Free Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

him.”
    They sat and talked, and as the hours passed Lacey realized how much they had in common. It was nearly ten o’clock when the doorbell chimed. The two women looked at each other.
    “You don’t need to worry. I’m sure it’s not Mark.”
    Lacey checked the peephole anyway. It was Jack. Unlatching the chain, she opened the door and was immediately brought into his arms. He kissed her as if it had been weeks instead of hours since they’d last seen each other.
    “Jack.” Sarah’s voice cut into the sensual fog that surrounded Lacey.
    Jack abruptly broke off the kiss but kept his arm around Lacey’s waist. She watched his face as he discovered his sister sitting on the sofa, wrapped in Lacey’s afghan. His gaze went from Sarah to Lacey and then back again.
    “Sit down,” Lacey said, easing her way out of his embrace. “Sarah has something to tell you.” Then, because she knew how difficult it would be, she leaned close and whispered, “Be gentle with her.”
    “Lacey,” Jack said irritably, “don’t lift that, it’s too heavy for you.”
    “I’m fine,” she insisted, hauling the carton out of the back of the rented van. It was heavy, but nothing she couldn’t handle. Sarah had found an apartment of her own, and Jack and Lacey were helping her move. It had been an eventful month. Sarah had temporarily moved in with Lacey and the two women had talked, often long into the night.
    “That should do it,” Sarah said, as Lacey set the carton on the kitchen countertop. She looked past Lacey and whispered, “What’s wrong with Jack? He’s been a real crab all morning, and he wasn’t much better last night, either. Did you notice?”
    Lacey had, but she hadn’t wanted to say anything. “I don’t know what’s wrong.” But something was.
    “If anyone can get it out of him, it’s you.”
    Lacey wondered if that was true. After the last month she felt as close to Sarah as if they were really sisters. And in that time she’d come to another, more profound realization.
    She was deeply in love with Jack.
    For someone who was convinced she was constitutionally incapable of falling in love again, this was big news.
    “I can’t thank you two enough,” Sarah said when Jack returned from the truck. “I don’t know what I would have done these last weeks without you.” She hugged them, then turned away in an effort to hide the tears that glistened in her dark eyes. “I’ll be fine now. You two go and have fun. I don’t want you to worry about me.”
    Jack hesitated. “You’re sure?”
    “Positive.” Sarah made busywork around her compact kitchen, removing several items from the closest box and setting them on the counter. All the while her back was to them. “Please,” she added.
    Remembering her own experience, Lacey whispered, “She’ll be fine. All she needs is time.”
    Together Lacey and Jack walked outside to where Jack had parked the moving van. He opened the passenger door and helped her inside.
    Lacey removed her bandanna and shook her head to free the thick strands of dark hair that were plastered against her face. Jack climbed into the driver’s seat. She noticed how his hands tightened around the steering wheel. For several seconds he just sat there. Then he started the engine and moved out into traffic. But he still seemed deep in thought. Something was wrong.
    “Jack,” she said softly, “what’s troubling you?”
    Her voice broke him out of his reverie, and he smiled as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “Not a thing. How about sharing a hot fudge sundae with me after we take the truck back?”
    It sounded wonderful, but Lacey had discovered in the last few weeks that almost every minute she spent in Jack’s company was special. He was special.
    “Are you worried about Sarah?” Lacey pried gently, wondering at his somber mood. Something was on his mind, but she couldn’t force him to tell her. He would speak up when he was ready, she decided.
    “Not as much now