I need to pick up Jackson.”

“Sit still. You don’t have Jackson on Monday,” Bree said.

“Change of plans,” Carrie said, trying to keep a note of desperation out of her voice. “Noah asked me to fill in. That’s why I’m not volunteering at Julie’s day-care center today.” She gave Bree a challenging look. “Would you like to call him to check?”

Bree relented. “That won’t be necessary,” she said eventually. “But sweetie, if there is something going on between you and Susie, you need to mend fences. That makes it even more important for you to be there for book club.”

“It’s up to me? Why?” Carrie snapped before she could stop herself. She fought to bring her annoyance under control. “You have no idea what you’re talking about and I really think you should stay out of it.”

She stood up and this time no one made any effort to stop her. She was halfway out the door before she heard the murmur of voices start again and knew that heated speculation was under way.

This whole thing was destined to turn into a huge disaster before all was said and done and she couldn’t think of any way to stop it. How was she supposed to defend herself against Susie’s irrational suspicions and cruel comments without making matters even worse? Talking to her cousin in Susie’s present frame of mind would only escalate the situation.

Of course, walking out of Sally’s just now probably hadn’t helped, either. Whatever her aunt Bree knew or thought she knew was going to be common knowledge before noon. And then what? Battle lines would be drawn? Not only did Carrie not want that, but in Susie’s fragile state these days, it was the last thing she needed, as well.