“How about you drop me back at the office before you go eat lunch with Violet?” Neely Kate said. “I’ll grab some lunch with Jed and see if he’ll take me to see Patsy’s mother and aunt.”

“What if someone sees you together?”

She shrugged. “I’m tired of hiding him. I’ve got nothin’ to be ashamed of.”

“What about Joe?”

Her face hardened. “I’m done carin’ what that man thinks.”

“Neely Kate . . .”

“No. He made it clear who his priority is.”

The stubborn look on her face made it clear there would be no swaying her decision. “Well, just be careful.”

She hesitated. “If more guys turn up, it might be a good idea to have someone we can call for help, for backup. We both know and trust Jed. Even if he’s still with Skeeter, he wouldn’t betray us.”

No, he’d proven that before. “You’re right, but don’t tell Jed why yet. And see if he knows anything about the guy who was shot close to the county line.”

A grave look washed over her face. “Yeah.”

I parked on the side street next to our office. “I’ll let you know when I’m done. If you’re still meetin’ with Patsy’s mother and aunt, I’ll do more diggin’ into Marshall, but first things first. I want to ask Randy Miller about the case. I’ll put in a to-go order at Merilee’s for Violet and the kids, then give him a call while I’m waiting.”

“Okay,” she said. “Be careful.”

“You too.” I sent Violet a text to let her know I was running behind but would be bringing food over, to which she immediately responded, Bless you.

Neely Kate and I both hopped out of the truck. She headed into the office while I walked across the street to the café. After putting in the order, I walked across the street to the park bench in front of the courthouse to make my call.

“Rose,” Randy said when he answered. “How are you?”

“I’m good. What’s new with you?”

“Things are good. Well, better than good. I’m datin’ someone right now.”

I squealed with excitement. “Really? Who?”

“Margi Romano.”

“Romano . . . is she any relation to the new vet, Levi Romano?”

“Yeah, she’s his sister. She’s gonna help him run his office, but she’s been here for about a month. I met her at the DMV when she was changing her license.”

“That’s weird,” I said. “We dated a few times, and he never mentioned his sister had moved here too.”

He paused, obviously unsure of how to respond to that. “So what can I do for you?” he asked.

I cringed, feeling guilty. “I’m sure you’ve heard Patsy Sue Clydehopper hired us to clear her of murdering her cousin.”

He chuckled. “I hope you got your money up front, because she’s gonna be needin’ it for bail.”

“So you found her?”

“No, but we will,” he said with an assurance I wasn’t sure I liked.

“I’m wondering if you can help me with a few things.”

“You can ask. No guarantee I’ll answer.”

“Fair enough,” I said. “First, was strangulation with that tie the cause of death?” We’d been running with that assumption, but I was reminded of my conversation with Joe that morning. It was just that: an assumption.

“The state coroner hasn’t said yet.”

I wasn’t surprised. I’d learned from Mason it usually took a few days. “But what theory are y’all runnin’ with for the cause of death?”

He laughed. “You know I can’t tell you that.”

“Okay,” I said, “tell me this. Did you find any hidden cameras in the motel room?”

He was silent for a moment. “What makes you ask?”

Did that pause mean they’d found some and he didn’t like that I knew or that they hadn’t found any because they hadn’t thought to look? I was going with the latter. I pulled the phone away from my ear, put him on speaker, and opened up my email from Calvin. “I have my sources. I take it you didn’t look.”

There was a long pause before he said, “No.”

“If I give you a point in the right direction, maybe you’ll feel up to sharing information with me sometime in the future,” I said, then braced myself as I opened the photos. Oh, lordy. No wonder Patsy Sue had lost it. I squinted, trying to see as little of the action as possible. “I suspect there’s a camera still hidden in there. Look at the top left corner of the photo of the big deer, over the dresser.”

“How do you know about the camera?” he asked, turning serious.

“Like I said, I have my sources. This was a freebie, but if that camera helps ID the killer, I’m hoping you’ll let me know before you announce it to the media.”

“Yeah. If we find something, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.” I hung up and headed back into the café. The food was ready, so I paid and was heading out the door as Dena was heading in.

I tried to hide my surprise at seeing her, unsure how to act. Before Joe, I would have told her hello, maybe exchanged some pleasantries before continuing on my way. But it was obvious that Dena had issues with me, and I wasn’t sure talking to her at the entrance to downtown Henryetta’s most popular restaurant was the best idea.

She made the decision for me. “Rose,” she said in a curt tone.

“Dena, about this morning . . .”

She lifted her chin. “There’s nothing to discuss.”

“But I know you—”

“I said there was nothing to discuss,” she snapped, then pushed past me toward the counter.

I walked out onto the sidewalk, worried I’d just lost Dena as a friend.

---

Ashley and Mikey were waiting at the door when I arrived, and they ran out to meet me.

“We’re hungry, Aunt Rose!” Ashley said as I got out of the truck. “We didn’t think you were ever goin’ to get here!”

“Well, I’m here now,” I said with a grin.

Violet was lying on the sofa, propped up with pillows and covered with an afghan. I had to hide my surprise when I saw how pale she looked. But I forced a huge smile and held up the takeout bags.

“I brought your favorite from Merilee’s.”

She grinned. “Her pot roast?”

“Of course.” I went into the kitchen and set the bags on the counter, and the kids followed behind. “Hey,” I said enthusiastically, “how about we have a picnic?”

“We just had a picnic yesterday, Aunt Rose,” Ashley said.

“That one was outside. This one will be inside.”

She wrinkled her nose. “An inside picnic?”

“It’ll be fun. Can you get something to drink for you and Mikey? I’ll get a blanket.”

“Okay.”

I grabbed a quilt out of the linen closet, but I had second thoughts when I saw Violet dozing. Her eyes cracked open as I reentered the living room and squatted next to her. “Maybe you’d rather I take the kids outside so you can nap.”

She smiled and reached for my hand. “No. Let’s have our inside picnic. There’ll be enough time for sleepin’ later.”

A knot lodged in my throat, and I didn’t know what to say to that.

“It’s okay, Rose. I know I’m dyin’, and Ashley knows it too. There’s no point hidin’ it.”

I swiped a tear from my cheek. “It’s just takin’ some getting used to.”

“You’ll have a lifetime to get used to it. Let me have what I want.”

I laughed at that. “You’ve been gettin’ what you want for practically your entire life.”

A twinkle filled her eyes. “So why stop now? Spread out the blanket already.”

Ashley and Mikey helped me spread out the quilt, and the three of us sat on the floor while Violet stayed on the sofa. The kids ate their chicken strips and macaroni and cheese, while Violet picked at her pot roast and vegetables. Finally, she handed the takeout container to me, looking like she was about to pass out.

“Vi,” I said, trying to hide my worry. “Why don’t you take a nap?”

“Okay,” she said, “but I want to go out in the backyard to do it.”

I gave her a look of surprise.

“You can lay the quilt under the mimosa tree. Ashley said there was a nice breeze. I thought the kids could play in the little wading pool and the sprinkler.”

“Okay, kids,” I said as I got to my feet. “You heard your momma. Go put your swimsuits on and let’s go outside.”

Twenty minutes later, I helped Violet outside to the blanket I’d spread under the tree. Mikey and Ashley were running through the oscillating sprinkler on the opposite side of the yard, but I noticed Ashley had her eye on us as we headed for the quilt. Violet’s arm was so thin, I worried I’d break it if I held on too tight. She practically collapsed onto the quilt, and I helped situate a pillow under her head.

“Are you comfortable?” I asked. “The ground’s so hard.”

“Stop fussing over me,” she said softly as she turned her head to watch her children. “Now lie down with me.”

“You’re using this dyin’ thing to your full advantage to boss me around,” I teased as I sat beside her. It was silly, but I figured it would make everything the smallest bit better if I could make her laugh or even smile.

“At least it’s good for something.” She turned back to give me an ornery grin. “Now lie down next to me like I asked.”

“Don’t you want me to watch the kids?”

“They’re fine,” she said. “They’re in a fenced yard. They’re not going anywhere.”

I did as she requested, leaving six inches between us, but as soon as I was settled, she reached out and laced her fingers through mine.

“The mimosa flowers are so pretty, don’t you think?” she asked. “Such tiny, tenacious things.” She paused and squeezed my hand. “A lot like you.” She turned to face me. “I’m countin’ on your tenacity, Rose.”

I stared at her in confusion.

“Mike’s gonna give you a hard time after I’m gone. He’s gonna do his best to keep you away from the kids, but I need you to fight for them. I need you to make sure they don’t forget me . . . and that they always know how much you and I love them. Will you do that for me?”

My mouth dropped open. “Violet . . .”

“Rose. Please. I need you to fight him. Will you do it?”

“Yes. Of course. I hated stayin’ away from them while you were in Texas. Of course I’ll fight for them.”

“Thank you,” she said with so much relief it made my heart hurt. “I’m having an attorney draw up a new will, but I’m worried he’ll contest it.” She gave a tiny shake of her head. “He’s worried you’re associating with criminals. I told him that all of that’s behind you, but he won’t listen to reason.”

I swallowed, knowing I needed to come clean, but I couldn’t find the words.

“But there’s more to it,” she said. “There’s something else goin’ on with him, but I don’t have the energy to figure out what it is.”

“Something shady?” I asked in disbelief. Sure, I knew he’d done something foolish when he was young and stupid, but hadn’t he learned his lesson?

“Shady?” she chuckled, then started to cough. Her coughing continued and didn’t stop.

I wrapped an arm around her back and helped her sit up. When she continued to cough, I snatched up the water bottle I’d brought out earlier and handed it to her.

She took a sip and her coughing settled down. I rubbed her back, my gaze settling on Ashley and Mikey. They’d stopped playing and stood watching their mother with fear in their eyes.

“Your momma’s okay,” I said.

Violet nodded. “Aunt Rose is right,” she said in a quiet voice. “Go back to playin’.”

They reluctantly turned back to the sprinkler, but I continued to rub soft circles on her back.

“I don’t have long, Rose,” she finally said, keeping her gaze on the kids, who were now shrieking with laughter. “I’m usin’ everything within me to hang on until the will’s done and signed, but after that . . .”

My hand froze and panic rose up inside me. “No.”

The corners of her mouth tipped up, but she refused to look at me. “Your denial won’t stop it from happenin’.”

“I can’t believe you’re just givin’ up, Vi. Get a second opinion. Let’s go to the Mayo Clinic. I’ll take you.”

She turned to face me, grabbing my hand. “No, Rose. No more doctors. I wasted so much time and put you through unnecessary pain for nothin’.”

“I’ll do it again,” I insisted, my voice breaking. “I’ll give you as much bone marrow as you need.”

She lifted her hand to my cheek and her thumb swiped away a tear. “I know you will, but the chances are so slim, Rose. Ten percent. I lost months with my babies. Why would I give up more time for a measly ten percent?” Her chin quivered. “Them seein’ me like this is bad enough. I won’t put them through anything worse.” Then she lowered back down onto the blanket, tugging me with her.

We lay on our backs, our hands linked again as we stared up at the tree canopy over our heads, and I couldn’t help wondering how much time she had left and what she planned to put in her new will.

---

Violet had been napping for nearly an hour under the tree. The kids were ready to go inside, so I kissed Violet on the forehead and took them inside to change. I put Mikey down for his nap, and then Ashley and I grabbed a chapter book and took it into the backyard. We settled in a hammock under the mimosa tree, several feet from Violet.

Ashley snuggled into my side and started to read quietly out loud while I listened in amazement. I couldn’t believe how well she read for a six-year-old, and somehow I’d missed it—all because Mike had kept the kids from me.

She stopped reading and looked up at me with her big blue eyes, looking so much like her mother it stole my breath.

“I’ve missed you, Aunt Rose.”

“I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry I didn’t do a very good job of spending time with you lately, but I promise it won’t happen again. I’m here whenever you need me.”

Ashley pressed the back of her head into my chest. “My momma’s dyin’.”

My arm tightened around her. “I know. How do you feel about that?”

“Sad.”

“Me too.” I glanced down at her and tucked a stray strand of blond hair behind her ear. “You know, your momma is my big sister.”

“I know that, Aunt Rose,” she said as though I was a fool.

“Just like you’re Mikey’s big sister. Your momma used to look out for me and make sure I was okay. You could do that for Mikey.” But even as I said it, I worried I was putting too much pressure on her. “You need your brother, Ashley, and he needs you. You’ll always need each other, even when you’re bigger. Even when you fight.”

“Until we die too,” she said with a frown, then lifted her hand to my cheek. “You won’t have a sister anymore.”

A burning lump clogged my throat and my eyes stung with tears. “No,” I whispered, “I won’t.”

“Mikey and me will be here for you too, Aunt Rose.”

I squeezed her tightly, and her arms slid around my chest and back.

She started to cry, and I held her until she settled down, stroking her back and hair. When I snuck another glance over at Violet, she was watching us with tears in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she mouthed.

I nodded as tears streamed down my own cheeks. I wasn’t sure I could do this, but I didn’t really have a choice.

A little while later, Ashley and I helped Violet up and into the house, getting her settled onto the sofa again.

“You go on back to work,” Violet said. “I’m gonna take a good long nap, and Mike will be home any minute now.”

I glanced around the living room, wondering if I should stay.

“I can tell what you’re thinkin’,” Violet said. “Go back to work. Maybe you can come back in a day or two.”

“Yes, of course. But I can start some laundry before I go,” I said. “Or start dinner for tonight.”

“I’ve got a freezer full of meals from the church, and Mike got the laundry caught up last night. We’re fine, Rose.”

“Okay.” I gave her a kiss goodbye, but she held me close when I started to pull away.

“You’re wrong, you know,” she murmured. “People can’t help loving you, Rose. They’re drawn to you, and even if they fail you, I’ll always be with you.”

I hurried for the door, giving Ashley a quick hug, then bolted for the truck before I broke down into tears again.