Unfinished Business

Thrilled. Ecstatic. Delirious. I’m a terrible mother.”
    “No, you’re a crazy person, but you’re a wonderful mother.”
    Joanie steadied herself. “You’re right, it was just the thrill of going to the hardware store without a stroller and a diaper bag that went to my head. Are you sure you can handle it?”
    “We’ll have a great time.”
    “Of course you will.” Keen-eyed, she surveyed the living room. “Maybe you should move anything important up a couple of feet. And nail it down.”
    “We’ll be fine.” She set Lara on the floor and handed her a fashion magazine to peruse—and tear up. “See?”
    “Okay…I nursed her before I left home, and there’s an emergency bottle of apple juice in her diaper bag. Can you change a diaper?”
    “I’ve seen it done before. How hard can it be?”
    “Well, if you’re sure you don’t have anything you have to do.”
    “My evening is free. When the newlyweds get home, I only have to walk a half a block to see them.”
    “I guess Brady will be coming by.”
    “I don’t know.”
    Joanie kept her eye on Lara as the baby pushed herself up and toddled to the coffee table. “Then it hasn’t been my imagination.”
    “What?”
    “That there’s been a lot of tension between you two the last week or so.”
    “You’re stalling, Joanie.”
    “Maybe—but I am interested. The couple of times I’ve seen Brady recently, he’s been either snarling or distracted. I don’t want you to tell me it was wishful thinking when I hoped you two would get back together.”
    “He asked me to marry him.”
    “He— Wow! Oh, that’s wonderful! That’s terrific!” As Joanie launched herself into Vanessa’s arms, Lara began to bang on the table and squeal. “See, even Lara’s excited.”
    “I said no.”
    “What?” Slowly, Joanie stepped back. “You said no?”
    She turned away from the stunned disappointment in Joanie’s face. “It’s too soon for all of this, Joanie. I’ve only been back a few weeks, and so much has happened. My mother, your father…” She walked over to move a vase out of Lara’s reach. “When I got here, I wasn’t even sure how long I would stay, a couple of weeks, maybe a month. I’ve been considering a tour next spring.”
    “But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a personal life. If you want one.”
    “I don’t know what I want.” Feeling helpless, she looked back at Joanie. “Marriage is… I don’t even know what it means, so how can I consider marrying Brady?”
    “But you love him.”
    “Yes, I think I do.” She lifted her hands, fingers spread. “I don’t want to make the same mistake my parents did. I need to be sure we both want the same things.”
    “What do you want?”
    “I’m still figuring it out.”
    “You’d better figure fast. If I know my brother, he won’t give you a lot of time.”
    “I’ll take what I need this time.” Before Joanie could argue, she shook her head. “You’d better go if you want to get back before my mother and Ham come home.”

    “Oh, you’re right. I’ll go get the diaper bag.” She paused at the door. “I know we’re already stepsisters, but I’m still holding out for sisters-in-law.”
     
    Brady knew he was asking for more grief when he started up the walk to Vanessa’s house. During the past week, he had tried to keep his distance. When the woman you loved refused to marry you, it didn’t do much for your ego.
    He wanted to believe she was just being stubborn, and that backing off and playing it light would bring her around. But he was afraid it went much deeper than that. She’d taken a stand. He could walk away, or he could pound down her door. It wouldn’t make any difference.
    Either way, he needed to see her.
    He knocked on the wooden frame of the screen but got no answer. Hardly surprising, he thought, as the banging and crashing from inside would have drowned out any other sound. Maybe she was in a temper, he thought hopefully. Enraged with herself for turning her back on her chance at happiness.
    The image appealed to him. He was almost whistling when he opened the screen and walked down the hall.
    Whatever he’d been expecting, it hadn’t been his niece gleefully banging pots and pans together on the floor while Vanessa, dusted with flour, stood at the counter. Spotting him, Lara hoisted a stainless steel lid and brought it down with a satisfied bang.
    “Hi.”
    With a hand full of celery, Vanessa turned. She expected her heart to do