74 Seaside Avenue. Debbie Macomber

evening deteriorated from that point on. Ruth and Mike, along with Christie, sat in the living room and drank beer while Teri served appetizers they mostly ignored. Bobby and Johnny gamely swallowed cheese puffs and shrimp.

      “I baked a ham,” Teri announced. Bobby got up and stood behind her, as if protecting her from harm.

      “I hope everyone’s hungry,” Johnny added, joining them. “Looks like Teri’s been cooking all day.”

      She’d taken real pride in this dinner, but that was beside the point. She smiled gratefully at her brother.

      “It looks like she’s been eating all day, too,” her mother said, and seemed to find herself exceptionally funny.

      One hand on her hip, Teri said, “No more beer for you, understand?”

      Ruth’s head came back as though she’d been struck. “What did you say?”

      “I said this is my house and if you want to drink, you’ll do it elsewhere.”

      “Fine, I will.” She stood and the still-silent Mike stood with her.

      Although she’d threatened to leave, Ruth didn’t seem to be in any rush. “You think you’re so smart because you’re married to this hotshot checkers player,” her mother spat. “Just because you’ve got money doesn’t mean you can tell people how to run their lives.”

      Everyone froze, and then Bobby stepped forward. Without saying a word, he picked up Ruth’s handbag.

      “What’s he doing with my purse?” she demanded.

      Marching into the entry, Bobby set her mother’s purse down by the front door.

      “Are you kicking me out?” Ruth cried. “I can’t believe this! My own daughter’s asking me to leave her home.” She glanced around the room, seeking support and finding none. Then she headed toward Mike, grabbing his arm.

      “I thought you said you were leaving anyway,” Christie commented.

      “Yeah, Mom,” Johnny said cheerfully as he held open the front door. “You drink, you go. That’s Teri’s rule.”

      Ruth hesitated in the doorway. “Don’t think I’m going to forget this, Teri. One day you’ll need me, but I’ll tell you right now—you can forget it.” With her chin so high she was in danger of tripping over her own two feet, Ruth walked out with Mike once again trudging obediently in her wake.

      There was a startled silence. Teri felt like weeping; she’d known something like this would happen, although she’d suspected Christie rather than her mother would cause the scene.

      “Are you going to leave, too?” Teri turned to ask her sister.

      “No.” Christie hiccuped. It was obvious that she’d already had too much to drink. A glint of admiration shone in her eyes. “I’ve never seen you stand up to Mom that way,” she muttered. “I wish I had the guts to do that.”

      Teri blinked, hardly able to believe what she’d just heard. She’d actually confronted their mother any number of times. Apparently Christie hadn’t been around to witness it—probably too busy dating one of Teri’s old boyfriends.

      “We should all sit down and eat,” Johnny said after a moment. “It’d be a shame to let a perfectly good dinner go to waste.”

      “I agree,” Bobby said.

      To her surprise, the meal went smoothly. Without complaint, Christie switched from beer to tap water. The two of them talked in an unusually friendly fashion. Comfortable with each other, Johnny and Bobby chatted about chess, cars and Star Trek. Bobby was polite toward Christie but conveyed in unmistakable terms that he wouldn’t be swayed by her many charms.

      “Would anyone like dessert?” Teri asked, her mood hovering close to joyous. She’d always known that she’d married a wonderful man, but he was even more wonderful than she’d realized. Every time she thought about the matter-of-fact way he’d delivered her mother’s purse to the front door, it warmed her heart. Bobby wasn’t about to let anyone insult his wife. He hadn’t spoken a single word, but his message was clear. She couldn’t wait to show him her love and gratitude, and from the gleam in his eyes, Bobby knew exactly how she intended to do that.

      Christie must have noticed the look they’d shared because she followed Teri into the kitchen. “He loves you,” she murmured.

      “He does.” Teri started to load the plates into the dishwasher. “No man’s ever loved me like that.”

      “Where’d you meet him?”

      “Not in a bar,” Teri said pointedly.

      “I thought you’d say that.” Christie rinsed off the dishes and handed them to Teri.

      Teri couldn’t remember ever working side by side with her sister before. Not as an adult, at any rate.

      “He’s a decent guy, you know,” Christie said thoughtfully. “I’m not likely to meet someone like him.”

      Teri had to agree that she’d been fortunate. “Don’t be so sure,” she told her sister. “Think positive.”

      Christie snickered. “A lot of good that’ll do me.”

      Teri made a pot of coffee while Christie sliced the homemade coconut cake. Together they carried dessert into the dining room.

      Half an hour later, Johnny prepared to leave for Seattle. He hugged both of his sisters and as he walked out, he gave Teri a thumbs-up.

      “We’ll drive you home,” Bobby said when Christie told them it was time for her to leave as well.

      “Oh, no, I’m fine,” Christie insisted. “I’ll walk.”

      Bobby wouldn’t hear of it. “James is outside waiting.”

      “James?” Christie asked, glancing at Teri for an answer.

      “James Wilbur, Bobby’s personal driver.”

      “Oh.” Christie struggled with little success to hide a smile. “I guess that would be all right.”

      Teri and Bobby escorted her to the vehicle. James, looking distinguished as usual, stood by the passenger door, waiting to open it for her.

      “La-di-da,” Christie said, clearly impressed. She inclined her head. “Thank you, James.” Giggling, she gestured regally. “Home, James.”

      Without cracking a smile, James held the door and Christie slid inside. As soon as she was seated, she lowered the tinted window. “Wow, this is really something.” She sounded about ten years old, and Teri was touched by this glimpse of a more innocent Christie.

      “Come and visit us again,” Bobby said.

      “I will,” Christie promised. Then, with an exaggerated flourish, she pressed the button to raise the window.

      When James pulled onto the drive, Teri leaned against her husband. “That was nice of you.”

      “Yes.”

      It was just like him to acknowledge his own generosity. But then—why shouldn’t he? “So,” she said. “What do you think of my family?”

      “I like Johnny.”

      “I know.”

      “And Christie.”

      Her defenses immediately went on alert. “You … like … Christie?”

      “I do, but it’s you I love.”

      “Excellent answer, Mr. Polgar.”

      Bobby chuckled. “I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”

      Teri knew it wasn’t sleeping he had in mind. “It’s too early.”

      “No, it isn’t,”