Family by Design. Bonnie K. Winn

if Fran kept her wedding dress,” Samantha mused.

      “Oh, Sam! That’s perfect! You old softie, I said you’d turned into a romantic.”

      Samantha grinned. “Okay. So we’re both hopeless.”

      The doorbell rang. A young man sent by J.C. to deliver packing boxes offered his help. Maddie showed him to the dining room where he could assemble the flat cartons.

      “Efficient,” Samantha commented, sitting on the bed, folding clothes. “You’re right. Emptying this room first will make it easier for J.C. The longer we put off clearing Andy’s room, the worse it was.”

      Maddie crossed the room to the dresser, then slid open the top drawer. A vintage leather jewelry box sat inside. “I’m guessing Fran inherited her mother’s jewelry. Two generations of mementos for Chrissy.”

      “Poor kid. I can’t imagine losing my parents now … but when you’re nine years old?” Samantha smoothed the lines of the dress she was folding. “Still, I can’t help worrying about you. Even though you always act chipper, I know the constant caregiving gets to you. And now this …”

      Maddie turned to speak, but Sam cut her off.

      “I know, I know. Helping people makes you feel better. But face it, even you have to admit this is a depressing chore.”

      The jewelry box still in her hands, Maddie stroked it absently. “If you could have seen his eyes …”

      Samantha sighed. “It’s my own fault. I just didn’t expect you to wind up …” she waved her hands around “… here.”

      Maddie thought of J.C.’s face, the bleak expression, the unexpected spark of hope. Swallowing, she wished it hadn’t meant so very much to her.