“You can do both, but we did this because we love you,” Aunt Francesca says.
“So what about the shop?” I ask.
“It’s still yours!” Aunt Francesca chirps.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say nothing! Be in love!” my mom says.
“I can’t believe this.”
“I’m happy for you, sweetheart. It’s time for you to spread your wings now. It’s time for you to start a new chapter.”
My heart dips. “But will you be okay? We live so far apart.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m going to visit your mother for a while. You just focus on your cowboy and that little girl,” Aunt Francesca says.
“I … okay.”
“Good. We love you!” Aunt Francesca says and hangs up.
“Mom?”
“She’s right, sweetheart. We love you, now let go of the rope,” she says and then hangs up.
I burst into laughter and shake my head while I call Cooper. I should have known they were up to something.
***
Cooper comes running through the front door of the shop wearing a grim expression. There’s dirt all over him and sweat dripping down his neck onto his shirt as if he ran from the ranch to me.
My stomach drops. “What’s wrong?”
“I got the call,” he rasps, panting.
I puff out a breath, but my heart is pounding like I’m sprinting. “That’s a good thing.”
He takes his hat off, raking fingers through his hair, and paces back and forth in front of the register. “It should be, but—”
“Coop, we talked about this. You’ve done your part, and we talked to the lawyer. He said you’ve done a wonderful job. Everything is going to be okay.”
He takes a stuttered breath and nods to himself. “I can’t lose her, Mae. I can’t.” His voice cracks and he looks at me with eyes panic clouding his features.
I come around the counter and wrap my arms around his waist, laying my ear over his sweaty chest where the heart I love so much beats. “You’re not going to lose her. Everything is going to work out,” I say, and hope that I don’t end up eating my words at the end of this.
He tucks his nose into my neck and takes a deep breath. “I hope you’re right.”
***
“We’ll be back in a little bit. Be good for Grandma,” Cooper says to Naomi.
“When will you be back?” she asks.
“I’m not sure, princess.”
Naomi pouts and hugs both of us.
“Good luck,” Dixie whispers to us and pushes Naomi towards the kitchen.
