Fill-In Fiancee. Deanna Talcott

opened the refrigerator door to grab a soda and was immediately faced with dozens of votive candles cooling there. She closed the door and came away empty-handed. “I love you guys, I do. But the opportunity for a temporary roommate came up, and I just took it, that’s all. I’m sure you’ll still be here when I get back.”

      “I’m not so certain,” her father warned. “The manager at the food co-op asked your mom about a job.”

      “A job? Really?” Hope spiraled, and Sunny tingled with anticipation.

      “I told him about my homemade soap,” she confided. “He wants to sell it.”

      The bubble of expectation quickly burst. Sunny pulled her plate of limp-looking chicken nuggets from the microwave. “So,” she said. “Will you be needing the roaster or the stock pot for the soap?”

      “Oh, don’t worry about that,” her mother scoffed. “You’ve got more than enough pans. I’m more concerned about getting the goat’s milk. It’s a hard ingredient to find, especially here in Boston.”