“You won’t be staying long, then?”
Paris cleared her throat. She’d better interrupt their conversation before Andrea marched her mom out of town. “We’re still discussing how long mom’s staying.”
The look Donna sent her was glacial. “If I can’t stay with you, I won’t have any choice but to leave.”
“You can stay with me for a few days. I’ll ask if anyone else in town has some accommodation available.”
Donna stuck her nose in the air. “While you’re doing that, I’ll drive to your house and unpack. It’s a little colder here than in California.”
Andrea stepped out of Donna’s way. “If you need another jacket, the general store has a few options.”
She knew as well as Paris that her mom wouldn’t shop anywhere that didn’t sell designer labels.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” And with the same speed that she arrived, Donna left the store.
Andrea closed the door behind her. “I’m sorry I was rude to your mom, but she annoys me so much. How can she not see how amazing you are?”
Paris sighed. “Mom uses alcohol to cope with her life. It must be difficult to see anything amazing when your brain has been taken over by an addiction.”
“You’re more forgiving than I would be.”
If Andrea knew how much hurt and damage her mom’s alcoholism had caused, she’d realize it wasn’t forgiveness that motivated her. It was guilt. For years, Paris blamed herself for not taking care of her mom. For leaving home as soon as she could to get away from her drunken rages. It wasn’t until Paris moved to Sapphire Bay that she realized she shouldn’t feel guilty. She’d done everything she could to help her mom.
“I can’t let her sleep in her car.”
“Why don’t you call The Lakeside Inn? They might have a spare room your mom can use.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Andrea hugged her. “It’s a great idea. I know you love her, but does she realize how destructive she is?”
“Mom thinks the world is against her. It colors everything she thinks and does, and makes it hard for her to relate to anyone. With everything that’s happening, the last thing I need is a visit from her.”
“I don’t want to suggest this, but I’m going to. Would you consider asking her to leave?”
“I can’t. She’s my mom.”
“In that case, you’ll need all the help you can get. You call The Lakeside Inn and I’ll contact Jackie. Between us, we’ll try and limit the amount of time your mom has with you. As long as I don’t lose my temper, we’ll be fine.”
For Andrea to lose her temper, things had to be really bad. She was the most easy-going person Paris knew, but Donna would try the patience of a saint. “Are you sure you want to spend time with Mom? She can be overwhelming sometimes.”
“Your mom is always overwhelming. It’s just as well you don’t live in the same town as her. But that’s not why I came to see you. Guess what?”
“You’ve found the perfect baby shower gift for Kylie?”
“Not yet, but I’ve narrowed down a few options. I came to tell you I’ve submitted my loan application to the bank. In a few days, I should know whether I have enough money to open a café in the next cottage.”
“That’s fantastic! I’m so proud of you.”
“I hope the loans officer is as positive as you are. I’m terrified I’m making the biggest mistake of my life.”
Paris hugged Andrea. “I thought the same thing before I signed the lease on my cottage. Sometimes, even after you’ve done all your research, you have to take a leap of faith and believe it’s meant to be. If you need anything, just ask.”
Andrea pointed to Paris’ cell phone. “I need you to call The Lakeside Inn before your mom decides to move here. I’ll be in touch with a cunning plan to keep the two of you apart.”
“I don’t know whether to thank you or be incredibly worried.”
“You might need to do both. Especially if your mom has other ideas about what she wants to do.”
