Something was off. Hailey wondered about Daisy’s sudden interest in being with the family over the holidays. For the last several years she’d found a convenient excuse to stay away. Something had changed? She wanted to reassure her sister that she was loved, but before she could, Daisy continued.

  “I understand why you decided to spend Christmas in Podunk,” she said, “and I don’t blame you. Mom should never have invited Zach. If I were you, I would’ve escaped, too. The thing is, you shouldn’t be alone on Christmas. That’s just wrong, and that’s why I’m here,” she said, as if her arrival had solved everything.

  “Avoiding Zach isn’t the only reason I escaped. I wanted this time to compose music, relax, and enjoy the solitude.” She couldn’t be any blunter than that.

  Staring pointedly at the Christmas tree, Daisy seemed pensive. “Apparently, not all your time is spent alone.”

  “Okay, fine, Jay and I put up a tree. It was his idea. I was perfectly content to forgo anything having to do with Christmas.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” Daisy insisted. “You might say the tree was all Jay’s idea, but I know you, big sister. You couldn’t help yourself. You cheerfully went along with the idea.”

  It would be a lie to deny it.

  Giving a knowing shake of her head, Daisy continued. “You’re like Mom when it comes to Christmas. You love the holidays.”

  At one time that had been true. But that was before her breakup with Zach, before she got bogged down with her job at the high school. Christmas had been a special time with her family. In past years, when both Hailey and Daisy were in college and home on break, they’d bake cookies and candies to deliver to family and friends. Daisy would enhance the baskets, leaving Hailey and her mother to deliver the treats.

  Looking back on what had once been a season for family fun, Hailey realized the joy that surrounded the holidays had been lost about the same time she’d set her guitar aside.

  When she told Daisy she craved this time alone, it wasn’t an exaggeration. She needed music with the same desperation as she required oxygen. If she couldn’t write, she might as well shrivel up and die. The sole purpose of this time in Podunk was to kick-start the creative side of her brain. It’d been working beautifully, too. With Daisy’s arrival, that was at risk.

  “You should know, Jay’s a successful musician and he’s been helping me. I’ve felt creatively dry for far too long.”

  “A musician?” Daisy brightened and then her face fell. “I fell in love with one of those a while back. He was incredibly talented, but unfortunately, he was an irresponsible flake.”

  Oh dear. Daisy was about to go into another of her long-winded stories.

  Daisy laughed loudly. “If you can imagine, he wanted to move in with me and let me support him.”

  That was truly worth a laugh.

  Leaning toward Hailey as though this was of high interest, she said, “I want you to tell me about you and Jay, and don’t leave out any details.”

  Hailey refused to get sidetracked yet again. It was apparent her sister wasn’t going to take the hint. “Daisy, you know I love you.”

  “Of course. We’re sibs.”

  “Right. And I feel I can be direct with you.”

  “Of course.” The light in Daisy’s eyes dimmed.

  Instantly, Hailey realized her mistake. After feeling rejected by her parents, Daisy waited, her spine stiff, as if preparing herself for yet another rejection.

  Her sister raised her hand, stopping Hailey from speaking. “I understand. You want me to leave.”

  Hailey swallowed hard. Although she sincerely wanted her sister gone, she couldn’t do it. Her sister needed to know she was loved. “Of course not,” Hailey insisted, willing to sacrifice her time. Somehow, some way, she’d figure out how to work around her sister. It simply wasn’t in her to send Daisy away.

  “You don’t? You mean I can stay?”

  “Of course you can. We’ll have a Charlie Brown Christmas the way we once did, with just the two of us.”

  Instantly Daisy brightened, and she smiled. “I understand you’re here for a purpose, and I promise I’ll be quiet as a mouse. You’ll be able to sit with your guitar for as long as you want. I won’t make a peep.”

  “I’d appreciate that, but like you said, it’s Christmas. Remember how as a family we used to put jigsaw puzzles together every Christmas day? I found a few in a cupboard. We’ll start our own traditions, just you and me.”

  Daisy slouched back on the sofa as though relieved. Tears gathered in her eyes, and when she spoke her voice wobbled as if she was holding back her gratitude. “That sounds like a great idea.”

  Hailey didn’t know what had brought Daisy to her front door. Whatever it was, she suspected it had far more to do with something else than not wanting her to be alone for Christmas. Daisy was her sister, and for some unknown reason, she needed Hailey. No way would she let Daisy down. The music would come when the time was right.

  Chapter Fourteen

  True to her word, Daisy left Hailey alone for the remainder of the afternoon. The song she’d started writing that morning had taken shape in her mind, but when she returned to it, she was met with one mental setback after another. She couldn’t stop thinking about their earlier conversation. Daisy was hurting. Hailey hadn’t recognized it at first, concerned as she was about the intrusion. Something was definitely up with her sister. All she could do was hope Daisy would be willing to confide in her.

  Hailey found herself doing what she always did when stymied. She made herself a cup of tea, put a load of laundry in the washer, and looked through the cupboard for a snack. After wasting several minutes, she found nothing interesting as she aimlessly sought inspiration. Nothing seemed to help when her thoughts were occupied with concern for her sister.

  Two hours later, frustrated and angry with herself, Hailey gave up even trying. Noticing it was dinnertime, her stomach growled, and she realized she hadn’t eaten anything since a protein bar early that morning—plus a few handfuls of unsalted popcorn.

  Standing at the foot of the stairs, she called for Daisy. “You can come down and join me. I’m starving.”

  Her sister appeared at the top step. “You sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”

  “You aren’t a bother, you’ve never been a bother,” she said and laughed, seeking to reassure her sister that she was welcome and always would be.

  Daisy looked relieved. “Good.”

  “What did you do the rest of the afternoon?” Hailey asked. Without the internet or cell service, her sister must have been bored out of her mind.

  “This and that,” Daisy told her as she started down the stairs. “I unpacked my bag, crocheted a little, and fiddled with an idea for a macramé pattern.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  Daisy placed her hand over her stomach. “Starving.”

  “What would you like for dinner?” she asked, willing to cater to her sister’s unique dietary needs as much as possible.

  “Let me do the cooking,” Daisy was quick to suggest. She knew all too well Hailey was no whiz in the kitchen.

  “Are you still vegan, because I don’t think I’ll have what you need here.” Her sister changed her eating preferences as often as she did her relationships.

  “No worries,” Daisy was quick to reassure her. “I gave up on that a long time ago. I’m back to enjoying meat and butter. I decided I can’t live without pasta and cheese.”

  That was a relief. Knowing her sister, Hailey hadn’t expected this latest dietary decision to last long.

  “What are you in the mood for?” Daisy asked, as she ventured into the kitchen. She started opening and closing cupboard doors until she found the food pantry. “I can make us macaroni and cheese,” she said, holding out the boxed dinner.

  “Perfect.” That was about the best Hailey had to offer, and Daisy got her two favorite foods all in one processed-food offering.

  “What about a salad?” Daisy opened the refrigerator and scrounged inside, shifting items about in search of lettuce.

  “I’ll mix that,” Hailey volunteered. She’d picked up a second mixed greens kit when she’d shopped for the night she’d cooked for Jay.

  Working together, the two sisters managed to create a decent meal.

  “You know,” Daisy said as they sat across the table from each other. “All I could find in the cupboard was boxed meals. Eating all this processed food isn’t good for you.”

  Hailey knew her sister was right. The same lack of fresh foods held true in Portland. At the end of the school day, she was in no mood to attempt anything culinary.

  Some of her friends could read recipe books like they were novels. Hailey wasn’t one of them. The effort of figuring out what to make, shopping for the ingredients, then standing over the stove was beyond her, especially when her efforts so often failed. “Frozen dinners are fast and easy. I don’t have time to worry about my diet.”

  “You need to take the time,” Daisy said, chastising her. “Feed that great brain of yours, Hailey. Diet is important.”

  Hailey snickered. “You’re beginning to sound like Mom.”

  Looking aghast, Daisy dropped her fork. “Say it isn’t so.”

  Hailey burst out laughing and the two shared a smile.

  For the next several minutes they ate in companionable silence.

  “Tomorrow night you’re going to be on your own for dinner,” Hailey said. “Jay is taking me out.” Just thinking of their dinner date gave her a happy feeling.

  Daisy didn’t reveal any signs of disappointment. “You’re falling for this guy, aren’t you?”

  Hailey decided it was best not to feed her sister’s curiosity, and so she left the question unanswered.

  “I never thought my big sister would fall for a musician.”

  “I’m a musician,” Hailey reminded her.

  “Yup,” Daisy said, looking down at her plate. “You were the one in the family who got all the talent.”

  “That’s not true,” Hailey insisted, stunned that her sister would even suggest such a thing.

  “Look at me, sis,” Daisy mumbled with a soft snicker. “I’m a hot mess, and always have been. You are the golden child, while I’ve always been the black sheep of the family.”

  “Don’t say that.” Hailey wanted to wrap her arms around her sister and assure Daisy how deeply she was loved. Not until their earlier conversation had it entered her mind that her little sister would feel inferior, especially when she’d always come across as confident, if not a bit eccentric. Okay, a lot eccentric.

  “I can’t seem to find my niche. It isn’t like I can make a career out of macramé and crocheting.”

  “Have you tried?”

  “Well, yes, I regularly sell pieces at farmers’ markets and art fairs, but I don’t earn enough to support myself. I’d gratefully work at a real job if I could. I know that Mom and Dad don’t want to pay my rent for the rest of their lives. I can’t seem to hold on to employment more than a month or two, no matter how hard I try.”

  This looked to be a badly needed second heart-to-heart talk with her sister. “Do you know why that is?” Hailey had assumed Daisy’s lack of success in the business world was all due to her irresponsibility. Her sister didn’t believe in watches or keeping track of time, which was sure to be a detriment to any employer.

  “I took a test…” Daisy said, lowering her voice to that of a mere whisper.

  Hailey waited for her to continue, but when Daisy didn’t, she prompted her. “What kind of test?”

  Daisy squared her shoulders. “I’m dyslexic,” she burst out. “That’s why I always did so poorly in school and why numbers get all twisted up in my mind. I’m terrible when it comes to stuff like that, and reading, too. The words get all jumbled up in my head.”

  Stunned speechless, Hailey didn’t know what to say. “Why didn’t anyone figure that out when we were in grade school?” She was aghast that her sister had gone undiagnosed all these years.

  “The only thing I can figure is that we moved so often because of Dad’s job. I lost count of how many grade schools I attended.”

  Daisy was right. Her father had advanced quickly in his career. Each promotion had required a move. They’d bounced all over the country until finally settling in Tacoma when Hailey started junior high. Four moves in six years. It hadn’t been difficult for Hailey, as she’d always found a path because of her musical talent and love of school generally. Daisy, not so much. With every move it seemed her sister grew even more quirky.

  “Dyslexic,” Hailey repeated. It explained so much about her sister that she’d never considered. “What prompted you to take the test?”

  Daisy hesitated, as if she’d rather skip this part. “A friend suggested it may be the reason I was so bad with numbers, transposing them and making dumb mistakes.”

  “That sounds like a good friend.”

  Her sister grew uncharacteristically somber. “The best.”

  Hailey closely watched Daisy and felt there was much more to her sibling than she had realized. Intuitively, Hailey realized that feeling she had earlier about something deeply troubling her sister had to do with this friend. “What’s your friend’s name?” she asked. She’d noticed the way Daisy closed up at the question.

  After several uncomfortable moments, Daisy sniffled and set her fork aside. “Charles.”

  Although eager to hear more, Hailey patiently waited for Daisy to continue. “He says he loves me.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and she angrily swiped the moisture away from her cheek.

  “Is Charles loving you so hard to believe?”

  “Yes,” she cried. “He’s not like anyone else I’ve ever met. He’s…everything I’m not—employed, responsible—and he thinks we would be good for each other, only I know I’d mess up his life the way I’ve done my own.”

  “Daisy, oh Daisy.” Now Hailey was the one who felt like weeping. She pushed her plate aside and got up from the table, came around and hugged her sister, who was so clearly hurting. “Come sit and talk to me.”

  Daisy nodded, stood, and joined Hailey on the sofa. When she seemed reticent to continue, Hailey plied her sister with gentle questions.

  “How’d you meet Charles?” she asked.

  Daisy drew in a deep breath as though bracing herself for the conversation. “It happened this summer. He bought one of my macramé plant hangers at the farmers’ market and we had a brief conversation. About a week later, he saw me at a coffee shop and asked if he could join me. He’s really sweet, a little awkward, and funny without meaning to be.” A smile tempted her mouth and it quivered slightly. “He’s a rocket scientist and so smart I don’t know what he sees in me.” She sniffled. “I asked him, if he was deserted on an island and there was only one book he could take, what would it be?, and he said”—she paused to smile. “He said it was obvious. He’d want The Practical Guide to Boat Building. Doesn’t that tell you everything about him? Can’t you see we’re impossible together?”

  “But you continued to see him, right?”

  Daisy shrugged. “I didn’t intend to, but he returned to the market the next Saturday and bought something else, and the next week after that, too. It took him three weeks of buying my plant hangers to ask me if I ever ate lunch.” She laughed softly. “I mean, who doesn’t eat lunch? He was so cute; I couldn’t turn him down. He had his hands in his pockets and kept shuffling his feet. When I explained that I had to wait until the market closed or I sold out, you’ll never guess what he did.”

  “Tell me.”

  “He bought everything left on my table.”

  She hadn’t even met this guy and Hailey liked him already. “You went to lunch with him, then?”

  “I did, and we talked for three hours straight. He told me the minute he saw me he knew I was someone special. He didn’t think a woman as beautiful as me would ever consider going out with him. Can you imagine?”

  “Oh, Daisy, it hurts me to see you discount yourself like this.”

  Her sister smiled through her tears. “He’s so smart, and stable, and I’m the last person he needs in his life. I told him that and he kept saying I was wrong. He seems to think I’m exactly what he needs. He even took me to meet his mother.” Daisy bit her lower lip before she continued. “He tricked me into it because I’d refused earlier, certain any mother worth her salt would disapprove of me.”

  “Daisy, how can you say that?” Hailey wanted to shake some sense into her little sister. “Don’t keep me in suspense, tell me what happened.”

  “It was worse than you could have imagined.”

  Goose bumps rose on Hailey’s skin. If this woman hurt Daisy, Hailey didn’t know what she would do.

  “Charles’s mother…”

  “Yes?”

  “She loved me. She told me she’d been waiting a long time for her son to find the right woman.” Daisy cried between sobs. “She doesn’t know anything about me…and neither does Charles, not really. I explained that I live off my parents mostly, because I can’t seem to hold a job. He listened and then suggested that I might have dyslexia and found a test for me to take…That’s how I found out why I have such a hard time reading and concentrating on words.”

  He recognized what others had passed over all these years. “Charles sounds wonderful to me.”

  “That’s the problem,” Daisy insisted, fighting back tears. “I’ll ruin him, and I care too much about him to screw up his life right along with my own.”

  Hailey couldn’t help it, tears bled into her eyes that her wonderful, albeit unique, sister would think so little of herself. When she could manage to speak, she cleared her throat and said, “You broke up with him, didn’t you?”

  Daisy nodded.

  “And that’s what led you to drive to Podunk?”