“Jesus.” Jonah only shook his head over his chicken. “The kid’s killing me.”

“We’ll live with Mom at first—at least I’m going to dump that on her—because it’ll take awhile to find a place down there, and that’s after the time it takes to deal with the house here, get it ready to sell, put it on the market.”

“Don’t.” Bick immediately slapped a hand to her mouth, eyes wide over it.

“I can’t keep two houses. The numbers aren’t that good.”

“No, I mean … How would you feel if we bought it? Pats and me. Oh my God, I just said that.”

“Say it again?”

“It’s crazy, right? But we were talking after I peed on the stick, and after we jumped around, we both said how we should buy a house. Stay close to her work and mine, but have a house, a yard, kid-friendly neighborhood. Holy shit, what if we bought your house? Is that terrible? Would it be bad for you if people you knew lived in it? Would it—”

His heart just opened wide, and all the good poured into it.

“I can’t think of anything that feels better. Not strangers. Family.”

“Really? Oh man, oh boy, I need to talk to her. I mean, she loves your house, but I can’t just say deal.”

“It’s meant.” Jonah ate more chicken. “I got the tingle in the bones. You know I don’t get the bone tingles unless it’s meant.”

“I’m going to go call her. You’re sure about this?”

“Yes. I’m sure. In fact, I think I feel a slight bone tingle myself.”

“That’s my deal, man. You can’t steal a man’s tingle.”

“I’m going to call her right now.” Bick sprang up, then dropped down again. “No, put up the numbers first. I need to see the numbers before I go and buy a house.”

Jonah chugged some Mountain Dew and grinned as he swiveled to his computer. “Let me preface this reveal by saying we can all afford to buy a house.”

Because the day begged for it, Adrian recorded her blog workout on the patio, opting for a quick, effective yoga session, and ending sitting cross-legged on her mat, an arm around Sadie, who’d wandered over to join her.

“Don’t forget, flexibility is one of the essential legs on the fitness stool. Make time for it, make time for you. Until next time, Sadie and I say enjoy today.”

She clicked off the remote, nuzzled her dog. “And that’s a wrap for this week.”

“You looked good, too.”

She turned her head, spotted Dom. “Hey, I didn’t know you were back. You should’ve come into it. You know people love seeing you on the blog.”

“I’ll leave those Down Dogs to you and Sadie.”

“Tai chi next week then. You’re good at it.”

“Maybe. How about we sit in the shade, if you’re not busy, and enjoy some of this summer day?”

“Not busy. Sit, and I’ll go get us some lemonade.”

“Wouldn’t mind that a bit.”

“Five minutes. Stay with Popi, Sadie.”

When Dom sat at the little patio table, Sadie went to him, laid her big head on his thigh.

As he stroked the dog, Dom looked out over the garden, one alive with summer. Tomatoes ripening, roses thriving, the big rosemary bush tossing scent into the air.

He could hear the hum of bees, the song of birds.

He hated knowing he couldn’t do as much work in the garden as he used to, but knew Adrian liked picking up the slack.

“She picks up a lot of slack, Sadie.”

He watched her as she came down from the kitchen with a tray. The pitcher and glasses of ice, the little bowl of berries, the plates for fruit and cheese.

A lot of slack, he thought again.

“How are things at Rizzo’s?”

“A little slow this afternoon. People want to be out and about on a pretty day like this. But I’ve got news.”

“Gossip?” Adrian wiggled her shoulders as she poured the lemonade, made the ice crackle. “I love gossip.”

“More news than gossip, I’m afraid, but good news. Jan told me Raylan and his kids are moving back to the Creek.”

“Really?” Adrian popped a raspberry into her mouth. “She must be thrilled.”

“Thrilled doesn’t cover it.”

“What about his work, his company?”

“He’ll work from here, go up to Brooklyn when he needs to. They’ll stay with her until he finds a house. I’d say she’d be happy if that took forever.”

He sipped some lemonade. “Just like your grandmother’s.”

“I watched her make it enough times. Which is something you still won’t allow with your sauce.”

He smiled. “One day.”

“I’ve heard that before.” She tossed Sadie a blueberry, amusing everyone when the dog snatched it out of the air.

“There is something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Oh?”

“About the house, the business. I made the changes in my will long ago—”

“Oh, Popi.”

He cut her off with a shake of his head. “A man—or woman—who doesn’t put affairs in order is selfish and shortsighted. I like to think I’m neither.”

“You’re not.”

“It occurred to me I’d never discussed it with you, and what I’ve done may be more burden than gift. Leaving you the house and the business.”

“Oh, Popi.”

“It’s not only that your mother doesn’t need either, but she wouldn’t want them. This isn’t her home, and hasn’t been for a long time. She’s never had any real interest in the business. She has her own. But then, so do you. I want you to be honest with me because these are responsibilities, ones that don’t end. You may want to move back to New York, you may not want to think about owning another business.”

“I’m not moving anywhere. This is home. You know that. And Rizzo’s isn’t just a business, not to you, not to me. Not to the town either.”

He’d expected just that, but still his heart lightened.

“All right then. I know I can trust you with both. As for what’s inside the house, I’d ask you to let your mother have whatever she wants. Some of her mother’s jewelry. Sophia wasn’t one for the fancy, but there are sentimental pieces. And the furniture, the things. Lina should have what means something to her.”

“No question. I promise you.”

“You’re a good girl. A treasure to me, always, but in these last two years … I wouldn’t have made it without you. Or you.” He rubbed Sadie’s head again. “My big girl.”

“We love you, Popi. And having this?” She spread her arms. “Having you? You gave me roots. It’s made all the difference for me.”

“Seeing what you’ve grown from those roots makes me proud.” He let out a sigh. “Now that’s done, and we do just what you said on your recording. Enjoy today.”

PART TWO

CHANGES

All things change;

nothing perishes.

—Ovid