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Sage had yet to have her first cup of coffee when Ricky returned, fully dressed. He was ready to head out the door and stopped when he saw that she was still in her pajamas.

“Hold on, fella,” she said. “The rink doesn’t open for several hours.”

“How many hours?” he asked, as if even one was far too long to wait.

Sage glanced at the time. “Three.”

“Three,” he repeated, as if declaring it wouldn’t open for another week or longer.

“It’ll go fast,” she assured him, trying hard not to smile. “It’s laundry day, and I want to change the bedsheets, so strip your bed, and bring your dirty clothes into the laundry room, but finish your breakfast first.”

Ricky sagged onto the kitchen chair as if she’d sentenced him to work in a labor camp. “Okay,” he mumbled, and dragged himself back toward the kitchen table as though his shoes were filled with concrete.

Ricky finished his chores and then sat in the living room, watching a video on his iPad. Sage was in the small laundry room removing the wash from the machine and loading it into the dryer when her phone chirped for the second time that morning.

The number told her the call was from Saffron.

“Hey, there. How’s it going?”

“Not good, I’m afraid.”

“What’s up?”

Her sister sounded down. “It looked this week like we might be finished and able to head home before Christmas. Word came of another area that was badly damaged and needs our help. We don’t know yet how bad it is. If it isn’t as complicated as where we are now, there’s a chance I could fly to Seattle in time for Christmas.”

“Oh Saffron, that would be amazing. Ricky would be so happy.”

“Don’t say anything yet. I’m holding on to hope that the situation isn’t as bad as assumed.”

“I won’t say anything,” Sage promised. “By the way, Ricky and I are going ice-skating this afternoon.”

“You’re ice-skating?” Saffron sounded shocked.

“Not me. No way. We’re going with friends.”

Saffron’s voice sounded as if she was holding back a laugh. “Do you remember your ice-skating lessons?”

Sage closed her eyes at the memory. Saffron had taken to the sport as if she’d been born wearing a pair of ice skates. In fact, Saffron had met Ricky’s father at the ice rink during her first year of college. They’d bonded on the ice before eloping after an all-too-short romance.

“Don’t remind me,” Sage murmured. “I thought it would be like Rollerblading. It wasn’t even close.”

“You’re doing a lot of fun things with Ricky. He’s loving his time with you.”

“I’m enjoying having him. I was worried at first, but he’s been nothing but a delight.” The learning curve had been a sharp one for sure, especially after the cookie disaster. Sage couldn’t stop grinning. Ricky had been a good sport through it all. However, she had to admit the fun level rose exponentially as soon as Ethan entered the picture.

“I’m so pleased everything is working out with you and Ricky. I can’t thank you enough, sis.”

The truth was, Sage felt she should be the one thanking her sister.

“How are you holding up?” Sage asked her sister. Nearly all their nightly conversations revolved around Ricky. Saffron, however, was the one working long hours, doing whatever she could to help those who’d had their homes and their lives destroyed by a hurricane. Seeing the devastation day in and day out must have taken an emotional toll on her.

“Surprisingly, I’m doing okay. Tom is with me—”

“Oh yes,” Sage said, interrupting her sister. Secretly she was pleased that Saffron was moving forward in her life. “I’ve heard all about Tom.”

“You have?” Saffron sounded surprised. “Ricky must have said something.”

“He casually dropped his name. I’m happy for you, sis.”