Page 129 of Return To You

But Skye is just like the rest of us females, and she gets sucked in, forgetting her initial goal. Going to the Grange is like stepping inside a time warp. We go from find to treasure, calling each other out, taking photos, sneezing in the dust. At least it’s cool inside.

“Okay, what do we got?” Autumn calls out at some point. “I have two contenders for a dining room table and chairs, and options for the deck.”

“I found twelve cute as hell old school tables.”

“I found five vintage sinks.”

“How about this century-old pile of bricks for a built-in barbecue?”

“I like this for the deck,” I say. It’s a wide wicker couch with an ottoman just as wide.

“Nice,” Autumn says. “It can double as a lounge chair for two.” She writes something down on a notepad and mumbles, “Let’s see if they’ll throw in the two matching armchairs. Now, what we came for in the first place. Outdoor dining.” Autumn points out several large metallic tables. “They’re foldable. You could store it somewhere in the winter, so it doesn’t age too fast. They have matching chairs and pillows in perfect condition. If you don’t like the patterns they have, we can have new ones made.” These tables seem huge, like they could fit eight people easy. Soft excitement courses through my veins as I choose one of the patterns among the three or four they have—a bayadere stripe in tones of red and orange that just screams happy summer.

Autumn scribbles in her notepad, then says, “Now lemme show you what I found for the dining room.”

We clear the tables so we can examine them properly. To my great embarrassment, Autumn points out every sign of wear to the two sales people now following us like their next paycheck depends on us (which might be the case). Turns out, they’re not offended, and we get a good price.

I set my choice on an English-style farmhouse table in natural pine and distressed white, with four matching chairs and two armchairs. The Grange employees throw in an area rug and a cute tray with heart-shaped cutouts.

While they haul my purchases to the front under Autumn’s watchful eyes, the other girls roam the aisles some more. No princess bed for Skye here, but everyone still has a thing or two they couldn’t possibly live without. When we’re all paid for and gathered in the parking lot, we’re stuck with a problem.

“That’ll never fit in any of the cars.”

Haley calls Justin. “Our future sister-in-law needs a moving truck,” she says, laughing into the phone. My belly does a full flip. What did she just call me?

Skye squeaks. “Did Uncle Ethan propose?”

“No, honey, he did not. Haley is just being… facetious.”

“Fashy…?”

“Silly.”

Haley hangs up. “The guys are on their way. They said to leave everything here.”

“Can we go for ice cream?” Skye squeaks.

“This one’s got her priorities right,” Kiara says. “Come on, sunshine.”

“Let’s go to that place down by the river. Remember?” Chloe says.

A half hour later, we’re all holding ice creams, our feet in the cool stream. “Can we go and set up Aunt Grace’s house now?” Skye asks.

“We have to wait,” Alex says.

“For what?”

“For the guys to have everything delivered to Grace’s. If we get there and help, they’re gonna say we’re in the way,” Haley explains.

“What Haley means is, let the guys do the heavy lifting,” Kiara says.

“Shoot,” I say.

“What?”

“My key. It’s no longer under the rock. They won’t be able to get in.” I should have left it there. “I’ll go. You guys stay here and relax.”

“Can I come with you?” Skye asks.

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