A Forever Home. Lynn Patrick

      As long as it wasn’t hers.

      * * *

      AN HOUR LATER, the kitchen was clean and Heather was on the computer, which she had set up in the bay window area of the living room. Someday it would be nice to have a bigger place, one with a real office space. She was going through Sew Fine’s newest online orders and figuring out what supplies she would need to order to replenish stock.

      Directly after dinner, the twins had absconded with the dog to their room. Heather could hear them now, talking to him and giggling. She smiled sadly. They were having a good time, and she hoped their little hearts wouldn’t be broken when they had to give up the dog in the morning.

      Hearing a vehicle stop in front of the house, she left the computer to see who it was. To her surprise, her sister was coming up the walk. Wearing a lavender dress and four-inch heels to match and her blond hair gathered in a sleek ponytail, Kristen was carrying a dress bag. Apparently, she was delivering Heather’s bridesmaid’s dress. Kristen and Alex’s wedding date was approaching all too rapidly.

      Heather opened the door. “Hey, Kristen, what a great surprise.” They hugged, and she took the dress bag from her sister. “You didn’t have to deliver the dress, though. I could have picked it up myself.”

      “But then I wouldn’t have been able to see my favorite nieces,” Kristen said as the twins came running out of their bedroom, the dog on their heels.

      “Aunt Kristen!” they yelled together, each twin launching herself onto Kristen, who laughed and gave them big hugs.

      The dog stopped short and started barking.

      Kristen started. “Whoa, what’s this?”

      “Our new dog,” Addison said.

      Before Heather could object, Taylor added, “His name is Kirby.”

      Over the twins’ heads, Kristen locked gazes with her. Heather squinched up her face and shook her head No. In return, Kristen rolled her eyes.

      “Girls, give your aunt some breathing room. It’s time to take your baths.” When Taylor’s face lit up, Heather clarified, “I mean the two of you, not the dog. You’re not to let him in the tub. Understood?”

      Taylor’s face fell. “Okay.”

      “While the tub is filling, get your pajamas ready and brush your hair and teeth. And don’t get in until I tell you it’s okay.”

      She let them wash themselves now but not without supervision.

      The girls flew to the bathroom, the dog trotting behind.

      “You actually think they’re not going to let their four-legged friend get in with them?” Kristen asked, laughing. “I remember that time I babysat and gave them a bath. When my back was turned, they brought every doll and toy horse into the tub, even though I told them not to.”

      Hearing the water running, Heather laughed. “I’d like to say they’re more mature than they were a year ago, but that’s wishful thinking. Maybe I’d better get the dog and keep him with us in case they get any ideas.”

      She went into the bedroom, where the girls were tossing their pajamas back and forth over the dog’s head so that he kept jumping, trying to get the clothes whipping through the air.

      “Enough. I’m going to take the dog into the other room with Aunt Kristen.” She looked straight at the dog and tapped her leg. “C’mon. C’mon, boy.” He sat down. She patted her leg again. “Let’s go.” She whistled. “C’mon, boy.” He yawned.

      “His name is Kirby,” Taylor sing-songed, and the dog got to his feet and trotted over to her. “See?”

      Naming him was a mistake, but what else could she do? “C’mon...Kirby.”

      The dog now came to her. Heather patted him on the head. “Let’s go see Aunt Kristen.”

      By the time she got to the living room, Kirby trotting ahead of her and looking back to make sure she was coming, Kristen had already opened the garment bag to reveal the bridesmaid’s dress made of sheer apricot-colored material.

      “Oh, it’s gorgeous.”

      “You need to try it on,” Kristen said, handing it to her. “I want to make sure it’s perfect.”

      “I’m not the bride. You’re the one who has to look perfect.” And Kristen would look perfect, Heather thought, having seen the elegant cream-colored wedding dress at Kristen’s last fitting.

      “But you’re my matron of honor and my sister. We have to look perfect together.”

      “Okay, I’ll try on the dress.”

      Heather and Kristen started for the bedroom with Kirby next to Heather, bumping against her legs as they passed the bathroom. The bathtub water was running and the girls were in their room, giggling.

      “Teeth!” she reminded them before closing her bedroom door. She was already removing her sweatshirt. “I haven’t had a dress that fancy in...well, never.”

      Kristen laughed. “Then it’s about time.”

      Amazingly, the dress fit Heather perfectly, though the fancy style felt a bit foreign to her.

      “It looks great on you,” Kristen said.

      Heather checked herself out in the full-length mirror on the back of a door. Kirby parked himself next to her, and she thought the color of his fur was almost the same color as the dress.

      “It is nice,” she had to admit, “even if it isn’t me.”

      “How did I ever get a sister so uninterested in clothes?”

      “How did I ever get one so interested in labels?” Heather came back.

      Luckily, Kristen had insisted on buying the garment for Heather. Or rather, Kristen and Alex. Between the two of them, they could afford it. Not that Heather still didn’t feel a little guilty. She promised herself she’d make it up to both of them someday.

      Kristen asked, “You don’t hate the dress, do you?”

      “No. It’s very pretty.” Heather smoothed the fabric of the skirt with her hands. “I just don’t look like me wearing it. I’m more comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt or sweater. And I’m going to have to do something with my hair. The color is so mousy against the bright apricot.”

      “Your hair is shiny and thick,” Kristen said, “but I do wonder how a shade lighter would look on you.”

      “I actually thought about putting in some blond highlights.”

      Kristen grinned. “Now that’s the spirit! You haven’t exactly been enthusiastic about this wedding—”

      “No! You know I like Alex.” And she was thrilled to see her older sister so happy. “I’ve just been too busy to enjoy things as much as I would like.”

      Heather took off the dress and carefully hung it up. She listened for the girls. The water was still running, but she didn’t hear their voices. She opened the door. “What are you two up to?” she called.

      “Brushing teeth,” one of the twins answered, sounding as if the toothbrush were in her mouth.

      “Okay, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” Closing the door again, she said, “You and Alex make the perfect couple, and I’m so happy for you.” She pulled her old clothes back on. “I just don’t want the relatives who’ll come in for the wedding pitying me or something.”

      “Pitying you? Why would they?”

      “You know, because I’m a widow and all.”

      Heather opened the nightstand drawer where she still kept a small photo of her late husband. She ran a fingertip around his face. Her memories of Scott were getting a little hazy,