Maddie sat cross-legged on the grass in front of her aunt. "Is that the guy you're gonna marry?"

Cassie nodded, her mouth filled with apple.

The younger children squealed and giggled, and Joey blurted out, "Ew, they're gonna kiss!"

Madison gave her brother a stern look, and he quieted. "Why does he dress so funny?"

Cassie nearly choked. "It's not 'funny.' Just different from what you're used to. That's how many of the men dress in New York. It's more fashionable."

Madison munched thoughtfully, then said, "It doesn't look very comfortable, but I suppose I could get used to it."

Cassie raised both eyebrows in amusement as she took another bite. Leaning her head back against the trunk, she startled at seeing a large bug close to her head. Turning her face to examine it more closely, she realized it was the shell of a cicada embedded in the tree trunk, the occupant long since gone. She plucked it from its prison, holding it gently between two fingers, and brought it close to her face to stare at it intently.

The shell appeared nearly transparent, the wings, long gone, now fragile paddles of stray breezes in a new life. It was as if the body of the insect had taken flight, leaving its soul in the place it called home, under the gentle fanning of the magnolia leaves. Digging her bare toes into the cool summer grass, Cassie placed it into her palm and blew hard, letting the delicate shell drift slowly to the ground.

Behind Madison's shoulder, she spotted Sam's truck pulling up the drive. Madison turned around and watched as Sam got out and walked toward them.

She faced her aunt again with a grin. "Dr. Parker's much cuter than Mr. Wallace, don't you think?"

Watching Sam approach, wearing those thigh-hugging jeans, boots, and a knit golf shirt, Cassie wanted to agree. He had obviously just taken a shower, for his hair was still wet and she smelled the soap as soon as he stood in front of them.

He greeted each of the children, giving Joey a high five. Then he turned to Cassie and reached for her hand. "We need to talk."

Something in his eyes made her drop her apple core and grab hold without question. He didn't let go of her hand as they walked toward the house, finally stopping in front of the porch.

Grim lines etched the corners of his mouth, but his eyes were soft as he regarded her. "I need you to do me a favor."

She tilted her head, curious. "Depends. What do you need?"

He lowered his head for a moment, then looked back at her, his eyes darkening. "I've scheduled an office appointment for Harriet next Wednesday morning at eight o'clock. I need to make sure she doesn't forget or postpone it. Can you make sure she gets there?"

"Yes. Of course. Why?"

He didn't say anything right away, but continued to stare hard into her eyes.

Unbidden, her hand flew to the chain around her neck, her fingers clutching at the small gold hearts, then sliding to the key that hung lower than the other charms. "Is she . . . is she sick?"

He didn't look away. "It's too soon to say anything. Her fatigue has me worried, but I'm not here to jump to conclusions. We'll know more after her appointment."

Cassie's gaze slid over to the four children sitting under the giant magnolia, their high voices traveling over the green expanse of lawn. She looked up at Sam again. "Our mother . . . she . . . had breast cancer, you know." Her hand began to shake, and his fingers closed over hers to still them.

"I know. But don't you start worrying. There's lots of reasons for fatigue, and four of them are sitting right over there under that tree."

Cassie's smile warbled as she nodded. He rubbed his knuckles gently over her jaw, their hands clasping the necklace together. "It will be all right, Cassie. I'll be right here with you, okay? You can count on it."

She squeezed his hands tightly, sure of that one truth, and looked at him with grateful eyes. They turned in unison at the sound of Ed's car coming toward them. Dropping their hands, they moved apart, but Cassie felt his comforting presence just as surely as if his arms were around her, holding her tight.

Fourteen.

Cassie sat on the swing in the cool shade of the porch, the writing box settled next to her. The breeze from the fan above rustled the pages of the yellowed letter in her hand, whispering its secrets.

October 1, 1962 Dear Harry, I was nearly caught last night. The window jamb slammed shut after I had crawled inside, and I think it woke Daddy. I threw myself under the covers just in time. It was so hard to make myself breathe slowly, but I think I had him fooled. I don't like this sneaking around. I'd like to shout our love from the town square, on top of that soldier's horse, but until Daddy's heart is feeling stronger, it's just something we need to keep to ourselves.

I have a little favor to ask of you. There's a new girl in town, Catherine Anne Abbott. I know you've heard me talk about her, because she's my best friend in the whole world. She's moving here from Columbus and will be living with her aunt, old Miss Shrewster. Catherine Anne's par-ents died recently in a horrible car wreck, and her aunt is the only liv-ing soul in her family. I know her because our parents were friends and we've been spending summers together ever since I can remember. She's quite a few years younger than me, but just as sweet as can be. But she's come here to live now, with that old, shrunken, prune-faced aunt of hers, and I'm afraid she'll become just like Miss Shrewster if she isn't brought out at all. If you do happen to run into her in town, introduce yourself.

Don't mention you know me-I don't want to force her to keep our secret-but do say hello and make her feel comfortable. And please tell all your single friends about her. Maybe, when we're free of our secrets, we can double-date or something.

Daddy has just come home, so I'll close this letter. I don't know if I can stand waiting a whole week to see you again. Think of me kissing the locket and thinking of you.

Love, E.

A car door slammed in the driveway, making Cassie look up. Harriet approached, a crisp yellow linen sundress hanging loosely on her small frame. "I thought you might like a ride over to Bitsy's." She held up something in her hand. "And I brought you one of the shower invitations-for your scrapbook. I'm having napkins printed, too, and I'll save you one from the party."

Cassie nodded, feeling a little shell-shocked. She moved the writing box to her lap and allowed Harriet to sit next to her. "How are you feeling?"

Harriet sighed. "Oh, the same, I guess. I suppose I'll find out what kinds of vitamins I need to be taking when I see Sam on Wednesday." She indicated the letter with a nod of her head. "Anything interesting?"

"I'd say so." Cassie handed her the letter.

The moving air from the ceiling fan played with the fine blond hairs that had strayed out of Harriet's headband as she bent over to read. She finished and handed the letter back, her blue eyes wide. "So. That's how it happened. Sort of like it was meant to be."

Cassie stuck the letter back in the box, slamming the lid a little too hard. "Meant to be? She practically threw Mama at Daddy. Imagine how she must have felt." Cassie turned away and stuck out her chin. "No, never mind. You couldn't. But trust me, it feels awful."

With a wry grin, Harriet ducked her face. "I guess I deserved that. But we're not talking about you and me and Joe. We're talking about Mama and Daddy. I know they were the loves of each other's lives, and nothing will ever change that. Unfortunately, Daddy was also the love of Miss E's life."

Cassie stood abruptly, clutching the box to her chest. "How can you say that? She left him. She abandoned him and took their child and gave it up for adoption. If she really loved Daddy, I'd hate to see what she'd do to somebody she hated."

Harriet twisted the gold wedding band around on her finger, her gaze focused far beyond the front porch and green grass. "She loved him so much that she sacrificed everything she loved so he could be happy." Her eyes met her sister's, her expression somber.

Cassie shook her head. "Love isn't about sacrifice. It's about meeting each other's needs. It's about companionship. Not to mention the fact that Miss E's sacrifice makes Daddy sound incredibly selfish."

"I don't think Daddy was being selfish, because that's not like him at all. I don't think he was given a choice. I read that letter up in the attic, too. It seemed that Miss E was doing everything she could to make sure Daddy didn't find their baby-and for good reason." She pushed hair out of her eyes, her gold band catching the sunlight. "And I think you're wrong about the sacrifice part. Love is all about sacri-fices-big and small ones. It's only when you know how much you could give up for somebody that you know what true love really is."

The whirring fan spun above them, the only sound on the silent porch, the unspoken words of what lay behind their fifteen-year estrangement lying scattered about them like fallen leaves. Yes, Cassie knew all about being sacrificed in the name of love, and it didn't seem right that so much pain could walk so easily with love.

Finally, Cassie hoisted the box under one arm. "We're going to be late if we don't get a move on. Let me go put this inside and I'll be right out."

Without waiting for a response, she disappeared inside the house, the screen door banging shut behind her.

The ladies sat under domed dryers at Bitsy's House of Beauty, their hair wrapped in bits of foil and brightly colored curlers. Cassie frowned, feeling as though she could pick up the local radio station with the contraptions on her head.

She shifted her attention, warily eyeing the comb and scissors in Bitsy's hand. "I just want a sleek bob-nothing fancy. Just what I have now, but trimmed up a bit." She chewed on her lip, trying to think of other ways to make her point. She was afraid that if she wasn't very explicit, she'd wind up looking like Lou-Lou, her hair teased within an inch of her life. "I don't want big hair-no need to tease it at all, okay?"

Bitsy patted her shoulder, a patient expression on her face. "Don't worry about a thing, sugar. I'll have you fixed up, sleek and pretty, in no time."

Chewing on her lip, Cassie glanced toward the chair next to her. Harriet sat holding a small stack of tiny tissues, handing them one by one to Ovella, Bitsy's sister and co-owner of the salon. Harriet's skin appeared dull and flat in the glare of the fluorescent lighting, the circles under her eyes dark and unforgiving.

Ovella's words were muffled by the bobby pins in her mouth. "You look wore out, Harriett. Why don't you leave those little ones with me for a bit so you can get some rest?"

Harriet smiled and patted Ovella's arm. "I'm just a bit tired, that's all. But you watch out. I just might take you up on your offer." Harriet's gaze slid to Cassie's reflection in the mirror. "Miss Lena stopped by this morning. She wants to give you a copy of Sweet Wicked Love for a shower present. Before she earmarked all the juicy parts to use on your honeymoon, she wanted to make sure you hadn't read it yet."

Cassie noted Harriet's obvious attempt to change the subject. They would have plenty of opportunity on Wednesday to talk about Harriet's health. She waited for Bitsy to raise her chair before responding. "For an unmarried older woman, one would wonder about her fascination with sex. Do you think she's ever done eit'?"

Harriet turned to Bitsy. "Do you ever remember Miss Lena having a boyfriend?"

Bitsy's forehead creased. "She's a good bit older than me, you know. She used to baby-sit for me and Ovella and our five brothers. We were monsters, really. She used to tell me she only did it for the money, because we were truly terrible. Climbing out windows after she put us to bed and that sort of thing." Long red nails combed through Cassie's wet hair, preceded by the snip of the shiny metal scis-sors. "She was working as the church secretary back then, right before her parents decided to send her to Europe to get 'cultured,' whatever that means. I'm pretty sure she had a boyfriend, though. Sometimes she'd be dropped off at our house in one of those cute British convert-ibles and be all dreamy and googly-eyed. Don't know who it was, though. Too young to care, I guess."

Her fingers straightened Cassie's jaw, then clipped off more hair with the scissors. "Couldn't have been very serious. Once she got back from Europe, she started back to work at the church again, and that was it. Never got married, which was a shame. She was so good with us kids and would have been a wonderful mother. She was always volunteering at the church's nursery, and those kids just loved her." She sighed heavily. "Even me and Ovella and our brothers. Oh, well. I guess not everybody can find their true love, like me and my Henry. 'Course, I had to go to another county to find him, but I think it was destiny. We would have found each other no matter what."

Cassie glanced over at her sister, whose own eyes had gone soft and wistful. Cassie looked down at her hands, focusing on her diamond engagement ring. She tried to think of Andrew and get all warm and mushy but couldn't. Maybe they were right. There was only one mate out there for everybody. You could spend your whole life searching and come up empty-handed. Or you could settle for "good enough." She sighed and looked back at her sister's reflection and was once again shocked at the pallor and sheer exhaustion etched on her face.

They regarded each other in the mirror. Before Cassie could comment on her sister's appearance, Harriet crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Looking away, she handed another tissue to Ovella.

Madison walked in from the back of the shop, her gait stiff as she hobbled on her heels, her toes separated by cotton balls, the nails painted a bright fluorescent green.

Harriet only half-succeeded in looking shocked. "Are your toes radioactive, Maddie? I don't want them changing the taste of my cheese straws at the shower."

"Very funny, Mama. This color is very fashionable. I just saw it in Seventeen. All the girls are wearing it."

"Not in Walton, they're not." Even Harriet's voice sounded tired, and when Cassie looked back to her, her eyes were closed.

Wanting to defuse any mother-daughter tensions, Cassie suggested, "Why don't we go for the works, too, Har? We can have a manicure and pedicure-maybe even a facial. My treat."

Without opening her eyes, Harriet smiled. "I'd like that. Maybe Aunt Lucinda can do our makeup, too. I don't think I have the energy to even put on mascara."

Madison stood by her mother. "And why don't you borrow something out of my closet with a waist to wear tonight. I'm tired of seeing you in those muumuus. It's all you seem to wear anymore."

Before Harriet could respond, the bells over the door jangled, and Cassie looked through the strands of wet hair combed over her forehead. The two women that walked into the salon could have been a matching pair of bookends, but one generation apart. They both were pale blondes with slender builds and creamy skin and were wearing matching pink sweaters with pearls.

For a moment, Cassie was back in high school, rounding her shoulders and trying to disappear. Of all times to run into Doreen Cagle again; with her wet hair, in her Wal-Mart shorts and flip-flops, and wearing an unattractive orange vinyl cape, Cassie looked like something the cat dragged in. In her younger days, Doreen had eclipsed even the beautiful Harriet, and her daughter was her spitting image. Cassie watched as Madison eyed her nemesis.

"Hey, Lucy."

The girl appeared to be about Maddie's age but was much shorter and fine-boned, giving her a delicate look. She eyed Madison's toenail polish with a raised blond brow and without comment before answering. "Hello, Maddie. What are you doing here?"

The question sounded innocent enough, but Cassie could see Madison pulling her shoulders back. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

Lucy sniffed. "Well, it's just that I've never seen you here before." She regarded Madison casually with clear gray eyes. "I mean, you're on the girl's basketball team. They'd probably have you kicked off if they found out you were here."

Cassie held up her hand, making Bitsy step away. Flinging her hair out of her eyes, she approached the two women with a smile. "Doreen, it's so nice to see you again. What's it been-fifteen years? Gosh-is that the same hairstyle you wore in high school? I haven't seen that look in New York, but it suits you. How have you been?"

Without giving the other woman a chance to speak, Cassie gushed on, "And those cute matching sweaters-how sweet! I just don't think those designers on Fifth Avenue know what they're doing when they ignore the homey styles that so many small-town girls cling to. It's just so, well, quaint. And I for one miss it terribly."

Doreen and Lucy gave her identical plastered smiles. Cassie grabbed Madison's arm and brought her closer. "Now just look at this gorgeous girl. I can hardly believe that she's my own flesh and blood. She's got that height and that dark 'look' that all those New York mod-eling agencies are going for these days. I can't believe y'all have been keeping her hidden here in Walton all this time." She reached her hand around her niece and squeezed.

All six women wore stunned expressions.

Doreen put her arm around her daughter. "Yes, well. It's good to see you again, Cassie. It has been a while." She smiled, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. "And you're right. Most of Walton hasn't changed a bit. Did I tell you that Lucy was Kudzu Queen this year? Guess we're lucky that the petite blonde is still in style here in Walton."

Suddenly struck dumb, it was Cassie's turn to give them a plastic smile.

Doreen, leading her daughter away, said, " 'Bye, y'all. Lucy's got a big date tonight with Kevin O'Neal, so we'd better let Bitsy get started working her magic. See y'all later."

Madison looked as if she'd been struck. Harriet stood and walked over to them, clutching Cassie's arm and leaning on her heavily. She spoke softly into her sister's ear. "You can't fix everything for everyone all the time, you know."

Cassie shrugged, feeling the gold charms move against the skin on her neck. "I suppose. But I can at least try."

Harriet looked up at Cassie and spoke loud enough for Madison to hear. "Come on, let's get finished here so we can go get our toenails painted neon green."

Cassie grinned, wondering how she'd lived so long apart from this woman she called sister.

As they left Bitsy's, Cassie heard her name being called and squinted into the sun toward the sound of the voice.

"Wooeee! Be still my heart. I must be in heaven with all this beauty."

She couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face as Sam slid his truck into a parking space and joined them on the sidewalk.

He studied Madison and Harriet closely. "My. A vision of loveliness. It's a good thing I don't have a weak heart." He turned to Cassie and eyed her hair judiciously. "Hmm. Not as big as I usually like a lady's hair but simply stunning just the same."

Sam dodged Cassie's hand as she reached to slap his arm. "I'm heading to the Dixie Diner for lunch. It would do me proud to have you beautiful ladies join me."

Harriet squeezed his arm playfully. "You're such a flirt, Sam. Don't ever stop."

Cassie noticed how the sun played on her sister's hair, illuminating the bright gold strands. For the first time, she saw several gray hairs mixed in. The sun took no prisoners as it highlighted Harriet's face, accentuating every fine line and dark circle and stealing the color from her skin. Maybe we're just getting older, Cassie thought as she slid a glance at Sam. Almost two years older than Harriet, he radiated good health and youthful energy. The contrast between them was hard to miss. Sam's gaze met hers, and she knew he was noticing, too.

Harriet pushed Cassie toward Sam. "You two go on. Me and Maddie need to head toward home and get ready for the shower. I hope you're planning on attending, Sam. Joe's doing his famous barbecue." She winked. "And lots of beer, too. That should guarantee your presence."

Sam squeezed her arm. "Sure, Harriet. I'll be there. Wouldn't want to miss Senator Thompkins's clogging routine. He likes to save that for special occasions, so I don't get to see it as often as I like."

Harriet started to move off, Madison in her wake. "Yeah, I bet. You're terrible." She stepped off the curb, wobbling a bit until her daughter took her elbow. She faced Sam and Cassie with a wide smile. "We'll see you two at six, then."

Cassie stepped toward her. "I can help, Har. It's really silly for you to do all that work."

With a dismissive wave, Harriet stepped away. "I've got Lucinda and Maddie and a ton of other helpers. You're the guest of honor, and I wouldn't dream of putting you to work. I'll just see you later."

Cassie watched as Harriet and Madison walked toward the van parked on the town square.