The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

One day, she thought, she wanted a chance to begin all of that.

Just one more reason to find the seven rings, break the curse, and rid the manor of what shadowed it.

When Paula lifted her hand to pat the one resting on her shoulder, Sonya took it as her cue.

“This has been wonderful, just wonderful. I can’t thank you enough for having us.”

Cleo picked it right up. “If we didn’t have a cat and dog waiting at home, you’d have a hard time getting rid of us.”

Goodbyes took time before Trey walked them out.

“Sonya told me,” Cleo began, “but now I’ve seen for myself. You have a terrific family. I wondered how three generations managed to work together, but question answered. Love, respect, rhythm. You’ve got them.”

“Born lucky. Staff meeting in the morning.”

“You told me.” Still feeling wistful, Sonya wrapped around him. “We’re fine, and yes, you’ll know if that changes.”

She kissed him again before she got behind the wheel.

Cleo lingered by the open passenger door another minute. “You know, I really liked your grandmother. Easy elegance, humor, style all wrapped up in one. If I didn’t like and admire her, I might break my number one relationship rule and have a wild affair with your grandfather.”

“And that’s a damn clever way to flatter them both.”

Cleo got in, sighed as Sonya waved and backed out of the drive.

“That was fun, and illuminating.”

“Illuminating?”

“Seeing them all together that way. Each one their own person, but all a part of a whole. I think Collin must’ve been a good man. I don’t see Deuce being lifelong friends, brothers really, with someone who wasn’t.”

“Neither do I,” Sonya agreed. “The wedding photo—the one of the Doyles with Collin and Johanna on the bench. You saw it, right?”

“I did. It tells me Johanna must’ve been a good woman. Corrine’s style’s all over that house, and that picture wouldn’t be there unless she loved both of them.”

“They didn’t have the chance to make what the Doyles made. But we will.” Sonya glanced over. “We will, Cleo, when it’s right.”

Cleo looked toward the bay as they drove by it.

“When it’s right,” she said after a moment, “I don’t see either of us settling for less.”

Then she turned back. “We’ve got some time before dark. Let’s free the furries and walk around. Corrine packed my head with so many garden ideas.”

“Mine, too. We have to figure out what we’ve got first.”

“That’s where we start. Owen said no bird feeders because bears like them.”

“Oh.” A beat. “Oh! That’s a very disturbing thought.”

“So no bird feeders, and unless a lot of it’s already there, I doubt a garden to rival Corrine’s—at least not our first year.”

“What are you doing?”

Cleo kept working her phone. “I’m looking up that plant Owen brought her. If I can figure out how to spell it. Maybe we have one. Okay, here it is. And that’s beautiful. If we don’t have one, I want one.”

“Right there,” Sonya said as she turned onto Manor Road, “is a good place to start.”

She parked, and they walked to the house. Cat and dog greeted them at the door before both streaked out.