It made the decorations on Main Street look as though they were trying just a shade too hard, by Olivia's calculations. Brad and Ashley didn't get back to Stone Creek until Monday afternoon. Melissa and Olivia were waiting at Ashley's, along with Ginger, when Brad's truck pulled up outside. They'd considered turning on the outside lights to welcome Ashley home, but in the end it hadn't seemed like a good idea. Olivia had brewed fresh coffee, though. Melissa had brought a box of Ashley's favorite doughnuts from the bakery. As they peered out the front window, watching as Brad helped Ashley out of the truck and held on to her arm as they approached the gate, both Olivia and Melissa knew coffee and doughnuts weren't going to be enough. Ashley looked thinner--was that possible after only a couple of days?--and even from a distance, Olivia could see that there were deep shadows under her eyes. Melissa rushed for the door and opened it as Brad brought Ashley up the steps. He shot a look of bruised warning at Melissa, then Olivia.
