“It’s not your fault you had great ideas and really found a niche.” She ripped off another paper towel and stepped closer to Bethany. “Here, let me fix your makeup.”
She wiped away the excess and noticed her sister-in-law was shaking from the stress.
“You should go back out front,” Bethany urged. “I shouldn’t even be here if I can’t hold it together in public anymore.”
“I’m your family.” Erin crumpled the paper and threw it away. “If we can’t shed tears in front of each other, it’s a lonely damn world.”
That forced a crooked smile from her.
“I don’t seeyoushedding too many tears during the hard times.”
“The last man who upset me this badly didn’t deserve my tears.” Erin didn’t know what she’d do if Patrick called her again. How could he think for a second she would want to hear from him? “I’m saving up mine for someone really worthy.”
She knew there was a good chance she’d be the one crying when Remy left town. Especially since she wasn’t being nearly cautious enough when he extended dinner invitations. But right now, all she could think about was the bright, shining moments that felt happy in the short term.
Didn’t she deserve some of that in her life?
“I wouldn’t wish this hurt on you.” Bethany combed her fingers through her hair and smoothed the front of her blouse.
“I know.” Erin’s phone chimed in her hand and she wondered what Remy wanted. Funny how she knew it was him. “But maybe you can’t have those beautiful highs without the hardship of the lows.”
Bethany shook her head. “I’ll tell you this much. I’d really like to get off the roller coaster either way. And I’d sure feel better if he had a plan—if he offered any inkling of some strategy that might save us.”
Erin hugged her goodbye, hard, and wished she could do more than just go back into the front of the store while her sister-in-law took time to gather her composure. Their one customer was still working her way through the racks, onto the boys’ clothes now that she’d looked at all the toys and the girls’ stuff.
Only then did she check her incomingtext.
Is it okay if a cute, fairly well mannered eighteen-year-old joins us? I will double the number of cupcakes.
They’d be dining as a family.
Erin couldn’t help a wistful smile. No doubt about it, she was enjoying some beautiful highs this week. Typing her reply, she ignored the cameras completely.
Shoes, dresses and boys are some of my favorite conversational topics, actually. Your guest sounds fun.
Remy’s note came right back.
Boy(s)? Plural?
Her heart flip-flopped as if she was the eighteen-year-old.
I will get back to you on these questions in person.
Thenwaited.
Can’t. Wait.
She felt as though someone had turned a light on inside her. She wondered if she looked in a mirror right then if she’d see herself glowing.
“Ma’am?” she called out to her customer. “Looks like it’s just ten minutes until closing.”
The woman gave a terse nod and kept digging through the racks of clothes. No doubt Bethany wouldn’t approve of that business practice, either. But while Remy was in town, Erin planned to squeeze every moment of joy out of her time with him even if it meant putting a piece of her fragile heart on the line again.
Chapter Fourteen
When her doorbellrang two hours later, Erin opened it to find Remy holding two grocery bags and Sarah beside him with a pastry box. A lightning strike lit up the sky behind them, brightly illuminating the father and daughter for a moment.
“Welcome! Come in before you get soaked.” She held the door wide.
