“So, nine years? Nearly ten?” her mom asked, and she nodded. “I know you think I’m a nagging old woman, but you need to live outside of this place!”
“What is with you people today?” Sylvie breathed, exasperated.
“What do you mean by that?”
Shaking her head, she sighed. “Nothing. Just…Juliette hassling me about dating.”
“Well, she’s right. You deserve to be happy. You’ve always wanted kids. Now, I know medical science is a wonder, but you also want a family of your own!”
“Mom, I am happy. Here, running the inn. I feel like it’s what I’m meant to be doing. I always thought I’d take it over when you and Dad retired…”
“After your father and Brett died, you threw yourself into this place harder than ever… harder than you did after the divorce.”
The two women sat in silence for a moment.
Sylvie hated knowing her mom felt sorry for her. That she’d let her down somehow by not getting back on the horse and finding someone.
“Your father and I were worried about you. You were only supposed to be moving back in for a while, but it felt like you got stuck.”
“You got stuck with me?” she asked, trying to laugh.
“No, sweetheart. You know I’ve loved having you here, and I don’t know how I would have coped with the accident without you,” her mom explained quickly. “But the thing is…your father and I talked about something before he died, and I think it’s time I acted on it.”
“Mom, when Kenny left me, I was devastated and heartbroken. But this place healed me! I love it here. I love my life! I love planning the weddings we host now! Before, I couldn’t even be here on the days people got married because it upset me too much. But now? It’s my favorite thing!”
“I know. You got better and moved on. But that doesn’t mean you should be chained to this place forever!” The tone of her mom’s voice had changed, and Sylvie’s heart skipped a beat as it started to race.
“Mom, come on!” she exclaimed. “You’re acting so… I don’t know, dire!”
“I need you to promise me something, young lady.” Annette reached out and took Sylvie’s hand in a surprisingly tight grip.
“Okay?”
“No, not like that,” Annette said sternly. “A proper promise. I need you to swear to me that you will not give up on life. You deserve every kind of happiness. Do not waste your years on ‘well, it’s not hard, so that’s enough.’ It’s not enough, Sylvia. Meeting people from all over the world and helping couples plan their weddings is not the same thing as traveling the world or falling in love. Get out there and live your life. Don’t give up on finding love, and don’t you dare give up on yourself.” Her eyes burned with an intensity Sylvie hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Yes, I promise.”
“Good.” Annette let go and patted her daughter’s hand. “Right. Well, that brings me to the other things I need to talk to you about.”
Chapter 3
Annette cleared her throat. “Now, we have always been sensible in this family, and we don’t beat around the bush.”
Sylvie sat quietly, trying to slow both her racing thoughts and her heart rate, as her mom took a deep breath.
“Sylvia,” she said finally. “I saw Dr. Tellis—”
No.
She could hear the blood rushing in her ears, and it felt like her mind filled with static as the bubble of looming dread she had been feeling all day burst, flooding her with red-hot panic.
No.
This wasn’t fair. They’d done this already!
No.
Her mind screamed at her,No! Not again…
