Free Return to Lone Oak (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Amy Knupp

in no position to plunk down a couple hundred big ones or even come up with a down payment. Mostly, though, it came down to the fact that her job, her dream job, was in St. Louis. Not Lone Oak. She didn’t want to live here. There was nothing here for her except the house.
    But she wanted to be able to come back when she needed to, wanted to have a home. A place where everything was so familiar that she could see it in her sleep.
    “I live in St. Louis. You already live here. Already own a house. All it would mean for you is moving about three blocks away to a place with a lot more room. Not exactly a hardship.” She hopped up on the kitchen counter. “Would you guys at least consider it?”
    Savannah shot her an annoyed look. “No.”
    “Just like that? You won’t even talk to Michael about it?”
    “Katie, what is up with you? Why are you being so weird about the house?”
    “I’m just trying to keep it in the family. Why is that weird?”
    Spilling to her dad about her feelings had been bad enough. She wasn’t about to share her anxieties with Savannah and endure the inevitable ridicule. Savannah had never needed any special bait to tell her how odd or emotional she was.
    “It’s a pile of wood and brick. Just a building, Katie.”
    Katie leaned her head against the upper cabinets. “I know you don’t get it,” she said quietly to Savannah. “I don’t like seeing it go to strangers. It’s our house. You won’t even ask Michael?”
    Savannah reached into the kitchen junk drawer and pulled out a babysitter information sheet that Katie already knew by heart. Then she turned around and leaned against the countertop, avoiding Katie’s eyes, suddenly seeming unsure of herself. For Savannah, that was significant.
    “It’s not a good time for the two of us to make any major decisions.”
    Katie opened her eyes wider. “Are you two having problems?”
    “Michael’s got so much extra work right now, and the kids are keeping me busy with their activities...”
    “Savannah. You didn’t answer my question.”
    Savannah cracked a single knuckle. A sure sign she was upset. Between the knuckle and the avoidance, Katie wondered exactly what was up.
    “Katie, I said it’s not a good time. Don’t go making it into a federal case.”
    Katie studied Savannah, noticed, again, the rings under her eyes, the look of fatigue that might be more than the usual mom-of-two-kids kind. Savannah saw her paying such close attention and turned away abruptly.
    “The kids haven’t had a snack yet, so be sure to give them one in a little while. Logan can’t have—”
    “Anything with dairy. I know, Savannah.”
    “Sorry. Habit.”
    “You going to tell me where you’re going yet?”
    “I have an appointment in Topeka. Two-thirty.” Savannah took out a bag of trail mix, set it on the counter and slammed the cabinet door.
    “Ah, yes. So if I need something, I’ll just call the appointment place in Topeka.”
    “I have my cell phone, Katie.” She pointed to the info sheet. “Doctor’s office, poison control center, Dad and Claudia, my cell.”
    “Got it, Van. Everything but where you’re going.”
    “Good.” Savannah opened the back door. “Kids, I’m getting ready to leave. Aunt Katie’s here.”
    Katie heard Logan heading to give Savannah a hug and a shouted “Bye, Mom!” from Allie.
    When her exasperatingly secretive sister was gone, Katie went outside. Savannah had been her final hope for keeping the house in the family. She hadn’t been optimistic, exactly, but she’d thought Savannah and her husband might at least consider it. Of course that had been before she had any inkling they might be having problems.
    * * *
    K ATIE STOOD , hands on her hips to help her balance, surveying the street below her. It’d been years since she’d climbed up here on the roof of the house and she tried to remember why it had been so long. Most likely because she never spent that much time in one place.
    She was well