People change, of course, but Kat figured it was best to keep the details of her visit from her graciously nosy hostess.

Riley and I spoke briefly. The owner of the Sunoco told me he worked out there on Saturdays.

Madeline's eyebrows arched high on her forehead and she continued to stare. Eventually she cleared her throat. Uh, so you haven't even gone back to Virgil's house yet?

No. That's on the agenda for tomorrow. My parents are going to be very surprised.

For a long moment, Madeline stared at Kat like a doe in the oncoming high beams. Oh, my, she finally whispered.

Yeah. The three of us haven't exactly been close.

Madeline blinked a few times, not able to hide her discomfort.

Kat couldn't say the reaction surprised her. The mere mention of Virgil Cavanaugh's name had always gotten some kind of awkward response. What could people say? /Your father is such a beautiful human being!/? Not hardly.

Madeline suddenly gave a crisp nod, pursing her lips so tight that Kat could see deep lines around her mouth. She quickly removed two keys from the ring and handed them to Kat, explaining that one was for the front door of the B and B and the other for her suite. I'll let you relax, then, Madeline said, already scurrying to the door, avoiding eye contact. I'm serving dinner at six thirty, and I'll set the table for you and your friend.

As Madeline slid into the hallway and shut the door, Kat groaned with relief and rubbed her forehead, coming away with a palm dusted with dirt. What she needed was some silence, a hot bath, and a nap. Maybe then she could start to figure out what kind of new-and-improved mess she'd just made for herself by coming back to people who had never loved her and a place where she'd never belonged.