“Babe, they loved it! And thank you so much for their gifts, they played with them all day, to hell with the matching bikes we got them, they only wanted to play in their very own kitchen that Auntie Lorna bought them.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologise. You made them happy which is everything.” She loops her arm through mine and leads me to where Royce is sitting on one of the stools at the counter.
“Royce, this is Maeve, my best friend. Mae, this is Royce,” I introduce and he shakes her hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, Maeve.”
“Nice to meetyou.” She gives him a wide smile. “So, Royce, what brings you to Haven?”
“I got stranded. My car broke down and Lorna offered me a place to stay.”
“She did, huh? Well, that’s my Lorna, as kind as she is beautiful,” Maeve gushes.
“She sure is.” His eyes find mine as a hint of a smile touches his lips.
“Do you want anything to eat before you go?” I ask, clearing my throat.
“Waffles? For old time’s sake?” He smirks.
“Coming right up!”
I head into the kitchen and begin cooking, and a minute later Maeve rushes in and slams her palm down on the table. “So, tell meeverything!”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I retort. “We slept together and now he’s leaving. That’s it.” I busy myself with the waffles, ignoring the feel of her stare as she watches me, waiting for me to continue.
“That’s not it, is it?” she asks and when my eyes find hers, I crack. The dam breaks, opening a flood of tears. “Oh, Lor…” She wraps me in a hug and I cry against her shoulder.
“I don’t want him to go, Mae,” I sob, my tears soaking through the fabric of her shirt.
“What really happened between the two of you? It wasn’t just sex was it?” I shake my head. “Are you in love with him?”
After a moment, I nod, swiping the tears from my face.
“Does he know?” she asks.
“Of course not.”
“Babe, you have to tell him, if you don’t-”
“Waffles are ready,” I announce, cutting her off. I plate up and carrying them out of the kitchen, attempting to compose myself before going out there.
I can’t tell him how I feel because nothing will change. He has his own life in New York, he has a business, he has family and friends there. In what world would he give all that up for me? A woman he hasn’t even known for three days? I won’t tell him because it’ll end in rejection, and I’m not sure I can handle that, so instead I’m going to pretend that there’s nothing wrong.
I can’t let him see I’ve been crying so when I return from the kitchen, I place his waffles in front of him with a quick smile before darting away, busying myself with something to hide my face from his view.
“When I get back to the city, I’ll send over the money. The bank transfer shouldn’t take long and it should be in your account by tonight, tomorrow at the latest.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you just accept my money without making a fuss? Who are you and what have you done with my Lorna?” he jokes.
My Lorna.
Oh how I wish to behisLorna…
A short while later he finishes his waffles, tossing back the last dregs of coffee from his cup and rises from the stool. “I should head off, gotta get a change of clothes before my meeting.”
