Back to Nashville, then. Which was such a lonely prospect that she wanted to cry—
A third option slipped into her mind in the form of an image. A white cottage near a pond. Hills rippling with leaves.
If Genevieve went through withdrawal inside Sam’s cottage, she could continue to hide her secret from her family. Yet she wouldn’t be entirely, horribly alone. She’d have someone nearby who knew the truth about the Oxy but wouldn’t smother her.
Yes . . . But was she prepared for the “someone nearby” to beSam Turner? After the introduction they’d had, it would be more than a little mortifying to see him again. Was she willing to endure mortification in order to gain access to his cottage?
The sweetness of French toast filled her mouth as she chewed.
She would make Sam’s cottage very, very cute. Once she finished with it, the cottage would be worth a little mortification.
Also—other than riffling through her purse—Sam hadn’t been rude. He’d seemed decent. He’d seemed like the type of person who’d treat her like a grown-up and give her space but who’d also respond if, in the case of an emergency, she called him. He wouldn’t let her shrivel up and die.
At least she didn’t think he’d let her shrivel up and die. Would he?
No doubt, Sam wouldn’t consider her to be an ideal renter after their previous interaction.
But Genevieve could be persuasive.
She returned her focus to her mom, who had launched into a verbal list of all the treasured moments she had planned for the two of them today. “After lunch with Belle and Margaret, we can head to Gloria’s, and you can get your roots done.”
“I have dark roots on purpose, Mom. I like it like this.”
Mom’s brows elevated. “It’s so pretty, sweetie. Very flattering. But I ... are you sure?”
“Very sure.”
“I suppose I can call and cancel the appointment I made for you and hope Gloria hasn’t turned anyone else away. Maybe I’ll just pay her because I hate to cancel....”
“Mom, have you met Sam Turner? He lives out at Sugar Maple Farm.”
She appeared perplexed by the swift change in topic. “I’ve chatted with him a few times. He’s the Australian man who owns Sugar Maple Kitchen.”
Ah. So Sam was Australian, not British as she’d first guessed. “I’m not familiar with Sugar Maple Kitchen.”
“It’s a breakfast restaurant downtown.”
Genevieve moved the tray to the middle of the bed and crossed her legs. “He mentioned to me that he has a cottage on his property.”
“Hmm? When did he mention this?”
“Yesterday when I stopped to get gas near his farm.” More lies. Her conscience flinched. “I think I’m going to rent the cottage from him during my stay here in Misty River.”
“Why would you want to stay on a farm when you can stay here?”
“Because I have a tremendous amount of work to do, and I feel like I’m ignoring you and Dad when I close myself into my room in order to get everything done that I need to get done.”
“No, no, it’s fine.”
“I’m going to talk to Sam about renting the cottage.”
“Your father and I completely understand that you’re busy, sweetie. You’re always very, very busy.” Chiding crept into her voice. “But you’re working for the Kingdom, and so when you’re here, we don’t take it personally. Even though you’re not here often.”
“I love and appreciate the fact that I’m always welcome here. You and Dad and Natasha and this house are precious to me.” She looked Mom straight in the face. The situation she’d gotten herself into was so serious that she simply could not afford to cave to mom guilt. “Even so, I’m going to stay in Sam’s cottage this time around.”
Natasha
The building is wailing and shaking. It’s going to come down around us. On us.
