Page 9 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

When the service was over, the Hartnett family filed out of the pew and started across the parking lot to the main church building and fellowship hall. When she felt a strong hand on her arm, she turned and found her father.

His face was full of concern. “I saw you fidgeting during the service. You okay, Everleigh?”

“Yeah.” She tried her best to smile. “Just a tough day.”

“You’ve always tried to smile through the toughest days, but I know you, sweetie. You can talk to me. I get the feeling that something else is bothering you.”

Well, my sister is blowing me off, and Alana left half of everything to a stranger, but I’m great, Dad.“Everything’s fine.” She hooked her arm through her father’s. “Let’s go to the reception.”

In the large reception hall, folks were filling plates with food provided by the church’s women’s group.

“Dave!” a middle-aged man called before sidling up to Dad. “What are you doing to keep yourself busy during retirement?”

Dad shook the man’s hand. “Larry, you know how it is. Caroline always has a honey-do list for me. How about you?”

Everleigh excused herself before continuing to the food tables. She picked up a plate and piled on macaroni and cheese, a piece of fried chicken, some kind of mystery casserole, pasta salad, a roll, and a piece of coconut cake. She moved past the cluster of tables and vaguely familiar faces until she found her siblings and their significant others. Her mother stood nearby, talking to a woman who had once been Mom’s Sunday school co-teacher when Everleigh was little.

Everleigh set down her plate and then sat between Amber and Branson before turning her attention to her sister. “It’s good to see you, Harlowe.”

“I’msoglad you could join us, Evie.” Her sister lifted her cup of lemonade, her smile bordering on surly.

Everleigh kept a pleasant expression on her face despite the barb. She wasn’t going to allow Harlowe to get to her today. “I haven’t heard from you in a while. How’ve you been?”

After swallowing a bite of cookie, Harlowe shrugged. “Fine.”

“So, Everleigh,” Branson began, “how’s Texas?”

“Hot,” Everleigh said, and everyone except for Harlowe chuckled. While she nibbled on her lunch, she shared stories about working in the NICU in Texas as Amber, Branson, and Landon asked questions. Harlowe, however, said nothing—and her reticence was eating away at Everleigh. She couldn’t stand the distance between them. She suddenly felt like she was eleven again, fighting to get her fifteen-year-old sister’s attention and acceptance.

When Harlowe stood, Everleigh turned toward her. “Are you leaving?”

“Just going to the restroom.”

Everleigh popped up from her seat. “I’ll come with you.”

“Suit yourself,” Harlowe muttered.

When they reached the hallway, Everleigh touched her sister’s arm and tried to pull her in for a hug, but Harlowe stepped away from her. “I haven’t heard from you in months,” Everleigh said. “And when I text you, you either send one-word answers or don’t respond at all. Is everything okay?”

“Why didn’t you come home for Dad’s sixtieth birthday party?” Harlowe asked, her eyes narrowing.

Everleigh looked as members of the congregation walked in and out of the reception hall. “You know the answer to that.” Her stomach dropped as she took in the anger in her sister’s face. “I sent you money for the party, and I made the video you asked me to make for Dad. Landon said he loved it. The party was in May, Harlowe. I thought you understood.”

“You said you couldn’t take off, but you’re here now.” She gestured around the hallway. “Why’s that?”

“My contract ended yesterday, and I got on the first flight out. I needed to get here in time for the meeting with the lawyer and the memorial.”

Harlowe studied her as if she were a pesky piece of gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe, and Everleigh’s posture drooped. “How come only you and Mom were invited to the reading of the will?”

“Uh, well, um...” Everleigh stammered.Things are about to get even more tense.“We were in the will.”

Her sister took a step toward her. “What do you mean?”

Everleigh peeked past her sister to where a few acquaintances she recognized from youth group milled around the hallway. “Alana named Mom as her executrix, and she wants Mom and me to go through her personal items.”

“Is that all?” Harlowe’s eyes locked on hers.

Everleigh hesitated. She didn’t want to lie to her sister, but she also didn’t want to cause more of a rift between them. Even if she omitted the truth, though, Harlowe would eventually find out. “I got fifty percent of the inn. Isn’t that crazy?” She tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a squeak.

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