the tattletale added. “Where’s my raspberry cheesecake?”
“There’s cheesecake?” Winter said. “Nobody ever tells me anything.”
“Chief Jackson enjoyed it,” Spring said, a slight smile at her mouth. Autumn and Winter whirled around.
Summer gasped and threw a tasseled pillow at Spring. “You’re supposed to be on my side in this!”
Spring winked at her. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”
Summer pouted but couldn’t maintain it. She stared at her sisters and her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m so glad I came home. I’ve missed you guys more than you know.”
A moment later, the four Darling sisters shared a group hug full of tears and laughter.
“Just because we’re all cozy here,” Autumn said breaking free of the circle, “don’t for a minute think you’re getting any of my cheesecake, Winter.”
After they were all settled with either quiche or dessert, coffees and tea, Winter got down to business. “Since everybody except me knows about this guy of hers, who is going to fill me in?”
“He’s not my guy,” Summer said, feeling a need to defend herself.
The others turned to Spring. Autumn and Winter knew that as the oldest and most level-headed of the four, she would tell the truth.
“I was here when they met,” Spring said. “Chief Jackson came over to inspect the smoke alarms.”
“Is he cute?” Autumn asked.
Summer blushed.
“Oh, he is! Look at her! What does he look like, Spring?”
“I would guess he’s about your age, Winter. Mid-thirties. Dark blond hair. Blue eyes. He has that boy-next-door look about him, but a boy next door who had responsibility thrust on him at an early age.”
Three sets of arched eyebrows turned in Spring’s direction.
“What an astute observation,” Summer murmured before taking a sip of tea.
“Did you change specialties to psychology?” Autumn asked.
“No,” Summer said aloud. “She’s right. That’s it. He has an air of responsibility, like he’s used to taking care of people.”
“Cameron?” Autumn said coughing, as the coffee she was drinking went down the wrong way.
“Should I call an ambulance?” Spring asked dryly.
“Ha, ha,” Autumn said. “Cameron? Cameron Jackson?”
“You know him?” Winter and Summer asked at the same time.
“Of course,” Autumn said.
Summer’s tummy did a little tumble. If Autumn knew Cameron, her chances with him were suddenly diminished.
“I just didn’t put that whole chief thing in place until now. You’re dating Chief Cam? Way to go, Summer. He’s a really good guy. God, country and firefighting.”
She went back to forking up cheesecake.
Winter huffed. “Well, don’t just leave it hanging there. Spill!”
“Spill what?” Autumn said around bites. She shrugged. “Like I said, he’s a stand-up kind of guy. He plays basketball with the kids at the rec center every couple of weeks. The kids really like him.”
“Is he cute?” Winter said.
Autumn said, “Yeah, he looks like he means business.”
Summer frowned. “What kind of description is that?”
“Focus, please,” Winter demanded. “He came here to check Summer’s smoke alarm batteries and then what?”
Summer and Spring shared a glance.
And in that moment, Summer knew that her older sister would keep her secret. The fewer people who knew about her fainting, the better—and the less likely it would get back to their mother, who would fuss and probably set up temporary residence in the guest room.
“She was baking and gave the crew cheesecake and cookies,” Spring reported.
“You go, sis,” Autumn said. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. With your baking and cooking, you’ll have him literally eating out of your hands in no time.”
Summer had a question burning in her. If she failed to ask it now, she knew she might regret it.
“So, you and he aren’t...you know...?”
Autumn’s eyes widened. “Me and Chief Cam? Goodness, no. He’s like the big brother I didn’t have. Chief Cam, he’s like everybody’s big brother. The kids love it when he plays ball with them. And, like I said, he’s the all-American kind of guy.”
“Apparently, he’s not everybody’s big brother,” Winter observed with a grin. “He clearly doesn’t see our Summer as a little sister.”
The blush that she thought had dissipated bloomed again on Summer’s cheeks.
“So, where are you guys going?”
“I don’t know,” Summer said. “And I don’t know what to wear.”
“No twinsets!” Autumn and Winter yelled at the same time.
Summer glared at them.
“And nothing starched,” Spring added. “Like those shorts you’re wearing.”
“What’s wrong with neat and pressed clothing?” Summer asked.
“It’s a date, not a committee meeting at the library,” Autumn said.
“I would not wear shorts to any meeting,” Summer declared. “And you three are not helping. What to wear is the least of my problems.”
Winter reached over and snatched the last forkful of Autumn’s raspberry cheesecake.
“Hey! Foul. Flag on the play!”
Laughing at her sisters, Summer rose and headed to the kitchen.
“The good thing about stress is that I make good use of it,” she said.
She returned with a tray bearing four dessert plates, forks and a double chocolate cheesecake.
“How is it you can bake all these sweets and not ever gain an ounce?” Winter asked.
As the curviest of the Darling sisters, every bite she put in her mouth landed on her hips. And unlike Autumn, who lived for every sport ever invented, Winter didn’t work off the calories with physical
