Read Online Firefly Summer by Nan Rossiter - Free Book Online Page A

coming up. “I think those are peonies,” Piper said, pointing, “and look at all the hydrangeas! You need to get in there and prune out the dead stalks.”
    Sailor nodded. “Sometimes the stalks still have life in them. I know they look dead but they might still shoot out some leaves. I think I’ll wait.”
    They heard a car pull into the driveway. “Who’s that?” Piper asked, frowning.
    â€œI don’t know,” Sailor said, eyeing the black SUV.
    The door opened and a man wearing sunglasses stepped out. He was wearing a light blue oxford shirt and stone colored khakis. He was tan and his dark hair was streaked with silver. He smiled and Sailor suddenly recognized him. “Oh! It’s Josiah Gray—my real estate agent.”
    â€œReally!?” Piper whispered conspiratorially and then felt a sharp elbow in her ribs. “Ouch!”
    â€œHey, Josiah, what brings you out here?” Sailor said pleasantly, walking toward him.
    â€œHey,” he said, glancing at his watch. “I hope I’m not too early. I was in the area and I thought I’d stop by to see how you’re doing and if you’re getting settled and”—he reached into his car and produced a bouquet of sunflowers and a box of Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins—“to thank you for your business.”
    â€œI love sunflowers!” Sailor said. “Thank you!”
    Josiah smiled. “I thought you looked like a sunflower girl.”
    â€œI am. I’m a Munchkin girl, too,” she said, taking the box of bite-size doughnut holes.
    Piper watched their exchange with surprised amusement. A Munchkin girl?!
    Sailor suddenly remembered her manners. “Josiah, this is my sister Piper,” she said, motioning to Piper.
    Josiah nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you, too,” Piper said, stepping forward and shaking his hand.
    Josiah looked back at Sailor. “So, how is it going? Are you unpacked?”
    Sailor laughed. “Well, not quite, but I’m getting there.” She paused. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
    â€œOh, no,” Josiah said, putting up his hand. “I have to get to work. I just wanted to stop by and, like I said, thank you for your business.”
    â€œOkay, well, you’re welcome . . . and thank you for the flowers and treat.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” He opened his car door and started to get in. “I may take you up on that coffee another time, though. . . .”
    Sailor looked surprised. “Okay. Anytime.”
    Josiah nodded, and as he drove away, waved.
    â€œWow, Sail, he’s cute!”
    â€œHe is cute,” Sailor said, handing her the flowers. She opened the box of Munchkins and held them out.
    Piper picked out a chocolate glazed doughnut hole, took a bite, and with sugary lips, teased, “I never knew you were a Munchkin girl!”

C HAPTER 13
    A fter stopping at the farmers’ market for heirloom tomatoes, Piper turned onto Main Street and drove past the road that led back to the sleepy cemetery in which her parents were buried. Feeling oddly drawn to stop, she turned in and parked under the majestic pine trees. She hadn’t visited her parents’ graveside in years. Like the attic, it was a place she avoided, but now, it was as if the letters and pictures she’d come across had stirred something deep inside her, and as she walked on the pine needle–covered path, she recalled that long-ago time.
    Whitney Quinn had retired from being a Pan Am pilot right after Piper had started her freshman year at the University of New England. Soon after, he and Martha had sold the family home in New Hampshire and moved to Whit’s End full-time. Six months later, though, as so often happens when someone retires, Whitney was shoveling the heavy, wet snow of a late March storm when he suffered a massive heart attack. Martha was