Miss Lily stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was pink. Not a bright neon pink that made you laugh out loud, but a pretty whisper of a pink that made someone do a double take to make sure they weren’t hallucinating.

“Oh, Lil. That looks beautiful on you.”

Lily turned to see her sisters standing to the side of the mirror. Tall, stiff Daisy was vibrant as a yellow blonde. Mischievous and slightly wild Violet looked cool and edgy with her light purple hair.

“It’s amethyst. Isn’t it pretty?” Violet asked, doing a slow spin.

“It’s you,” Miss Lily whispered, reaching her hands out to her sisters. “It’s us.”

She felt silly getting misty-eyed. They’d been through heartbreak, losing their parents, running businesses, playing matchmaker, granting wishes, and then finding love again together. And now they were turning . . . well, a year older. And at their age, every year was one that should be celebrated.

“We might look like Easter eggs when we’re all standing together,” Daisy teased as they stepped to Lily’s side and looked into the mirror.

Aniyah clasped her freshly polished hands together. “You ladies are a vision. It makes my heart smile just seeing you.”

Lily looked at the hatbox and then back at Aniyah. “Maybe we should run home to show the men before we deliver the hat?”

Aniyah shrugged. “Whatever you want. I’m at your driving disposal for the next hour, but then me and my Sugarbear have special plans.” Aniyah winked and Lily knew exactly what Aniyah meant. After all, she’d seen DeAndre without his shirt on when he was helping rehang a couple of shutters at the breakfast for them. Lily might be old, but she wasn’t dead.

With a sigh, Lily had to admit she’d been wrong. John would tease her for it, but Lily really thought the town was up to something for their birthday. “No, that’s all right. I want to make sure I see Betsy and William before they leave.”

“Right this way, ladies.”

Lily followed Aniyah out to her car and sat in the back with Violet as Daisy took the front passenger seat. The ride out to the Ashton Farm was always beautiful. The grass was green, the weather warm, and the horses frisky. It was what made Keeneston so special.

Lily watched the large white-brick house of William and Betsy’s draw nearer as they drove up the long driveway lined on both sides with pastures full of horses. Aniyah stopped at the front door and Lily pushed the door open. It was hard to think about this great house without William and Betsy in it. Will and Kenna would make it their own, but it would always be Betsy’s house. At least in her mind.

Aniyah retrieved the hatbox from the trunk before they slowly made their way up the stairs to the large rectangular brick patio. Aniyah rang the bell for them and chatted on about something. Lily had to admit she had tuned out after leaving the salon. For some reason, her mind was on the past—all those decades ago when William and Betsy were just high schoolers along with Jake and Marcy. In Lily’s mind, that was just a few years ago. Her mind hadn’t caught up with the fact that her body was as old as it was. She wouldn’t even think the actual number.

The door opened and William smiled out to them. Lily shook off her melancholy and smiled warmly up at him. “We have a delivery for your wife.”

William looked down at the hatbox Aniyah was holding and nodded. “Apparently Betsy must have a beach hat and none would do except for one made by Paige. A little bit of home to take with us on our new adventure. Come on in. Betsy is on the back patio.”

Lily and her sisters followed William through the old house filled with generations of memories and the promise of generations of memories yet to come. The French doors leading to the back patio were wide open and the gentle breeze teased the gauzy curtains they had drawn over the open doorway.

Lily didn’t know why, but this felt like a goodbye. One she wasn’t ready for. She reached for her sisters only to find Daisy’s hand reaching for hers as Violet moved to Lily’s other side and slipped her hand into hers. William moved to the curtains and drew them open for the sisters to walk through. Lily squeezed her sisters’ hands and together they moved to say goodbye to a dear friend.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Lily and her sisters froze. She was sure her mouth was open with shock. For standing on the patio was Betsy, along with their husbands. Beyond the patio was the entire population of Keeneston.

Violet was sniffling next to her. Daisy’s hand covered her heart as her lower lip trembled. And when her dear husband walked to her and handed her a handkerchief, Lily realized tears were streaming down her cheeks. Lily’s mind jumped for joy at the beautiful sight. Chandeliers, colorful lights, balloons, and dresses . . . oh, the beautiful dresses! Her mind wanted to dance, wanted to drink, and wanted to party. Her heart, however, was so full it was overflowing.

Charles took Daisy’s hand, John took Lily’s, and Anton took Violet’s. Together they walked with William and Betsy toward their friends. Kenna, Dani, and Paige stood clasping hands just as Lily, Daisy, and Violet had when they walked through the doors. “Do we have you to thank for this?” Lily asked as she dabbed at her eyes.

They nodded, and in seconds Lily and her sisters were enveloped in hugs, tears, and more love than three childless women could ever imagine. For these were their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren. This was their town. This was their family.

“Oh, dear. They’re beautiful,” Miss Lily whispered to Sydney as she and her sisters ran their hands softly over the three dresses hanging in the guest room.

Miss Lily’s dress was a soft pink, just like her hair. It was in a flapper style with sequins and beaded fringe. Daisy’s was a gentle yellow, and Violet’s was a light purple. The three dresses were identical except for the color and the beaded embroidery over their heart. Lily’s had a lily, Daisy’s a daisy, and Violet’s a violet.

The three sisters wrapped Sydney in a hug. “You’re so talented, and we’re so proud of you,” Violet told her as they pulled away.

“Thank you. I’m so glad you like them. Do you need any help getting ready?” Sydney asked them.

Lily shook her head. “You go have fun with that husband of yours. We’ll be out in just a minute.”

They waited for Sydney to leave before squealing their pleasure at their dresses. Violet stopped them, though. “I couldn’t get a good feel.”

Daisy shook her head. “Me neither. She was as wriggly as a worm on a hook. Lily, were you able to feel Syd’s stomach?”

“No, she kept moving. We can’t cross her off the list of who’s pregnant.”

Violet harrumphed with displeasure. “It’s our birthday. Whoever is pregnant should tell us. It’s the right thing to do.”

The Rose sisters agreed as they helped each other into the outfits. Attached to each hanger was a matching headpiece. Lily’s was a headband four inches wide made entirely of crystals. Daisy’s was a sequined snug-fitting cloche hat, and Violet’s was a flowing headscarf decorated with silver thread and violets.

Lily looked into the mirror above the chest at the three of them. Finally. She looked exactly as she felt inside. Young, beautiful, and full of life.

“I have to see myself in a full-length mirror,” Violet mumbled as she turned to try to get a good view of herself.

“Yes! I can’t wait to see what this fringe looks like at the bottom of the dress,” Daisy agreed.

“There’s that mirror in the formal sitting room.” Lily remembered it from their previous times here.

With a giggle, the three sisters set off for the room on the far side of the house. The soulful sound of Holt Everett singing and people enjoying a party echoed through the empty house.

They pushed the door to the formal sitting room open and flipped on the light. As one, they gasped. Moving slowly toward the object on the floor, Lily nudged it with her toe. “Panties,” she whispered.

The three women looked around. “Ohhhhh. This makes me so hoppin’ mad.” Lily stomped her foot. “First we have the panty dropper and we, of all people, can’t figure out who it is. Then we find out someone’s pregnant and we can’t find out who that is!”

“I think we’re slipping in our old age.” Daisy crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

“Or we should be proud,” Violet said to them. “After all, we’re the ones who taught them how to sneak around.”

The three sisters clutched hands and laughed.

The silent couple pressed themselves against the back of the couch as the Rose sisters examined themselves in the mirror. What had they been thinking? That’s right, they hadn’t been. Looking at the naked man pressed against her, it was easy to see why no thought was necessary. Finally the door closed and they peeked out from behind the couch.

“That was close,” he whispered, reaching out to caress a breast.

“Too close. It was exciting as always, but—”

“But it’s time for two adults to stop having sex in public like teenagers?” The grin he sent her sent the thoughts skittering out of her head.

“Well—” she hedged, not really wanting to call an end to their fun as she stepped into her dress and pulled it up.

He stepped closer, a hand trailed down her shoulder and under the strap of her dress. “Why don’t I give you a reason to keep it up?”

His kiss coincided with the dropping of her dress. Well, what would one more chance at being caught hurt?