Sierra Falls (Sierra Falls 1)

“On it. ” Tom nodded and went to the bar. When he returned, it was with two glasses—he’d brought a sparkling water for Marlene, too. She gave him a shy smile.

Phoebe sipped, looking calmed. “Laura, it’s such a treat seeing you back in Sierra Falls. Edith tells me you might stay for a while this time. ”

“I think I just might. ”

Poor Sorrow was stiff as a board, and Marlene willed the girl to look her way so she could share a smile of encouragement. She’d heard about the girl’s breakup with Damien and didn’t know if her agitation was due to the accident, to Laura, or to the appearance of her ex-boyfriend’s mother.

Phoebe was doing her best to ease the tensions, though, and she met Sorrow’s eye with a smile. “You deserve the help. ” The sentiment notched the woman higher in Marlene’s estimation.

Laura straightened, brightened. “I’d love to transform this place from a dusty old hunting lodge into a cute destination resort. ”

“Oh, that would be charming. I’ve always thought the lodge had such potential. ” Phoebe’s gaze swept the room, coming to rest on a pair of antlers over the dining table.

Laura laughed, catching her line of sight. “The first order of business would be to lose the animal heads. ”

Sorrow sat silently, practically quivering, and Marlene tried to ease the tension. “Some of us like a little local flavor. ”

“I’d keep some flavor, for sure. I’m talking to an old friend about designing a Web site, and it’d totally telegraph that gold rush town feeling. ”

Sorrow’s mouth tightened. “Have you talked to Dad about this? Because you sure haven’t talked to me. ”

“Not yet, not yet. ” Laura shooed her hand. “I’m pulling together the marketing plan now. It’ll be comprehensive—addressing new interior design, an Internet presence—and it’ll all tie into what I’ve got in mind for the festival. I thought we could even have a gold rush menu, with Sully’s Prospector’s Pie of course, and maybe even feature a special gold rush dinner that Sorrow could make. How about it, sis? You up for it? You could debut it at the festival. ”

Sorrow didn’t get a chance to answer before Dabney came to gather his wife. Once the Simmonses left, she rounded on Laura. “If you haven’t noticed, this dusty old tavern is open for business, so now is not the time to be gabbing about your grand takeover plans. ”

“Please don’t—” fret, Marlene was about to say.

“It’s never the right time for you,” Laura snapped. “And I’m not trying to take over. ”

Marlene took a big sip of her water.

Sorrow crossed her arms at her chest. “Well it sure looks that way. You go around second-guessing everything I do. Don’t you have enough to do in your fancy job? Do you need mine, too? Don’t forget, you were the one who couldn’t run for the door fast enough. ”

“How could I forget when you remind me every time I’m home? What is your problem, anyway? I’m just trying to help. ”

“You scheming about how to redecorate is so not helpful. ”

Laura pouted. “I thought you’d like my gold rush dinner idea. ”

“Sure, of course. It’s cute. And it’s not the point. ”

“Then what is the point? You’ve barely got a handle on things around here. ” She swept her arm, gesturing to the room. “Why are you so resistant to accepting my help? Like with the festival. ” Laura pinned her eyes on Marlene. “Tell her, Marlene. I feel like I’ve contributed a lot to the planning. ”

Marlene swallowed. “Oh dear, I…”

Edith appeared in a trice, aware of her girls’ tension like a sixth sense. She gave them a scolding look. “Our dinners are up, and I’m sure Marlene is hungry. I know I am. ” She took her elder daughter’s arm, tugging her up from her seat. “Laura, honey, would you help me bring out our plates? Helen is still too shaken up. ”

Sorrow and Marlene were left alone. The younger woman dropped her head in her hands. “I’m sorry. It was unacceptable to do that in front of you. I just…I haven’t gotten much sleep, I think, and it’s been a pretty emotional week. I’m so sorry. ”

“Oh, hush. ” She took Sorrow’s hand. “Whatever are you apologizing for?”

“For me and my stupid sister. ” She sat up, but her shoulders remained slumped. “Nothing is going right today. ”

“Do you think this is the first sisterly fight I’ve seen? Don’t forget who I live with. ” She had to smile. “Don’t give it a second thought. You’re young. You both are. You’ll figure it all out. ” She watched Laura standing at the pass-through, balancing plates on her arms. “Consider forgiving your sister. The old cliché is true: life it just too darned short not to. Open your mind to your sister’s ideas. I happen to think a little change around here would be a grand idea. And if Laura decides to stay in Sierra Falls for a while, then good on her for following her heart. ”

And, Marlene thought, it was high time she did the same.

Thirty-three