I grabbed her hand and squeezed it across the high-top. “Of course it is. Where y’all heading tonight?”?
She clapped excitedly and jumped up to start her prep work. “Alley Cat Lounge! I haven’t been. Have you? It’s super swanky. I think, ugh, I don’t know, we might become official soon.”?
“I’m really happy for you, Sutton.” I cleared our dishes and lined them up in the dishwasher. “Seriously, you deserve this more than anyone.”?
She turned to me with sad eyes and put a flour-covered hand on my shoulder. “You know, Mags, you deserve happiness, too.”?
Later that afternoon, I stopped by Eunice’s to drop off some cottage pie for her and Vance. She’d called in the order just as I was checking on some guests, and when I told her I had a packed house, she didn’t care. She insisted.?
I opened the door to the Wilder house, now just a few blocks from my own, and was immediately hit with the familiar scents of my childhood. The rich, earthy aroma of aged wood, the fresh roses that always seemed to be replaced like clockwork, and the faint trace of cigar smoke curling its way out from Vance’s office. It was like stepping back in time, every detail pulling me into the past.
It was like a hug that wrapped around my shoulders and in an instant made me feel comfortable. But just as quick, I felt the hairs on my arms raise. As much as I adored this house, I hated it, too.?
I’d loved two men that grew up in this house once, and it hurt me to no end just being in the same rooms they’d once walked through.?
And it hurt to remember the feelings I’d had for both of them.?
“In here, darlin’. I’m just powdering my face,” Eunice called from the small washroom on the first floor. I kicked the swinging door to the kitchen open with my foot and dropped my packages on the counter.?
On instinct, I opened up the wine fridge, pulled out a pinot noir from Jordan’s shop, and poured two glasses.?
“Oh good, sugar, thanks for getting us set up,” Eunice said, as I finished plating the two cottage pies for her and Vance. “These are for you and me, though. Sit down, doll. I need to talk to you. And what better way than over some homecooked Irish food and delicious wine?”?
“Eunice, I can’t…”?
“Nonsense. You can. I phoned ahead to Sutton, and she called in your reinforcements. Have a seat.”?
I sat down at the breakfast nook and turned to look over the courtyard, asprawling space I’d spent my childhood running around with Lee and Dane, getting covered in dirt, dust, and laughter.?I let out a sigh, pushing back those memories.
Eunice sat across from me and dug into her lunch, munching away on her cottage pie and carefully taking sips of her perfectly paired wine. I didn’t touch my food. I knew what was coming.?
“So, my private investigator found Dane,” she finally said, taking the bottle out of the chiller and refilling both of our glasses. “It turns out that because Cole’s death certificate wasn’t filed on time, he’s actually been living in the Keys under Cole’s name. When Vance finally filed the paperwork, it triggered alarms throughout the country.And, ironically enough, Dane had bought a bar on Islamorada—that’s where they found him.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I laughed so hard I sounded borderline hysterical. The thought of Dane rolling up the tailored sleeves of his white, custom-made button-down shirts and actually working made me cackle like a hyena. And however impolite it was to laugh so loud, and so crass, at the table I shared with his momma, I didn’t care.?
“And I assume Kasey is with him?”?
“Mrs. Magnolia Wilder is with him as well, yes. Did this not come up on your background check when you took out lines of credit for the inn?”?
“It didn’t. But I can’t say I’m surprised.” I shook my head in disbelief. “Well, Eunice, you must be relieved. I mean, that Dane has been found.”?
“Relieved? Sure. Letting him rot in a jail cell in the Keys? Absolutely. I haven’t told Vance yet. I’ll wait a few days.”?
I feigned shock and threw a hand over my chest. “Well, bless your heart, Eunice Wilder. I never thought you had it in you.”?
“I’ve had this and much, much more Magnolia. Ever since your momma’s house, your bar, burned down, I’ve been a different woman. I no longer live for the Wilder name. I’m living for myself. Which, I’ve noticed, is what you’re doing, too, even with my youngest back in town?”?
I placed my hands on the table around what was supposed to be Vance’s lunch. “We are not talking about this, Eunice.”?
“Do you love my son, Magnolia? Do you love Leland?”?
I sighed and looked back out over the courtyard. “Yes, Eunice. I do. I’ve loved Lee my entire life. He was my first best friend. He went out on a limb forme, invested in the bar, and believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.” I chewed on my lip, replaying those memories like a highlight reel in my mind. “You know, a few weeks ago, he actually showed up at the ashen, burned down graveyard of where I once lived, and he did this great, stupid Lee speech about how he would love me and wait for me no matter what. But I just don’t know. I just… I just don’t know.”?
She chewed a bit and joined me in looking out over the courtyard, watching a small bird bounce in between her azalea bushes. “You know, I understand what you’re saying. I loved Cole for a long time, too. But you know who else I’ve loved for a long time?”?Eunice turned and looked at me, placing a hand over mine. “You. I’ve lovedyoua long time, and I just want what’s best for you. Despite what you might think, or how strong your pride is, what may be best for you is Lee.”?
I shook my head and pulled back my hand, using my fork to push around food on my plate. “I don’t know, Eunice. I really don’t know if I’m ready for that again. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“Listen,” she said, leaning in closer, calm but assertive. “You and Lee have something special—a love that doesn’t come around often. Don’t make the same mistake I did.” She paused, searching my eyes. I willed my face to stay even and flat.?
