in the fire.”
“That doesn’t mean your family’s cursed, Annie.”
“When I was twenty-one I met…the most wonderful man in the world.” Annie’s voice thickened. “He wasn’t from here. He was a tourist just passing through. But after we met…well, anyway, we fell in love. And we got engaged. The day after, I was waiting for him so we could call his parents. When he didn’t show up, I got worried and went over to the hotel. He didn’t answer when I knocked on his door. The manager finally got the key, and when he opened the door, David was inside. At first I couldn’t understand how he could sleep through both of us banging on the door.” Annie paused, remembering. “He had died in the night. His heart. The doctor said he must have had a preexisting condition. He was twenty-five years old. I knew then what the preexisting condition was—my family curse.”
“Oh, Annie, no! It was a terrible thing to happen, but it wasn’t your fault.”
“If he’d just kept driving, hadn’t met me—”
“You can’t believe that!”
Annie leaned back in her chair. “I keep praying it isn’t true. But it isn’t safe for anyone to become part of my family. Look what happens.”
“So you intend to live alone the rest of your life?”
“No. I turned the bakery into a bed-and-breakfast so I have company.” Annie smiled, trying, but still not hiding her pain. “And sometimes, when I’m lucky, guests are as good as family.”
“I don’t believe in curses, and I’ve always wanted a sister. So, I’ll sign on.”
Annie’s smile faltered. “Don’t even joke.”
“I’m not. I took a huge leap of faith by trusting you with the most important secret I have. You proved that was the right thing to do. Let me prove this to you.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Leah. You haven’t lived with this fear.”
“I’ve lived with the fear of thinking I might not find my son alive every day of the last eight years. There isn’t a greater fear.”
Annie’s lips trembled. “I’ve prayed that this curse isn’t real.”
Leah held out her hand. “Sisters?”
Annie hesitated, then reached out, as well. “Sisters.”
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