Page 114 of Merry Mended Hearts

“Of course. Good to talk to you.”

It was time to exit stage left before either of them asked any more uncomfortable questions, which I knew if I opened up to Aunt Meg, Junie would jump all over that like a rainbow on oil in sunlight.

I skirted out into the hall and was nearly to the main part of the inn when Junie’s voice caught me.

“If you’re looking for something new to read, I have something in mind,” she taunted to my back.

I slowed. We never talked about books.

“What is it?” I grumbled without looking at her.

“You know what.”

The impact of her hint landed with a crash. I rounded on my cousin, who didn’t seem the least bit perturbed.

“Will you get over it already? Why do you care if I read that note, anyway?”

Junie lifted her chin. “Because Grace asked me to make sure you got it. But I don’t think youget it, Boone.”

She emphasized that last phrase, stirring my agitation all over again.

“Just leave me alone about it, already. Please.”

Junie’s nostrils flared. “Fine. But just know that Grace put that note into my hand herself. Sheaskedme to give it to you. It didn’t magically appear. It wasn’t some fake coincidence. It was fromher. The least you can do is read it.”

And without waiting for me to respond, she whirled around and stormed back to her office, closing the door a little too hard.

Whoa.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Junie this upset. She was always fiery and overly passionate about things, but was something else bothering her to make her keep pushing that note at me?

I made my way outside, through the snow, and to the barn where Hazelnut waited. The horse’s ears pricked in anticipation at my approach, and I rubbed my hand along her gray coat.

“Ready to go home, girl?”

Together, we made the trek through the trees before the sun set. Despite myself, I found that I appreciated the sight of the trees and the landscape around me more than I had in a long time.

I had Grace to thank for that. Grace had found wonder here at every turn.

After arriving and getting Hazelnut situated in my barn, I went into the cottage and started a fire. I reheated some pork chops and green beans that Junie had sent home with me the night before, and then?—

I’ll admit it.

I was sulking.

Drowning in thoughts and Junie’s taunts.

“She’s right,” I said to my fork.

Junie had a point. The least I could do was read Grace’s note.

The truth was, that note had haunted me every single day, and I was in some kind of bizarre war with myself to prove how strong I was by resisting its temptation or something. It was like the equivalent of resisting the urge to violate customer privacy and look up Grace’s information on the reservations she’d booked. Her phone number and address would be readily available to me there.

I hadn’t wanted to seem desperate. I’d ended things so thoroughly with her, there was little chance she'd ever give me a second thought again.

I stalked into my bedroom and delved into my top drawer. Amy’s necklace was coiled there beside my socks and the crumpled note I had yet to unfold. With shaking fingers, I pulled the note out and opened its creases.

My heart pounded at the sight of Grace’s words. They sank into me like a tattoo, painful and unremovable, with more impact than if she’d spoken them to me directly.

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