“You and me both,” Ty agreed. “Actually,” she amended, “if Eric wasn’t from such a wealthy, high profile family, I’m pretty sure she’d have dropped the pursuit long ago. In her eyes, that status makes him the prize, and me the one who couldn’t keep a husband. She actually suggested I tend bar, like Margo. At least that way I could date the men I met at work.”
Holly tipped her chin down and squared a look at her. “That just goes to show that your mother doesn’t know you very well. We both know that Margo craves that lively environment enough to love her job and get paid very well for it too.”
“True,” Ty said. “But she might have a point. I can’t date any of my clients. I can’t evenmassagea guy I’m attracted to in that way. Not that I’ve ever had that problem before.” The truth was, it had been a long time since a man caught her eye. “Of course, my mom thinks the whole ethics code is ridiculous anyway.” The muscles in her neck went tight as she pulled in an agitated breath.
Holly snatched a jar of lavender from the sample batch on the counter, twisted the lid, and stretched the open jar toward Ty.
Ty closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, willing the oil’s calming qualities to do their trick.
“You know that Margochallenges that standard too,” Holly said. “They can’t possibly understand what it’s like—the explicit need for a neutral relationship between patient and practitioner—but I do. You can at least take comfort in that.”
“Thank you,” Ty said. “You always getme.”
“I met Randy when I was at this stage of my career. He came into the facility I was working at, and I was drawn to him the moment he walked in that door. Inwardly, I was praying that his appointment was with one of the other LMTs we had on staff, but lo and behold, he was lined up with me.”
“So what did you do?” Ty asked.
“I did what any woman with mounds of self-discipline would do—I traded clients with Leonard, one of the other massage therapists. Andthen,I made sure to hurry out front to bump into—literally—that gorgeous man before he left. The rest is history.”
Ty grinned. “That’sa history lesson I want to hear more about tonight.”
“You’re on. Margo is finally at the place that she can hear stories about her father. It’s been a rough go the last five years.”
“I can only imagine.” The woman’s late husband had passed the year before she and Ty met at an orthopedic massage course Holly taught. In a sense, Ty envied Holly. It was horrible that Randy died too young, there was no denying that, but Holly had all those years with him before he passed. They’d raised a child together and done a beautiful job of it.
With Ty it was different. Sure, having Lucas was the best thing that had ever happened to her, but it would definitely complicate her dating life, if Ty ever decided to have one.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Holly said, pulling Ty from her musings. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours, huh?” Ty appreciated that look she saw in Holly’s kind eyes. She cared about Ty, but she didn’t worry about her the way her mother did. Holly had confidence in her, and in a funny way, that confidence helped Ty trust herself as well. But trusting herself and trusting others were two different things.
“I was just thinking about all the years you had with your husband, and wondering if I’ll ever findmyRandy. I’m sure there are a lot of men out there who wouldn’t shy away from dating a single mom like me, but how long would they stick around? How soon would the novelty wear off and the realization sink in? Having a child is…permanent. How can anyone outside of his father rise to that challenge?”
Holly reached out and rested her hand over Ty’s. “The right one will. Never doubt that. You just need to be open to the possibility. Can you do that?”
Ty smiled at the challenge presented in Holly’s half grin. “Yes,” she said. “I think—”
“Ah,” Holly interrupted. “Try that again.”
Ty chuckled and sighed. “Okay, IknowI can be open, if I’m intentional about it.”
“Intentional is the word, honey. Just watch for that guard you have up. Remind yourself to let it down enough to really see the people in your path.”
A new dose of warmth and encouragement bathed over her. “Okay,” she promised. “I will.”
“That’s the Ty I know.” She gave her hand one final pat. “Now go out there and work your magic.”
Ty’s phone let out a beep, letting her know her mother left a message. “Thank you,” she said. “See you tonight.”
Sunlight poured through the massive oak trees lining the plaza as Ty made her way to her silver Honda. Aside from Lucas, the 2013 Accord was the only thing she had left of her ex-husband. A fact her mother never failed to remind her of.
Things might have gone differently had they not gotten married right out of high school. In retrospect, it was shocking that her parents were so supportive of the union, as young as they were. Dad had his reservations, but Mom—she was thrilled since his family ran in similar social circles.
Fresh irritation revved hot in her gut at the thought.
“Stop, Ty,” she said aloud while turning over the key. A flutter of fear skipped through her when the engine didn’t spark up.Crap!She could not miss this appointment. Yesterday, when she and Lucas went to leave the library, they’d needed a jumpstart to get the car started, which meant her battery was likely on its way out. How had she forgotten about that?
She twisted the key back, then pumped the gas as she turned it over once more. After the slightest hint of delay, the engine caught and roared to life. Ty sighed in relief.Today,she promised herself. After picking Lucas up from school, she’d head straight to the autobody shop and have the battery tested. She could hurry over to Drew’s to buy dessert while they were replacing it, if that’s what it came down to.
She backed out of the stall lining the plaza’s storefront, resisting the urge to turn her music back on. That was a distraction, and Ty didn’t need distractions. She needed to take a moment and analyze just why, in the space of a few measly days, she had lost the sense of peace she’d become so good at channeling. It’d taken years to master the art of letting go and letting God. And now it seemed as if she was right back where she started after Eric left. Mentally frazzled and fearful, worrying about Lucas and herself and their future. Fretting about things that were far beyond her control.
