Something nudged the top of my head, pulling me from sleep. I cracked my eyes open and peeked up, finding Liv's fuzzy-sock covered feet. For a second, confusion filled my tired mind, but then I remembered, and sadness settled over me like a pile of bricks.

Granny was gone, and I was here on my sister's bed where we'd fallen asleep with a pile of photo albums between us. I didn't even remember lying down.

Pale early morning light shone through the windows as I sat up, careful not to wake her. We'd need to leave soon, but we'd been talking until a couple of hours ago. She should sleep as long as possible.

Movement caught the corner of my eye and I turned toward the lounge chair across the room where Andre sat rubbing his face. Apparently, he'd slept sitting up. I winced as I realized I'd stolen his spot on the bed.

"Sorry, man," I whispered. "I meant to sleep on the couch."

He shrugged. "No worries. I could've slept out there. I just wanted to stay close in case she woke up upset."

Andre was a good man. I couldn't have picked someone better for my sister. "I'm glad she has you."

He gave me a small smile. "I'm glad we have each other."

I didn't seem capable of smiling, so I only nodded as my gaze fell to the carpet. Longing pinched my heart as again I wished for Nate.

I should've done things differently, that was clear, but it was too late for a simple apology. Nate deserved so much better from me. He was more than I'd ever dreamed of, yet I kept myself at a distance. Fear of change made me put up walls to protect my precious routine, and what did that get me? The job I was so afraid to lose had given me permission to use half my vacation time to deal with the biggest loss I've ever had to face, and I'd thanked them.

Frustration with a touch of self-loathing tinged the sadness weighing on me, and I pushed the thoughts away before they could spiral out of control. Things needed to change, but for now, Granny and the family had to be my focus. Once this was taken care of, I'd have time to repair my relationship with Nate and figure out the rest of my life.

The scent of coffee reached my nose, and I looked up at the empty chair. Andre had left without me noticing and apparently been gone long enough to start a pot of coffee.

I shook my head. No more distractions. The next few days would be awful enough without adding the rest of my problems to the mix. My job, my future, Nate—I stuffed those worries into a box. I'd open it when I had time to give them the proper attention.

Liv sat up beside me. "Is that coffee?" she asked before she'd even opened her eyes.

"Yeah. Andre's out there."

Her brow furrowed as she looked from me, to the doorway, to the photo albums, and her shoulders slumped. "Oh. I was kinda hoping it was a bad dream."

I nodded and reached for a clean tissue as her eyes filled with tears. She took it and wiped her cheeks, letting out a deep sigh. "You'd think I'd have dried up by now." Standing, she straightened her clothes. "I need a mug of the good stuff. You coming?"

"If it's okay, I'll just grab my bag and take a quick shower first. I need to wake up, and I don't think caffeine can handle it by itself."

She studied my face as we headed down the hall. "We shouldn't have stayed up all night. Why don't you ride with us?"

"That's okay. I'll be fine, and we might both need our cars anyway." At her stare, I added, "Really, Liv. It's fine."

Her lips pinched to the side. "Alright. If you're sure."

"It's not a big deal. We can follow each other if you're worried."

"Yeah. I'd feel better that way. If you start swerving, you'll just have to leave your car somewhere and we'll pick it up on the way back."

That wasn't happening. A cold shower and coffee would be enough to perk me up. "You got as much rest as I did. What makes you think you can drive so much better than me?"

"Oh, I can't, but Andre's a machine." She entered the kitchen where Andre paused making breakfast and raised his arm for her to snuggle against his side. "A couple hours of sleep and he's good to go all day."

She patted his chest and frowned in thought. "There's a dirty joke in there somewhere, but I'm too sad to find it."

I rolled my eyes while Andre chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. "That's okay, baby. Let me get you some coffee and we'll see if that helps." He nudged her toward the table to sit as he grabbed mugs from the cabinet. "Coffee?" He held one out to me. "I'm making a ham and cheese omelet and we have bagels."

"Thanks. That sounds great, but I'm going to shower first, so I won't be in the way while you guys get ready."

"Okay, cool." He nodded and set the mugs beside the coffee pot where he started scooping sugar into one for Liv.

I grabbed my bag and headed to the bathroom.

***

Six hours later, I pulled around the circle driveway and parked in front of Granny's house. The long trip was a blur of endless highway and memories of growing up here. We'd never lived with Granny, but the weeks spent with her in the summer, the holidays, the birthdays, so many of my happiest moments—they were all here, with her.

I got out of the car as Andre and Liv parked behind me and stepped onto the gravel path. "Mom called. They went to pick up lunch for everyone. They'll be back in a bit."

"Okay." That was good. I wasn't hungry, but it would give us something normal to do while we figured things out.

Liv opened her mouth to say something else but stopped. Her attention bounced from the house to me and back. She seemed nervous, and I understood. "It feels strange being here without her."

She sniffed, twisting a tissue between her fingers as a sad smile crossed her face. "I don't remember the last time I made it to the porch without her coming out to welcome me."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "Guess we should go in." I rubbed my thumb over the keys resting in my palm.

Liv reached back for Andre's hand. "Let's go."

We followed the walkway to the porch and climbed the steps in silence. I opened the door and before I could even step inside, the smell of baking and flowers filled my head and tightened around my chest. It was Granny's scent, the scent of home.

Her perfume, her plants, and whatever she was making—usually to share with others. With her gone, it wouldn't take long for the welcoming smell to dissipate. Somehow, that thought made things real. My breath left in a whoosh as my eyes burned with the first tears of the day. She was gone, and she'd never be back.

A large hand patted my arm, dragging me from my thoughts. Andre gave my bicep a comforting squeeze as he let Liv pull him through the house toward the kitchen. With no idea where to start without talking to Dad, and nothing better to do, I followed them.

Liv and I sat on stools at the kitchen island, while Andre fixed us each a glass of water. As he set Liv's in front of her, she said, "Thank you," and leaned against him.

"No problem, baby." He brushed his fingers over her hair and kissed her forehead. "Is there something we should do? Or should we wait for your parents?"

"I don't know." She shrugged, and the helpless look on her face made me wish I had a task for us. Anything to occupy our minds and keep us busy.

"Do you know how long they'll be?" I asked a second before a quick knock sounded at the front door. "Why would they knock?"

"Maybe they're carrying stuff." Andre hurried toward the door, opening it just as Liv and I entered the living room.

Laurel stood in there with an uncharacteristic frown settling on her mouth as she spotted her best friend. "Liv! My poor sweetheart."

She rushed over, throwing her arms around Liv in a tight hug. "What can we do?"

As the question left her mouth, I realized there was someone still hovering in the doorway. My eyes met Nate's, sending a rush of tingles up my spine as the lid blew off the box where I'd secured my thoughts of him only this morning.

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