They smiled at each other as Sarah backed away, an undeniable new bond formed.
“You’d better get going if you want time to change before the dancing starts at Lucky’s tonight.” She headed up the stairs and back into the store.
Sarah switched off the light. “Are you and Dad going to be there?”
“If he gets done with work soon, I think so.” She couldn’t help but feel some of Sarah’s enthusiasm.
Not that she wanted to rely on the relationship maneuverings of a teenager to land a guy…
Wait a minute.
Was she really rooting for this thing to work out between them on a more permanent basis?
Despite all her efforts to keep things simple—yes. She couldn’t deny she wanted more with Remy. She hadn’t taken it slow. Her hopeful heart had gotten the better of her even though he worried he wasn’t anywhere near ready for the same kinds of things she was. How could he look toward the future when he was still so rooted in the past? When so many of their conversations still circled around to his life with Liv and all he’d lost?
“Great. I want Ally to tell you how I was just talking about that mirror last night. She won’t believe when I show her this.” Sarah picked up her keys off the front counter. “Thank you!”
The store seemed to echo with her voice for moments afterward. Erin watched her jog out to her car and drive away with a wave.
What an amazing young woman, and to think Remyplayed a part in her upbringing. Sarah just needed to figure out a path in life and she’d be okay.
As Erin enjoyed that thought it occurred to her she was thinking like the girl’s…mom? Her bout of nerves only increased. She had no idea how she was supposed to fit into this girl’s life if things progressed between her and Remy. Sarah had been through so much, and Erin didn’t want to disappoint her.
Sarah was in a fragile place. Erin would offer her whatever hand she could to get through this time. Although, it would be good to know more about that boy Remy asked her about—Lucas. She hadn’t found a private time to quiz Bethany about him.
“Excuse me?” A man stood at her back step, near the potted rosebush. “You still open?”
He stepped inside on her just-mopped floor, his big work boots not staying on the mat. Had he been one of the film crew hands? She thought she knew just about everyone in town and she didn’t recognize this florid-faced man. She didn’t peg him for an antiques customer, but maybe he’d come in to check it out for a wife.
“No.” She checked her watch. “We’ve been closed for almost an hour, but we reopen at ten tomorrow.”
“I just had a quick question?—”
Didn’t they always? She sighed inwardly and straightened a display of yellow-hued Carnival glass.
“Maybe you can tell me if you’re the woman responsible for my girlfriend leaving me?” His tone turned hard. Angry.
Her hand slid behind the counter to find her cell phone. Her heart beat faster as she walked her fingers along the desktop not finding thephone.
His face flushed red. Heavy eyebrows slashed inward as he glared at her.
“Excuse me?” Her eyes flicked to the open door behind him. If she needed to call out, someone might hear her.
But for now, the man stayed where he was. He didn’t approach her. She would not panic. She needed to get closer to the door. Or find the damn phone. Where was it?
“I heard from my sister that the woman running this store gave my Jamie all new clothes and set her up with a fancy job. Now she doesn’t need me anymore and she’s acting like a single woman again.” His big fists clenched at his side.
Erin’s throat convulsed in a swallow-choke that wouldn’t have allowed her to speak if she wanted to. Why hadn’t she locked the door when Sarah left?
Although, thank God, Sarah wasn’t here. She would never forgive herself if anything had happened to her after all that Remy had been through.
“Well?” he bellowed.
She swallowed again, forcing her voice to stay steady. “I’m sorry, sir. I sell clothes here, but I don’t remember selling any to your girlfriend. And—” A panicky stab of fear cut off her words for a moment. “To be honest, you’re making me nervous, so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Maybe he would go. Maybe he had simply needed to vent and complain. She prayed that was all.
Prayed…and tried to remember where she’d laid that hammer she’d used earlier.
