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  “Seems fairly straightforward,” said Meg as she closed the layaway notebook. “Sunny was a lot more organized than I would have ever expected.”

  “I suppose so,” said Erin with a thoughtful expression. “Sometimes I forget, Meg, that most of your memories of her were from our childhood days.”

  Meg nodded. “You’re lucky that you got to be here all those years, Erin.”

  “I guess. I never thought of it that way, though. In fact, when I think how much I complained about her, I feel so ashamed. Now I’d give anything to have her back, and she could be just as eccentric as she liked. In fact, I think I would join her.”

  Meg smiled. “Me, too. Then we’d become known as the Loony Lancaster Ladies. I bet Grandmother would even join us.”

  “Wouldn’t it be great?” Erin gazed across the gallery, then back at Meg. “How was your first night in Sunny’s—I mean, your—apartment?”

  “Don’t ask.” Meg moaned.

  “What happened?”

  “Oh, not really anything. Actually, I even got a fairly good night’s sleep—finally.”

  “Was it weird?” whispered Erin. She glanced over at Ashley, who was hunched over her coloring book.

  “No, I think I was weird. I was just about to hang up my clothes in her—the bedroom. And Sunny’s things were still in the closet—not a lot, probably just what she had been using recently. And, well, I freaked out.”

  “You’re kidding! What did you do?”

  Meg told her about calling Abby and how Matthew came over. She tried to gloss over the part Matthew had played. She wasn’t totally sure about her feelings for Matthew, but she didn’t want Erin to get curious and start questioning her yet.

  “I think I’ll be okay tonight,” said Meg confidently. “I’m sure last night was the worst of it.”

  “I hope so.” Erin patted her on the shoulder. “And don’t be worried about calling me. Anytime—day or night. We’re sisters, and we need to stick together. This hasn’t been easy for me, either.”

  “I know. And I feel bad that I haven’t been more available to you, but I figure you have Tom and the girls, and I don’t want to intrude.”

  “Don’t ever think that! We’re family.” Erin nodded firmly. “And, Meg, while Ashley and I are here this morning, why don’t you go on upstairs and start taking Sunny’s personal things out of the bedroom?”

  “Erin, that would be great. You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all. If anything comes up, I’ll just call you. I noticed some empty boxes in the storage room; you might want to use them to pack things in. We can have them picked up later.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Erin.”

  Meg spent the next two hours carefully removing and folding much of Sunny’s clothing into the boxes. She left a few things on the bed that she thought she or Erin might want to keep. Meg emptied the drawers as well, laying aside some silk scarves and nice leather gloves. Finally, she pulled out the few pairs of shoes and boots that Sunny had left neatly arranged on built-in shelves, and tucked them on top of the full boxes.

  At last the closet and drawers were empty. Other than some jewelry and a few framed photos, the room was stripped of Sunny’s personal things. Meg looked around in dismay, wondering if she should have taken more time to examine each item and think about Sunny. But then, she didn’t know if she could handle it emotionally.

  Just then, Meg noticed the big cedar chest, the same one Sunny had always kept at the foot of her bed when Meg was growing up. It was the only piece of furniture that held any childhood familiarity for her. It was sitting beneath the window with a neatly folded quilt on top. Meg stared at the beat-up sides of the old chest. She knew Grandpa had made it for Sunny long ago, when Sunny was just a girl. Meg realized her work was not over yet. That chest had always been full of all kinds of memorabilia. In fact, she had tried to sneak into it several times when she was a teen, but Sunny always had kept it securely locked. Meg went over and tried to lift the lid. Still locked. Suddenly Meg recalled the small brass key she’d found in the memento box from Sunny that Siggie had given her. Perhaps the chest wasn’t locked to her after all. She’d have to remember to try it when she had more time.

  Meg moved the full cardboard boxes out by the front door and returned to the bedroom to have one last look. The closet was completely bare now. Of course, there was quite a stack of clothes on the bed, including her own. But it was a good start. And when she came back tonight, she ought to be able to hang up her own clothes without hysterics. And hopefully she could begin to put her own mark on this room soon. Of course, she would never be able to remove all traces of Sunny, nor did she want to. But this apartment was hers now, and she thought Sunny would want her to make it her own. Meg smiled, awed at how far God had brought her, even since last night.

  She made several trips to carry the boxes downstairs and place them in the storage room, making a mental note to call the Salvation Army later. She hoped her own things would arrive from San Francisco soon. But in light of Sunny’s tasteful decorating, Meg thought she’d probably give away many of her own shabbier furnishings.

  “Hey, you,” Erin called from the front. “Are we going to take a break for lunch? Ashley’s tummy is growling.”

  “Sure. According to Siggie, it’s customary to close the shop at noon—at least during the quieter part of the year.”

  “Then let’s go for it,” said Erin. “How about the Beach House? My treat.”

  “Okay,” said Meg, but part of her was remembering that the last time she’d been there had been with Sunny. It hurt to think that that had been the last time she’d spoken more than a few words to Sunny.

  “Oh, by the way, Matthew Logan called,” said Erin in a teasing, singsong voice as Meg flipped over the sign and locked the door.

  “Did he leave a message?”

  “Just that he would be tied up until later this afternoon, but he wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “He said that? He wanted to make sure I was okay?”

  “No, not exactly. But I could tell that’s what he wanted to know. And I nicely told him, without going into too much detail, that you had survived the night.”

  Meg made a face at her sister. “Thanks, Sis.”

  “Don’t mention it, Sis. Shall we walk? It’s pretty warm today. Almost looks as if the sun’s coming out.”

  They chatted as they walked, with Ashley holding each of their hands. It was a good feeling to be part of a family.

  After they ordered the lunch special of the day, smoked salmon soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, Meg began telling Erin about the things she had salvaged from Sunny’s closet.

  “I really don’t think I want anything, Meg,” said Erin. “It was thoughtful of you to think of me. But I just wouldn’t be com-fortable—you know, wearing her things.”

  “But what about her jewelry? I don’t know if there’s anything valuable, but you never know.”

  “You go through it and see. If there’s something I need to know about, you can tell me.”

  “Well, how about if I set aside some things for the girls?” Meg offered. She glanced at Ashley, contentedly munching on crackers.

  Erin nodded. “Of course, that would be lovely of you. I wasn’t even thinking.”

  “Okay, I’ll do that. Another thing, Erin,” said Meg, somewhat apologetically. It seemed to irritate Erin to talk about Sunny’s things. “Have you gone through the box that Sunny left for you?”

  “Yes. It was old photos and things I had made or written as a child. It was sweet of her to keep them.”

  “Yes, mine was the same. It was fun to see. So many things I had forgotten. But was there a key in yours?”

  “A key? No, I didn’t see a key.”

  “Well, mine had a key. And I think the key may go to Sunny’s old cedar chest.”

  Erin nodded with downcast eyes. “I didn’t realize she still had that thing. Is it in the bedroom?”

  “Yes, and it’s locked.”


  “It always was.”

  “Why?”

  Erin looked down at her water glass, then picked up the lemon and gave it a firm squeeze. Looking back up at Meg with a steady gaze, she spoke in an even voice. “She was probably trying to protect us.”

  “From what?”

  “Our past.”

  “What past?” asked Meg with a frown.

  “Actually, our father’s past would probably be a more accurate answer.”

  Meg nodded. “I see. Do we still need to be protected from it?”

  “Some of us may.”

  Meg studied her sister’s face. It was a mixture of darkness and sorrow. “Erin, I know you don’t like to talk about—well, things. And I don’t want to bug you about this. But I think I need to know a little more about him. Maybe it’s because I know nothing.”

  “You might be better off knowing nothing,” said Erin in a tone that sounded almost angry.

  “I might. But I think I’m willing to take the risk. I think it might help me to understand Sunny better.”

  Erin’s brow wrinkled as if she were considering this possibility for the first time. Then she slowly nodded. “You might be right about that, Meg.”

  “Do you want me to tell you if I find out anything?”

  “I doubt there is anything you can tell me that I don’t already know.”

  “Okay.” Meg looked down at the soup that the waitress had just set before her.

  “I’m sorry, Meg,” said Erin in a soft voice. “I don’t mean to sound cold. I just don’t want to deal with this again. At least not right now.”

  Meg nodded. “I understand. I only wanted you to know what I was up to as I went through her things. I didn’t want you to feel like I was leaving you out.”

  “Don’t worry. You go right ahead. And unless you discover that we’re heiresses to some fantastic fortune or that Mel Gibson is our long-lost brother, then don’t worry about telling me. But I’m warning you: don’t expect to go on some sweet, sentimental journey.”

  “I don’t. But I think Sunny wanted me to know.”

  “Probably so.”

  After lunch, Erin took Ashley home for a nap, and Meg minded the shop. Several customers came in. One brought in some original watercolors to be framed. Another inquired about having a set of pottery made to go with her kitchen. The rest just peacefully browsed. One thing Meg had noticed was that everyone seemed to relax once they came inside Sunny’s. It was as if the music, the sound of the waterfall, and the smell of the candles soothed and calmed them. It really was a pleasant place.

  Just before closing time, the bell tinkled again, and Meg looked up to see Matthew step in. He was wearing a brown tweed sport coat over a soft blue denim shirt and chinos. It was a good look on him.

  “Hi there, Matthew,” said Meg with a smile as she stepped out from behind the counter.

  “Hello, Meg. I don’t see any dark shadows under your eyes, so I hope that means you got some sleep last night.”

  “Thanks to you and the Bible you gave me, I sure did. And I think I will again.”

  “Great. I’m glad to hear it.” He paused, and his expression was hopeful. “I know it’s last-minute, but Abby wanted me to stop by and invite you over for dinner tonight. Actually, it’s Pop’s birthday, and we all would love for you to join us.”

  “Really? I’d love to come. Can I bring anything?”

  “Nope. Abby said to come around seven.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see you then.”

  Matthew looked as if he was about to say something else, but apparently changed his mind. After writing out the directions to his house, he said good-bye and stepped out the door.

  Meg looked at her watch. There might be enough time. Even though it was a few minutes early, she flipped the closed sign over and dashed across the street and down a couple blocks to the photo shop.

  “Hi, Joan,” said Meg breathlessly. “Are those enlargements done?”

  “Sure are. I hope you don’t mind, but I took a peek at them when I put them in the envelope.” She leaned over and said in a conspiratorial tone, “Just don’t tell Gary.”

  Meg shook her head, wondering what Joan was getting at.

  “Anyway, Meg, they look great. I think you could actually sell photos like that. You should consider doing a show or making a display at the gallery.”

  Meg smiled. “Thanks, Joan. As long as you say things like that, you can sneak peeks anytime.”

  Joan grinned sheepishly. “Well, I mean it. They are really good, Meg.”

  Meg jogged back to the gallery and let herself in, locking the door behind her. She went back to the framing section and spread the enlargements across the counter. They were good. The color was crisp and clear, and the shots were balanced and interesting. She hadn’t cut a mat since high school art days, but she’d been looking for an excuse to start practicing.

  After several botched attempts, she wound up with two fairly decent-looking framed pictures. One was a large print of Matthew, Abby, and Clive all horsing around on the Regina, looking beautiful with their windburned ruddy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes, with the clear blue sea and white sail in the background. The other was a smaller print of Clive at the helm, gazing out across the ocean like a Scandinavian sea princess, a pensive look on her brow. The larger print Meg wrapped up for Cal, and the smaller one of Clive she thought she’d slip unnoticed somewhere, as a small thank-you for all their kindness to her.

  She dashed upstairs and took a quick shower, using Sunny’s spring rain shower gel and cucumber shampoo with just the tiniest feeling of uneasiness. She was determined that this apartment would slowly become her own. That’s what Sunny had wanted. She pulled on the thick white terry bathrobe that she’d hung on the bathroom door, then went into the kitchen and made a cup of Earl Grey tea.

  It was an hour until she needed to go over to the Logans’, so she sat on the sectional to relax for a few minutes. She needed time to think about who Sunny had actually been: an artistic woman who had owned a business, been an important part of the community, lived in a tasteful apartment, had good friends, and pulled her life out of the ashes to create something that was truly beautiful. For the first time, Meg truly felt close to her mother, and she knew this is what Sunny had wanted, why she’d left her this place. She had wanted to leave Meg a home, the home she’d never provided while Meg was a child. Meg wiped a tear from her cheek and took another sip of tea.

  “Thank you, Sunny,” she said out loud. “I think I’m finally starting to get it. And thank you, God, for helping me to see things straight.”

  TWENTY SIX

  As Meg looked at the selection of clothes spread across the bed, she wished the rest of her things had arrived. She really had nothing very festive to wear to a birthday party. Finally, she settled on the same brown dress she had worn to the exhibit in the gallery. It was a simple sheath of raw silk, ending just above the knees. When she’d first bought it she had liked how it looked on her slender figure. But now it seemed duller than dull, and the matching brown hose and suede shoes, though stylish, didn’t help liven it up. The night of the exhibit, she hadn’t minded looking drab. But tonight was different.

  She looked across the cluttered bed until she spotted a long silk scarf that had caught her eye earlier. It was a vivid palette of rich russet, green, and gold. She picked it up and ran the smooth fabric through her fingers. She could tell by the feel that it hadn’t come cheap. In fact, all of Sunny’s clothes had been top of the line.

  For fun, Meg tied the scarf like a belt around her waist and turned to the mirror to view the results. Not bad. She looked through the box of jewelry on Sunny’s dresser and found a long gold chain with a lovely agate pendant. She put it around her neck. Smiling at her reflection, she felt like a little girl playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes, something she had never done as a child. She dug a little deeper in the jewelry box and discovered a pair of gold hoop earrings that were bigger than those she normally wore, but she
put them on anyway. She looked back in the mirror. Interesting.

  Now all she needed was a coat. She remembered the taupe suede jacket she had saved from Sunny’s things, thinking that it would look great on Erin. She pulled it from the pile and slipped her arms into the satin sleeves. It was a beautiful garment, barely worn, but the scent of Sunny’s perfume still lingered on it. And for a pleasant change, she didn’t mind. Finally Meg looked in the mirror to see how it all fit together, and she knew she couldn’t have done any better if she had been shopping at Saks. She felt like Cinderella, with Sunny as her invisible godmother.

  As Meg drove over to the Logans’ she realized this was the first time she had felt good since Sunny died. She wasn’t completely happy; that might still take some time. But she was beginning to feel good about Sunny, and she appreciated all that Sunny had done to make everything easier on her. She still regretted the time that had been lost, time she could have used to get to know her mother, but like Siggie had said, she needed to forgive herself for that.

  Matthew met her at the door, took her coat, and quietly told her, “You look very nice, Meg.”

  Meg laughed lightly. “Thanks. I haven’t had much opportunity to dress up lately, and I almost forgot how to do it.” She carried the wrapped present for Cal, with the smaller one hidden beneath it.

  “Come on in. The clan’s in the kitchen,” said Matthew as he gently placed his hand on her back to guide her through the large house. She knew it was simply a polite gesture on his part, but it sent unexpected, yet not unpleasant, shivers up her spine.

  “Hey, Meg,” called Abby. “You’d better get in here quick. These guys are gobbling up my mini clam fritters. I made a few for appetizers, because they’re Pop’s favorite, but they’re going mighty fast.”

  “Hi, Meg,” said Clive. “Better get some while you can.”

  “Happy birthday, Cal,” said Meg with a big smile. She handed him the wrapped package and tucked the other one behind her back.