Free The Sweet By and By by Sara Evans Page B

the other end was slow and sleepy.
    â€œWow, what are you doing in bed already?” The milkshake spoon clanked against the side of the glass.
    â€œCatching up on sleep. Got to do it every once in a while. What’s up?”
    Willow’s voice gained energy. Jade needed to hear her sister, to care for someone other than herself for a moment.
    â€œAre you with Linc?”
    â€œNow or in general?”
    â€œWhichever.” Jade tipped up the glass for a gulp.
    â€œIn general, yes. At the moment, no.”
    â€œWillow, be careful. I’m not sure it’s wise to—”
    â€œ Mo-om , I am being careful.”
    â€œDon’t ‘mom’ me. Someone has to keep you in line. So are you being careful with your body and your heart?”
    â€œIt’s just a fling, Jade.”
    â€œAnd that changes your answer in what way? You’ve been flinging a lot lately, Willow.”
    â€œWhile I still got something to fling.” She laughed. “That was a joke, big sister, a joke. Enough snooping into my life. What are you doing awake, and why are you calling me?”
    â€œJust am.” Jade set the glass on the end table coaster, then cuddled a throw pillow.
    â€œVintage shop stress?”
    â€œNo, more like mother-in-law stress.” Jade ran the pillow’s fringe through her fingers. “Fiancé stress.”
    â€œOoo, dish.”
    â€œWills, I—” Jade slid to the edge of the sofa, tossing the pillow aside. “I sorta felt panicky again.”
    â€œSorta? Did you have a panic attack? Get a text message from one? What?”
    â€œYour compassion moves me. It’s scary, Wills.” Her sister’s flippancy reminded Jade the panic was only a shadow. She was fine . . . just fine.
    â€œWhy don’t you talk to Daphne, Jade? Can’t she prescribe a good drug?”
    â€œI don’t want drugs.” Jade ran her fingers through her hair. “I thought I was past this.”
    â€œYou are, you just had a bad moment. Don’t wrap your life around it. Sheesh, if I got all bent every time I had a bad day, I’d be a living pretzel.”
    Jade laughed. Willow had a way of throwing her a lifeline, adorned with gold charms and white lights, and perhaps a fuzzy pink boa or two.
    â€œI made a chocolate milkshake.” Jade had created her own type of lifeline.
    Willow’s laugh went down smooth for Jade. “There you go, the best comfort food on earth. Beryl sent me to get her one the other day. In fact, the day she got your invite.”
    â€œSo she got it. What’s she going to do?”
    â€œYou tell me, Sherlock. She acted weird, hinted at an issue between you two, then clammed up like always. Like you do.”
    â€œIs she coming?”
    â€œShe’s not sure you want her to come, Jade.” A crack-pop sounded in Jade’s ear, followed by a fizzy, slurpy sip.
    â€œI sent the invitation, didn’t I?” Jade reached for her milkshake and took a deep drink.
    â€œDo you want her to come? Really?”
    â€œWhat I want is for you and Aiden to be here, and Granny. Do you think she would’ve liked Max?”
    â€œShe’d love any man you loved. Hey, I took a break from school, so I’m thinking about coming down a few weeks early, and—”
    â€œWillow, you had a scholarship and your dad was paying for the rest. Why aren’t you in school?”
    â€œIt’s boring, Jade.”
    â€œBoring? Get over yourself, Wills. People should be so bored as you.” A light rapping sounded through the loft. Jade glanced at Roscoe. He remained asleep in the narrow space between the coffee table and the sofa, so she went back to her conversation. “You’re the smartest of us all, and look at you. Wasting time. Go back to school.”
    â€œAre you sure you’re not my mom instead of Beryl?”
    â€œTechnically, yes, but—” The rapping echoed again, louder this