Coming Home to Paradise (Sisters in Paradise #3)

Chapter 2

The family tradition was that each person around the table on Thanksgiving would tell something they were thankful for. Bo listened to others saying what they were grateful for that Thanksgiving Day, and the only thing she could think of was the fact that Aunt Bernie would be gone for more than a week. She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and said a quick prayer begging God, the Universe, and even Fate not to let anything go wrong with her great-aunt’s plans to go on a senior Caribbean cruise. Bo loved her aunt, and most of the time, working with her was a hoot, but being with Bernie every single day for the past six months had begun to wear on her.

When it was Aunt Bernie’s turn to tell what she had been thankful for the past year, she glanced across the table at Bo and smiled so big that the multitude of wrinkles around her mouth smoothed out. “I’m grateful that Bo came home to the Paradise to help run my new dating service business and help me with my advice column. That way I can leave and not worry about a thing.”

Bo felt a slight pang of guilt, but not enough to change her mind about being relieved that Aunt Bernie would be out of her hair for a little while. If she didn’t have a vacation from the old girl, she swore she would go back to Nashville and give her dream of being a country star another shot.

“I’m thankful for two things,” Endora, the youngest of the seven girls, said. “Parker”—she leaned over and kissed her fiancé on the cheek—“and that my last two sisters are home.”

That brought about a little more guilt for Bo’s thoughts of going back to Nashville. Her youngest sister needed her, not only to be there for her wedding in the spring, but to help with all that she had going on at the church. Poor Endora was in love with her preacher fiancé, but she bit off a big chunk when it came to all the responsibilities of being the First Lady of the Spanish Fort Community Church.

Bo nudged Endora on the shoulder. “You’re just thankful for me and Rae being home because you need help with the Christmas program at the church.”

“Well, there is that…” Endora said with a giggle.

Keep up the bantering so I can think of something other than Aunt Bernie being away, which means that for a few days she won’t be trying to fix me up with every single man in the state of Texas, Bo thought.

“Bo?” Mary Jane asked.

“I’m sorry.” Bo shot a smile across the table at her mother. “I was woolgathering. I’m thankful for every single one of the folks around this table today.”

“Even Aunt Bernie?” Rae whispered out the side of her mouth.

“Some days,” Bo mouthed to her twin sister—who looked nothing like her. Rae had crystal-clear blue eyes and straight black hair that flowed down her back like a river’s still waters at midnight. Bo’s ultra-curly hair was what Aunt Bernie called strawberry blond, but these days, most folks just referred to her as a ginger. Her eyes were pale aqua—not blue, not green.

“I’m grateful for Clayton and hope to have a whole yard full of kids someday,” Ursula said, and kissed the baby boy in her arms on the top of his black hair.

“Me too,” her husband, Remy, agreed.

Bo’s two other sisters, Tertia and Ophelia, said something and so did their husbands, but Bo was only listening with one ear.

“Family,” Joe Clay said.

After several years in Nashville, away from family, Bo could add a hearty, silent amen to her stepfather’s one-word comment. Her dream was to be a country music star, and she had given it her best shot for nearly ten years. Last fall, she had given up and moved back to north Texas, and she didn’t have a single regret.

“That my family is all home again.” Mary Jane glanced around the table at all her daughters and her four sons-in-law. “I love all your thankfulness, and since I’m the last one, we’ll bring in the dessert. Bo, will you help me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bo said with a brief nod. “I can’t wait to cut into that pecan pie.”

“Don’t you dare take half the pie before it even gets to the table,” Rae said.

“I’m the one doing the cutting,” Bo teased.

Rae pushed back her chair and stood up. “I’ll help y’all. I haven’t had pecan pie since last Christmas. I have to protect my interests.”

“Y’all can do taste testing on the pecan pie, but the pumpkin pie better not have a slice missing when it makes it to the table,” Aunt Bernie called out. “I won’t get any more until Christmas.”

“So, you’re planning to be back by Christmas?” Ophelia teased. “I thought you might love cruising so much that you would just get off that ship and book another one for a different port that very same day.”

“Oh, no!” Bernie disagreed. “I’m coming home for Christmas. I wouldn’t miss the church program or the Paradise holiday party for anything. Besides, if I leave Rae and Bo alone for more than two weeks, God only knows what kind of men they’ll drag in for husbands. I’ve helped all five of you other sisters find the right match. You think I’m going to turn these last two out on their own? No, siree!”

And there is the reason why I’m grateful that Aunt Bernie is going to give me some breathing space for a few days, Bo thought and quickly glanced over her shoulder to be sure that she hadn’t said the words out loud.

“You are as jumpy as a rabbit hiding from a coyote,” Mary Jane said in a low voice on the way to the kitchen.

“I don’t want anything to go wrong with Aunt Bernie’s vacation. I love her, Mama,” Bo answered and pushed the button on the coffeepot to start it, “and I appreciate her giving me a job, but I need a break from her trying to fix me up with a husband.”

“Me too,” Rae said as she took two pumpkin pies from the refrigerator, “and I don’t even work with her eight hours a day.”

“I don’t mind the work,” Bo said, “and like I said, I love Aunt Bernie, but…”

“But…” Mary Jane butted in before she could finish. “I understand. Do you think you can handle the Senior Meet and Greet all by yourself? Rae could help out if you need her.”

“Glad to,” Rae said. “Sitting in a bar with however many sixty-and-older folks that show up will be boring, but I can bite the bullet and be there for you. After all, what are twin sisters for?”

“I’ve got everything organized, and the bartender, Maverick, came with the package deal when we rented the place,” Bo said. “He says that the bar will probably make more money on drinks in those two hours than it does in a week. All of those older folks will be trying to be young and full of spit and vinegar that evening. That means lots of liquor being mixed in red disposable cups.”

“I’m surprised that Aunt Bernie isn’t already trying to fix you up with Maverick,” Rae said with half a giggle.

“Oh, no!” Bo shook her head. “According to her, he’s just a vagabond.”

“Why would she think that?” Mary Jane asked.

Before Bo could answer, Bernie marched into the room. “What’s taking so long?”

“We were waiting on the coffee to finish so we can bring it to the table, too,” Rae answered.

“Sounds to me like it’s done,” Bernie said as she rolled a cart over to the cabinet and put the full coffeepot plus some mugs on it. “I ate way too much, but I still want pumpkin pie and coffee. Don’t forget the whipped cream.”

Bo rolled her eyes.

“Back to the vagabond,” Mary Jane whispered when Bernie had left the kitchen.

“He doesn’t stay in one place very long, and he’s already been in Nocona for six months,” Bo answered. “We had better get the pies delivered, or Aunt Bernie will be back in here fussing at us.”

“Yep,” Rae agreed with a nod. “Mama, what’s she going to do after—and that’s more of an if than a when —me and Bo get married? She won’t have anyone else to find husbands for.”

“She’s always got her internet advice column to fall back on,” Mary Jane answered. “Life has never been dull when Aunt Bernie’s around.”

“And never will be,” Bo added as she looked at all the people around the Thanksgiving table—four sisters with husbands beside them, her mother and dad, Endora with her fiancé, Rae, and Aunt Bernie. Then she focused on the new baby, Clayton. The next generation would be coming on. Someday in the distant future she might be ready to add a couple of children to that list, but not anytime soon.

***

Thanksgiving was over for another year, but that didn’t mean all the family fun ended after the feast. Tomorrow morning bright and early, Christmas decorating would begin, and at the Paradise, that involved a lot more than a few lights strung around the windows of the big two-story house. Rae peeked in each of the four empty bedrooms of her married sisters on the way down the hallway that night. Years ago, there would be equal amounts of giggling and arguing about which girl had the prettiest tree in their room. Now nothing but silence and memories met her.

She was glad to hear a loud sigh, proving that there was still life in the upstairs rooms, when she passed by Endora’s door. She peeked inside to see her baby sister standing in front of the balcony doors. Endora was one of those petite blonds with baby-blue eyes—and a perfect match to her twin, Luna. On one hand, Rae envied the youngest of the seven sisters. Unlike her and Bo, they actually looked alike, and like a lot of twins, they were super close. Maybe if she and Bo had been identical or had the same dreams for the future, things would have been different.

But they were like the North and South Poles—so far apart that believing they were twins at all was difficult. Bo had gone off to Nashville right after they graduated high school, hoping to become a famous country music star. Rae went to college and got a degree in forensics and criminology, with a minor in early childhood development, then became a police officer in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Bo questioned why Rae would study two very diverse courses. Rae told her that she liked both and couldn’t make up her mind which way to go until she got the job offer to be a police officer. She never could wrap her mind around why her sister would wait on tables or clean motel rooms in hopes of being discovered in the country music field.

“Everything all right in here?” Rae asked.

Endora turned around slowly and almost smiled. “Come on in. I was pretending that I was looking out the window of the parsonage and that Parker and I were already married.”

“That’s sweet.” Rae sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I wonder if I can make a preacher’s wife. There’s so much to do, especially with the Christmas program, and I’m trying to get ready for the wedding in March. Most of the time I’m completely overwhelmed and in a state of acute stress,” Endora whispered.

Rae crossed the room and wrapped her sister up in a hug. “Darlin’, you are already a preacher’s wife in every sense of the word except moving into the parsonage with him.” She lowered her voice. “And to tell the truth, I’m surprised that hasn’t happened. Y’all are in love, and you’ve been dating for months.”

“Appearances,” Endora said with another long sigh. “Preachers and their wives are held to a pretty high standard. I wish we hadn’t decided to get married in the spring and that we could just go to the courthouse tomorrow.”

Rae took a step back but kept an arm around Endora’s shoulders. “Just do it!”

Endora shook free of her sister and sat down in a rocking chair at the end of her bed. “Too many people would be disappointed if we did that. The church ladies are planning a wedding shower”—she paused—“and if we eloped, there would be rumors that I’m pregnant.”

“Who cares about rumors? They would know pretty quickly that you didn’t ‘have’”—Rae air quoted the last word—“to get married, as Aunt Bernie would say.”

Endora pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “I want everything to be perfect.”

“There’s no such thing.” A smile tickled the corners of Rae’s mouth. “Not even a perfect relationship. If you don’t have an argument with Parker every now and then, how are you ever going to have makeup sex?”

“Leave it to you to tease me when I’m trying to be serious,” Endora snapped.

“Brought you out of the doldrums, didn’t I?” Rae asked. “Anything more I can do to help?”

“You’re already helping Daddy with the props for the Christmas program,” Endora answered.

“I’ve still got time for one more job if you’ll let go and delegate,” Rae assured her sister.

“Think you could teach my Sunday school class?” Endora asked. “It’s the kindergarten and first grade group, and there’s only eight of them—four girls and four boys.”

“Duh!” Rae slapped her forehead with her palm. “I’m not just a policewoman. I do have a minor in early childhood development,” Rae reminded her. “That’s only an hour on Sunday morning. I paint props for Daddy through the week, and if it will help you plan your wedding rather than having you stress about everything else, I’ll be happy to take care of your class.”

“Thank you,” Endora said as she stood up. She opened her closet door and brought out a box. “Here you go. You’ll find a folder for each month of the year. You’ll need to start with December since this coming Sunday is the first day of the month. You’ll be teaching the lesson for the first part of the hour, and then Bo will pop in for a few minutes to help with the songs they’ll be singing at the Christmas program.”

Rae had faced off with rattlesnakes, bobcats, and a couple of mountain lions in her police career, not to mention the two-legged wild critters. “After you get settled in the parsonage, you’ll take over again?”

“By then Christmas will be over, so you won’t be helping Daddy,” Endora answered. “The Christmas cookbook will be finished and the quilt. Both will be auctioned off for the missionary fund. Things will settle down, and I can probably take the class back.”

“There’s no way you would ever give up those kids permanently,” Rae said with half a giggle.

Endora frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“You love little kids, and they flock to you like bees to spring flowers,” Rae reminded her as she stood up.

“I do love children.” Endora’s smile lit up her eyes.

“You and Parker planning on having a big family?” Rae asked.

“Yes, we want at least four,” Endora answered. “I loved having all you sisters, and I’m so glad y’all are all back home.”

“But there’s only you, Bo, and me in the house now,” Rae reminded her.

“Tertia and Noah live across the road,” Endora said. “Ophelia and Jake are only a few miles south of us at the winery. Luna and Shane are right around the corner.”

“And all we have to do is jump the fence between us and Ursula and Remy’s place.” Rae nodded and headed out to the hallway. “Everyone but me and Bo are settled. Tertia has a café. Ophelia, the winery, and”—she smiled—“Luna has a beer, bait, and bologna store.”

“Give Aunt Bernie some time.” Endora followed her to the door. “She’ll get you all fixed up.”

“I’d just as soon do my own picking when I’m good and ready,” Rae said.

Endora shook her finger at her sister. “Doesn’t matter. Aunt Bernie will take credit for it anyway.”

“I have no doubt that she will,” Rae agreed with a nod.

***

Bo opened the door to the bathroom, stepped out into the hallway, and almost collided with Rae. The ends of her terry-cloth robe brushed against the floor, and a towel was wrapped turban-style around her head.

“What is in the box?” she asked.

“Sunday school stuff for five- to seven-year-olds,” Rae answered.

“You are a brave woman.” Bo flipped the towel off and used it to dry her hair.

Rae frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“Last month, Endora had a fever, and I taught that class,” Bo explained. “After services that morning, I told her that she had to be well by the next week or talk someone else into going into that rattlesnake den.”

Rae shivered all the way to her toes. “Why would you call a bunch of little kids such a thing?”

Bo patted her twin sister on the back. “Honey, not all of them will give you fits. Just Daisy and Heather. Those are Gunner Watson’s daughters.”

“I think I can handle twin girls.” Rae tried to laugh away the bad feeling that had made her uneasy, but it came out more like a cough than a giggle. “After all, we grew up right here in this house with two sets of twins, didn’t we?”

“Yes, we did, but think Luna and Endora with tiny little horns coming out of their identical hair,” Bo whispered. “I don’t know how anyone can tell them apart, and to make matters worse, they are always dressed just alike. Their aunt Rosie thinks it’s cute, and I would guess it makes it easy for Gunner to just buy two of everything.”

“Why? Mama didn’t make either set of us dress the same,” Rae frowned.

“Stacey, their mama, died when they were three years old. I heard it was cancer, but someone else said it was a blood clot. Anyway, Rosie is Stacey’s great-aunt, and she stepped up to help with the girls,” Bo explained.

“Identical like Endora and Luna?” Rae remembered back when her two sisters changed places—even in high school.

“Kind of, only these two little terrors have black hair and big blue eyes,” Bo answered. “Just be prepared for chaos. Getting them to be still and sing when I go into the classroom for a few minutes is a total chore.”

“Why didn’t you or Endora warn me about these girls before I took on the job?” Rae groaned.

“Hey, you were on the police force.” Bo chuckled. “You’ll do fine. Just start off tough the first Sunday, and don’t let up. And it might be a good idea to separate them.”

“Why’s that?” Rae asked.

Bo raised both eyebrows. “Think, Sister! Endora and Luna were identical. Remember all the shenanigans they pulled when they switched places, or when a teacher at school couldn’t pinpoint which of them it was that did something ornery. And they weren’t even dressed alike most of the time.”

“I’ll remember that,” Rae said. “Got any more tips?”

“Nope,” Bo said and headed toward the office that Aunt Bernie had set up in Ursula’s old bedroom. “I’m going to go over all the details for the meet and greet on Saturday evening.”

“Going to be a busy day,” Rae said.

“Yep,” Bo agreed. “By Sunday night, we’ll be ready to drop.”

Rae nodded and went into her room. She assured herself that she had been on the police force for years and had dealt with some hardened criminals during that time. A set of five-year-old little girls was not going to intimidate her, not one bit.