Beth’s heart swelled with love and appreciation. “Be yourself, Sam. That’s all I want.”

He pressed her hand to the side of his face. “Aren’t you even a little bit curious what I look like without all this hair?” he asked.

Actually, Beth did wonder. Until now, she’d never given it much thought. The beard was part of Sam. The long hair, too.

Sam squinted at her. “What’s up? You’re looking at me funny.”

“I’m trying to picture you without a beard.”

He winked at her and gave her one of his special smiles. “You’ll see soon enough.”

Beth sipped her latte and sighed, thinking about her aunt. “You did warn me,” she murmured, thinking out loud.

“Warn you about what?”

Beth looked up. “That dinner I arranged for my aunt and Peter Hamlin.”

“I thought you said it went fine?”

“That was what Sunshine led me to believe, but I think she’s not telling me the full truth.”

“It didn’t go well?”

“I don’t think so. When we spoke she said it was a real surprise for them both, but she didn’t say it was a pleasant one. I quizzed her about it and all she’d tell me was that they spent time catching up.”

Sam studied her as if trying to read between the lines of her aunt’s comment. “What were you expecting to happen, Beth?”

That was the same question she’d asked herself countless times since her talk with Sondra Reacher earlier that evening. “I don’t know … I thought, I hoped, they would reconnect and give their relationship a second chance. In retrospect, that sounds foolishly romantic and a little silly, doesn’t it?”

“Not in the least. You have such a warm, generous heart, and seeing them find love again would be natural for you.”

Sam was being more than kind when she felt like she deserved to be chastised for stirring up old hurts that were none of her business.

“Are you thinking nothing good will come out of their dinner?”

“Doubtful,” Beth admitted. “I asked Sunshine if she was going to keep in touch with Peter and she gave me a sad smile and said probably not.”

Beth didn’t have a clear picture of what had actually transpired between the two. She knew they’d had ample opportunity to talk and square things away. But it didn’t sound like anything of importance had taken place. And she was even more convinced of that after she’d heard from Sondra Reacher.

“What I really wanted,” Beth said, clearing her thoughts, “was for there to be healing. I don’t know entirely what went wrong between them, other than the fact that my mother played a role in their breakup. But there’s more going on than I’m aware of.” Her throat grew thick and she swallowed hard. “Oh Sam, I think I might have stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

Sam stood and took the chair next to her, placing his arm around her shoulder. Beth leaned closer to him, seeking his warmth. “You have every right to say you told me so. You did warn me.”

“You meant well.”

“I did.” Little good that did anyone now, especially Sondra Reacher, who, thanks to Beth, was without a job.

Beth exhaled a long breath with the decision to tell him everything. “I talked to Sondra this afternoon. She’s the receptionist I worked with to set up the meeting with Sunshine and Peter.”

“I remember.”

“Mr. Hamlin fired her.”

“What?”

“The first thing he did when he got back was to call her into his office.” It was unfortunate that Sondra worked Mondays. Perhaps if Mr. Hamlin had taken a few days to cool down, he might have had a change of heart.

“What excuse did he use?”

“She said he didn’t give her any excuse. All he said was that her services would no longer be needed and that she should pack up her things and leave. He had one of the interns escort her from the office.” That must have been especially humiliating to the woman who had served the law firm for nearly forty years.

Sam didn’t comment, but his arm tightened around her shoulders.

“I was excited for Sunshine and made this surprise out to be something wonderful. After I talked to Sondra I realized that the dinner must have been a disaster and Sunshine didn’t want to tell me how awful it was.”

Sam kissed the top of her head. “Your heart was in the right place, so don’t beat yourself up over it. Move on. I’m sure that’s what Sunshine is doing.”

Beth wanted to believe that, but she wasn’t convinced.

“If nothing else, you gave them the opportunity to set the past straight, and that was a gift all of its own. If it didn’t work out, that’s not on your head. That rests on the two of them.”

Sam’s encouraging words helped and Beth was able to sleep that night.

Tuesday afternoon as soon as she was free to leave the high school, Beth drove to her aunt’s. She found Sunshine as she most often did, working in her studio.

Her aunt glanced over her shoulder and brightened when she saw Beth. “I imagine you’re here to discuss Thanksgiving. I ordered a fresh turkey. A little traditional, I know, but that is what your mother would expect. I’d much rather serve Thai, which is what I did last year. I had several friends over and it was a marvelous meal. Best sticky rice ever.”

“I want to help.”

“I should hope so,” Sunshine teased. “Cooking was never my strong suit, and you know your mother. Everything has to be perfect. I don’t even have a matching set of silverware. Can’t imagine what she’ll think of that.”

Beth remembered Thanksgiving dinner from past years and the elaborate table settings her mother prepared. They were worthy of inviting Martha Stewart to join in the celebration or anyone from the DIY Network, for that matter. Her mother took pride in making sure every detail of their meal was perfection. The meal itself was catered and the guests were carefully scrutinized and evaluated for their potential usefulness long before invitations were mailed.

Thanksgiving at Sunshine’s would be something of an experience for her mother. As for her father, Beth didn’t think he much cared or noticed. He gave Ellie free rein when it came to entertaining.

“If you do the turkey and the stuffing, I’ll see to the side dishes.”

They reviewed the menu and Beth paid special attention to her aunt, looking for any signs of depression or unhappiness. She wanted to apologize for intruding on her aunt’s life but was afraid bringing up Saturday would hurt more than help.

“When do your parents arrive?”

“Tomorrow. Around three.”

“Are you picking them up at the airport?”

Beth shook her head. “Mom ordered a car service to take them directly to the hotel. She asked to meet Sam and me for dinner that evening.”

Sunshine cocked one brow in question.

“I didn’t say anything to Sam about it, though. I’ll go on my own,” she said, feeling uncertain. When he met her mother again and her father for the first time, Beth would rather her aunt was there as a buffer.

“You don’t need to worry about Sam.”

Sunshine was right. Sam was perfectly capable of holding his own with her mother. He had once already.

“I don’t plan to take them to my apartment, either.”

“Beth, why ever not? You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m just convinced Kier made it sound like I live in a shady part of town. For sure it’s far beneath Mom’s standards, but it’s mine and I love it. I won’t stand to hear her criticize any part of the life I’m living. Far as I’m concerned, I’m preventing an argument.”

Sunshine nodded approvingly. “Smart.”

Beth refused to defend her choices. Then, feeling she couldn’t ignore what happened with Sunshine and Peter, Beth found the courage to broach the subject.

“Sunshine,” she said tentatively, “I have the feeling the dinner with Peter didn’t go as well as you want me to believe.”

Her aunt picked up her paintbrush and turned back to the canvas. “What makes you say that?”