Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
For a moment he appeared confused. “Yeah, we kept Father’s Day low key this year. Just family on that Sunday. I guess that was really all I was up for, to be honest.”
I smiled softly and simply nodded.
“Anyway, Winnie and I would love to have you over for dinner, and I owe you a massive apology that can’t be rushed, and right now, the health inspector is waiting for me so…”
His voice trailed off, and the elevator doors opened. “Are you taking Winnie with you?”
He turned them both around. “Yeah, Mary went back to New York; Jake and Opal are out of town, and I haven’t been able to reach my father. So, it’s Bring Your Daughter to Work Day. Maybe she’ll bring me some good luck with whatever this health inspector needs to talk to me about.”
I stepped in and blocked the doors from closing. “Liam, let me take her. It’s been too long and we can go to Memory Lane Toys. I told Brystol I would pop in and make sure everything was okay since she just gave birth a couple of weeks ago.”
He looked at Winnie, then at me. “I don’t want to impose, so I’ll just have one of the managers play with her in my office.”
“It’s no imposition. I offered, Liam.” I knew my voice suddenly sounded cold and distant, but I was instantly reminded about that night months ago and I could still hear him accusing me of trying to worm my way into their lives. Remembering that evening so vividly, I was having second thoughts about my offer and didn’t want to help him after all.
“If you would rather take her, then that’s fine,” I stated as I backed out of the way of the elevator doors. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to give you the impression I’m overstepping...again.”
Spinning on my heel, I started for the lobby doors. I felt guilty, but I wasn’t about to beg him to help him out with Winnie. The moment I stepped out of the hotel, I drew in a deep breath and waited.
Nothing. I wasn’t sure why, but Liam letting me walk away stung.
“Whatever,” I whispered and made my way down Main Street. I’d check in on everyone at Memory Lane Toys, then head to work. Liam’s problems were his own.
“Aurora!”
The sound of my name being yelled caused me to turn and see Cadie. She laughed. “Didn’t you hear me?”
I let out a small laugh, but it sounded more like a relieved sigh than a laugh. Cadie would be a good distraction.
“Morning!” she said as she stopped, and we exchanged a hug.
“Hey, Cadie. Why aren’t you at the bakery?”
She jerked her head behind her. “Just dropped some stuff off at the hotel. Every Friday, they have a standing order for breakfast goodies for their customers. I saw you and Liam talking and didn’t want to interrupt. Are you okay?”
Forcing a smile, I asked, “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
Shrugging, she answered, “You looked upset when you turned and walked away from him. Then you stopped outside, and it looked like you were trying to catch your breath. You were so lost in thought that you didn’t hear me say your name three times.”
I sighed. James was the only person I had told what had happened that night with Liam, and a part of me wanted to get it off my chest. Cadie was one of my best friends. I had three amazing best friends, actually. Cadie, Harper, and Brystol. Why I never told them what happened was a mystery to me, one I didn’t really want to think about for very long. I needed to figure out a way to move on and let go of my hurt feelings. I missed being able to see Winnie, and if I was honest, I hated losing my friendship with Liam.
“Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”
Smiling, she hooked her arm around mine. “I sure do.”
Five minutes later, we were sitting at a corner table in The Timeless Coffee Shop, drinking coffee and eating a muffin Cadie had made.
“Do you supply food for everyone?”
She laughed. “No, the coffee shop is my biggest customer outside of the bakery. They don’t order a whole lot, just enough to offer their customers some goodies if they don’t have time to swing by the bakery.”
I nodded and took a sip of my coffee. When I set the cup down, Cadie’s brow went up. “What’s going on, Aurora?”
Exhaling, I felt my body slump. “Let’s see, where should I start? Liam accused me of trying to worm my way into his family’s life and take Hope’s place. I had a one-night stand with James that same night because I was so upset and embarrassed Liam thought those things, let alone said them; I can’t stop feeling like maybe I did something wrong by trying to help Hope and Liam out, and I wonder if Hope thought that was what I was doing and put it in Liam’s head. A book order I placed for a really popular book still hasn’t arrived. And we started renovations on the bookstore.”