“Could you please pass the sugar?” Amanda stood behind the white Caesarstone kitchen counter in her apartment, her hand outstretched. There was flour on the tip of her nose, a smudge of chocolate on one cheek, and ingredients all over the apron tied tightly around her waist. Her hair was piled into a messy bun atop her head. Trays of brownies, cookies and pans of cake rested around the apartment on tables, chairs and countertops.

Molly handed her a canister labeled sugar and surveyed the mess with a grimace. “What are you doing?” She set her purse and keys on the floor and lowered herself into a chair.

“I’m baking.”

“I can see that. Who are you baking for – the University of Georgia?”

“You know me – I can’t sit still, and Dad won’t let me come back to work. I can’t go for a run because the doctor wants me to wait a few weeks, and there’s nothing on television. So I’m baking.”

“But who’s going to eat all this?” Molly’s eyes widened and she sniffed the air. It smelled delicious, like a bakery in the early morning. “I know it won’t be you – I haven’t seen you touch a carbohydrate in five years.”

Amanda cocked her head to one side and rolled her eyes. “You’re always so dramatic. That is not true at all – I eat potatoes – but I try to keep to whole foods, you know that.”

“I don’t know much about whole foods, but I know these …” She waved one arm around the room with an arched eyebrow, “are not whole foods.”

Amanda sniffed. “That’s true, but I’m making an exception. I’ve had a shock, that’s what the doctor tells me, so I’m eating whatever I like … at least until Dad lets me come back to work. I’m not sure what’s taking him so long – I feel absolutely fine. I could go to work right now – I mean, look at me. I’m fine.”

“You said that.” Molly eyed her sister carefully. She knew her well enough to know that through all the bravado, Amanda was hurting inside, even if her body had almost healed. “But I think it’s a good idea for you to get some rest. You never take time off to look after yourself – now’s your chance. Read a book, go for a nice walk, meet a friend for coffee …”

Amanda’s eyes softened. “I suppose you’re right. I’m always wishing I could do things like that but never have the time.”

“I am right.”

Amanda stepped around the counter and embraced her sister. “Thanks for coming to check on me. I don’t know what I’d do without you – I’ve been so busy building my career, I forgot to make friends along the way.” She stepped away and wiped her eyes, then hurried back to the mixing bowl.

“You have friends, Mandy. You neglect them, but they’re there – give them a call. I bet they’d love to catch up with you.”

Amanda nodded and sniffled. She pulled a tissue from her pocket, blew her nose, then washed her hands in the sink. “I will. Now, do you feel like helping me? I’m making profiteroles and I’ve never made them before, but I’ve watched a couple of YouTube videos, so I’m basically a master chef now.” She chuckled.

Molly noted the sparkle had returned to her sister’s eyes. “Profiteroles, huh? That sounds amazing. I wouldn’t even know where to start, but I’ll happily assist.”

“My sous chef?”

“Yes, that.”

“Okay, great. So the first thing I want you to do is stir this butter and sugar over heat until it melts.” She handed Molly a pot and turned on a burner. “So did Phillip get that piece about state taxes done yet?”

Molly chuckled. “I’m not talking to you about work. You’re supposed to be resting.”

“Oh come on, it’s just a little thing. What about Annie – is she done with the photo shoot for the new park?”

“I’m not telling you. Everything’s under control at the office, and when you come back you can pick up where you left off. I promise, nothing’s changed – it’ll all be just the way you left it. You’ll feel as though no time passed at all.”

Amanda’s nose wrinkled. “You’re a spoilsport.”

“No, I just love you.” Molly stirred the pot, studying it closely. How would she know when it was done? Would it turn brown or something?

“How are things with you and Tim Holden?” asked Amanda, grinning slyly.

Molly glanced up at her, spatula poised above the pot. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name. “Um … good.”

“Good? That’s all you’re going to give me? I’m stuck at home with nothing to do but bake –you’ve got to tell me more than that.”

“Okay.” Molly took a slow breath. “We’re engaged.”

“What?” Amanda screeched, set the wooden spoon on the counter and spun to face Molly, eyes wide. “You’re what?”

“We’re engaged. It happened kind of suddenly, so I hadn’t had a chance to tell you yet. Ta-da!” It felt so wrong to lie to her sister, but she knew Amanda well enough to understand that there was no way she could keep their secret from her parents. And Amanda would never consider making amends with the Holdens unless she believed the engagement was real – she’d taken to the feud with as much gusto as their father, and often griped about the Chronicle’s success.

Amanda grabbed Molly’s hands, her eyes glimmering with moisture. “I guess I should say congratulations.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Molly.

“It’s just happened so fast. I don’t even know him and now you’re going to marry him. I didn’t realize you were serious …” Amanda sniffled and reached for another tissue. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today – I’m crying all the time. It must be the sugar.”

Molly pulled her sister into a warm embrace and kissed her cheek. “I know – I’m sorry. I should’ve talked to you about it, but he proposed out of the blue and I said yes. So we’re getting married.” She pulled away and smiled. “Be happy for me, okay?”

Amanda sniffled again and wiped her nose. “I am happy. I’m just sad at the same time. Do Momma and Daddy know?”

Molly nodded. “Yeah, they do.”

“So I’m the last to know as usual? Why is that? Why does everyone forget about me?” She broke into a wail, burying her face in her hands.

Molly frowned and patted Amanda’s back. “We don’t forget about you – I’m here, aren’t I? I came over here to see you and tell you face-to-face. I just kind of blurted it out to Daddy because he was on my case.”

Amanda wiped her eyes and straightened her back. “Fine. I’m sorry – I’m just a mess at the moment.”

“I don’t think you’re a mess. I think you’ve had a fright and you’re stuck at home and it’s making you feel …”

“Adrift,” finished Amanda with a bob of her head.

“Yes, adrift. But in a short time everything will be back to normal. And Dad’s making sure we have better security, so that kind of thing shouldn’t happen again.”

Amanda inhaled sharply. “I thought he was going to kill you.”

Molly’s gut roiled. “I thought so too. And you saved me. You’re the best big sister a girl could ask for.” She threw her arms around Amanda again and squeezed her tight.

Amanda burst out laughing. “I can’t breathe!”

When they broke apart they kept laughing until they had tears streaming down their cheeks. “Why are we laughing?” asked Molly between gasps.

“I have no idea … I guess we both cheated death … maybe we’re hysterical …” Amanda wiped her cheeks with yet another tissue.

They finished making the profiteroles and Molly put them into the refrigerator, where she noticed several trays of bliss balls, white chocolate brownies and rum balls. She frowned and closed the door.

“Let’s have coffee,” suggested Amanda.

Molly nodded. “That would be wonderful.”

They sat at the counter, drank coffee and sampled the food Amanda had baked. Molly reached for a caramel tart with chocolate swirled on top, took a bite and her eyes rolled shut. It was delicious, and she could almost feel the sugar rush to her head. “This is so good,” she said between bites.

“Mmmm,” agreed Amanda, alternating bites of a large peanut butter chocolate chip cookie between sips of coffee. Finally, she set down the cookie and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Molly, I’m worried about you.”

“Huh?” Molly dragged her attention away from a tray of meringues on the counter.

“I’m worried you’re moving too fast with Tim. You haven’t known him long and you’re already engaged? How much do you really know about him? What’s his favorite color? Where did he go to school? You’re into going to church these days – does he go? I think there are a lot of questions you need answers to before you can commit your life to his.”

Molly frowned. “You’re right. We don’t know each other well, but I do have some understanding of the kind of man he is, and I think that’s important. He loves God – we had a conversation about faith and we’re on the same page. He studied journalism at Georgia Tech before becoming a fireman, but decided not to become a journalist because he hated the way journalists had to ask the hard questions to people in the worst circumstances of their lives, and the way they focus on getting the story over everything else …”

“You hate that too.” Amanda plucked a meringue from the tray.

Molly followed her lead, licking her lips in anticipation. “That’s right – I do hate that part of the job. We have a lot more in common than you realize.”

“I’m glad to hear it. It’s just that …”

Molly took a bite of meringue and her eyes widened. It was sweet, and just a little tart. “What – what’s wrong?”

“I remember how you were when Andrew left you, that’s all. You couldn’t get out of bed. He broke your heart and it took you months to recover – I’m not entirely sure you’re recovered. So why rush into things with Tim?”

Molly took another bite and pondered Amanda’s words. Her sister was right – if this was a real relationship, it was too soon to be this serious. She’d just begun to feel like herself again. When Andrew left, she’d hardly eaten for weeks and blamed herself, wondering if it was somehow all her fault. Had Andrew left her because he’d gotten to know her and didn’t like what he found? Would anyone want to love her once they got beneath the surface?

The old questions flooded back and she felt the panic of insecurity. Her head swam – she knew deep down the internal accusations against her couldn’t be true, yet at the same time no man had wanted a long-term relationship with her except Andrew. And he’d walked away before the wedding. Perhaps there was something about her that was inherently flawed and she just didn’t realize it. She shook her head and shoved the last piece of meringue into her mouth.

Amanda reached into Molly’s purse, pulled out her cell phone and began dialing. “I want to get to know him better before I say anything else.”

Molly’s mouth was so full she couldn’t speak. She lunged for her sister but fell short, then chased her around the counter. Amanda squealed with laughter, staying just out of reach with the cell phone to her ear. Finally Molly stopped, out of breath and unable to keep going. She chewed frantically, trying to finish the dessert so she could continue the chase.

“Hello? Is this Tim Holden?”

Molly’s eyes widened in horror. She’d called Tim? Molly had been sure she was only pretending, threatening as part of a joke. Had she actually done it?

“Hi Tim – this is Amanda, Molly’s sister … oh, you’ve heard of me. Glad to hear it. I was beginning to wonder if my sister thought of me enough to tell her fiancé about me …” Amanda threw her head back and laughed. “Of course she told me about your engagement. The reason I called is to ask you a few questions. See, I feel as though I don’t know you at all, and since you’re marrying my sister, that doesn’t seem right, does it?” She nodded, her eyes fixed on Molly.

Molly’s heart raced. She swallowed the last of the meringue and darted after Amanda.

Amanda skipped out of her way. “So tell me, Tim, what is it you love most about my sister?”

Molly’s stomach churned – this was getting out of hand. She had to stop it before Amanda embarrassed her further. She grabbed her sister’s arm and tried to wrestle the phone from her.

“Thanks, Tim – gotta go!” Amanda cried, just before Molly finally got hold of the phone and hit the End button. Both women fell onto the couch, gasping for breath – Amanda between bursts of laughter and Molly from the exertion of the chase. “There was no need to do that,” chuckled Amanda, leaning her head back against a cushion. “We were having a lovely talk.”

Molly’s brow furrowed and she glared at Amanda. “I’ll arrange for us to get together sometime so you can talk like adults.”

Amanda laughed again. “Oh come on, it was fun.”

“You’re just bored and trying to start trouble.”

Amanda pouted. “I know you don’t really believe your own sister would do such a thing. You must really love him to be so worried about what I might say.” Her eyes narrowed. “Well, I’m glad. I’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on between you two. I guess you really are in love.”

Molly sighed and nodded. “Yes, we are. That’s what I’ve been trying to say.” But Amanda’s words ricocheted inside her head. Why was she so worried what Amanda might say to Tim? She knew her feelings for him had changed, but were they so deep she’d tackle her wounded sister to stop a single phone call? Shame colored her cheeks, and she patted Amanda’s leg. “I’m sorry for getting so upset about it. It’s just that I never know what you’re going to say sometimes – you get in these moods …”

“Pshaw, I do not. Now, what else can I bake?” Amanda leaped to her feet and hurried back to the kitchen.

Molly stood slowly and wandered after her, her thoughts in a whirl. “What did Tim say?” she asked.

Amanda’s nose wrinkled. “What?”

“When you asked him why he loved me … what did he say?”

Amanda half-smiled. “He said you were the only woman he’s ever known who would love a dog even though it daily destroys everything you own. I’d say he’s right about that – you’re a fool for that dog.” She leaned forward to study a soiled recipe book on the counter.

Molly’s throat tightened, and a lump formed there she couldn’t swallow away. Her eyes smarted with tears and she hung her head to hide them from her sister. She hadn’t been expecting that. She’d thought perhaps he’d say what a good journalist she was, or that she had nice legs, or some equally lame thing she was used to hearing from men she’d dated over the years. But it was as if he saw right through to her heart the way no one had before. And she smiled through the tears.

“I’ll drive,” said Callum, walking to the truck.

Tim nodded and climbed in the passenger side. He usually rode his motorcycle to church, but today thoughts were churning inside his head and he wanted time to process them. Callum was a good listener and even better at keeping his opinions to himself – most of the time, anyway. God, please help me to know what to do - give me wisdom, he prayed quickly, then rested his cheek against the inside of the window. The truck bumped over the end of driveway to the road and he sighed.

“Something on your mind?” asked Callum, one eyebrow raised.

“Just thinking about this whole situation with Molly.”

Callum nodded but stayed quiet.

“You know we’re engaged now.”

Callum’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Yep. Well, fake-engaged. We’re just telling everyone we’re engaged.”

Callum frowned. “Do you know how crazy that sounds?”

Tim nodded.

“Good, ‘cause for a moment there I thought perhaps you didn’t. That’s just cray-cray.” Callum twirled his fingers beside his head and rolled his eyes.

Tim laughed. “Yeah, I know it sounds insane. But we had this idea … I don’t know, it’s all just a big mess now. We were thinking that somehow this would bring our families together more than just dating. Even hearing myself say it makes it sound more ridiculous. Ugh!”

Callum chuckled. “So it might be time to give the whole thing up, huh?”

“I don’t know. I like Molly … she’s nice. A little kooky, but nice.”

“She’s cute, I know that much.”

“Yeah, she’s beautiful, but there’s a lot more to her than that. It’s like I’ve finally found a woman who I can relate to on more than one level. You know? She’s smart and funny and warm … and she loves her dog.”

“Ah yes, the dog. I remember how much you loved Duke.”

Tim inhaled slowly, images of his dog flashing through his mind. He missed him so much. Perhaps it was time to get a new puppy.

Callum glanced sideways at him, then tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “You’re falling for her. I know you objected last time I said that, but I think it’s true. You don’t want to hear it because you think you’re not the kind of guy that loses his whole heart to a woman.”

Tim snorted. “I’m not that kind of guy. I never have been.”

“Fine. Okay, how about this – how about you start dating again? You swore off dating a while back and you’ve become this hermit who only goes to work, hangs with me, then has the occasional dinner with his family.”

“I’m not a hermit,” objected Tim, his eyes narrowed.

“Yes, you are. So if you haven’t fallen for Molly Beluga, it’s time you flexed those dating muscles. How about one of the lovely ladies at church? I know a few would just about kill to date you. So why don’t you ask one out today? How about Tiffany? She’s pretty.”

Tim shook his head. “She is pretty. I don’t know …”

“You’ll never know if you never try.” Callum chuckled and pulled the pickup into the church parking lot. He switched off the ignition and they sat in silence a moment, watching folks make their way through the front door. “It’s no skin off my nose, but if you don’t want to spend your life alone, it’s time you dated again.”

“What about you?” asked Tim with a smirk. “You seem to be quite happy on your own.”

Callum ran a hand over his face and sighed. “I’m content, that’s true. I think this has been a time of learning how to be content, with my own company and God’s. But I’m not happy on my own – I want someone to share my life with.”

Tim studied his friend in silence, then nodded. “I’m engaged. I can’t ask Tiffany out.”

“You’re fake-engaged. It’s a very different thing.”

“Still, I don’t feel right doing it. But I tell you what, if you ask her friend to lunch – what’s her name, Jessica – then, I’ll go along with you guys.”

Callum chuckled. “It’s a deal.”