Page 27 of Until You

Wouldn’t that be something?

The thought stays with me as I finish my envelopes and am bidding everyone goodbye for the afternoon, trying to find a way to extricate myself from getting roped into going out for cocktails like everyone is talking about doing.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come out with us?” Bobbi Jo asks, lips in full pout.

“No. Thank you.” I’ve already stepped out of my comfort zone enough today. “I’d love to, but like I said, I already have plans tonight.”

“Oooohhhh.” Her eyes fire with mischief, the implication that I have a date hangs in the air.

“Not those kinds of plans.”

“Oh.” Another pout followed by a wink. “Too bad. Those are the best kinds of plans. But don’t you worry. I’m not taking no for an answer. We’ll get you out with us. Then we’ll ply you with drinks till you spill all your secrets so we can know you better.”

Not a chance in hell.

“Sounds like a plan.” I hook my purse over my shoulder in a show to prove I’m really not budging. “I’m sure you will all have a great time.”

The change in my routine, the different scenery than my normal cottage, was more welcome than I had anticipated. At the same time, I didn’t realize how much I felt like I was being held under a microscope while stuffing envelopes until I step out of the community center.

Everyone is just curious about me—the woman who has lived here for two years but who has preferred to remain on the outskirts of the community—and it seems, excited that I’m helping. I get that. I understand that. But it doesn’t mean that it has made the furtive glances any less noticeable.

But I did my deed and now with each step I take distancing myself from them, I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Like I can relax a bit more.

Silly, but true.

Redemption Falls is beautiful. I’ll definitely give it that. Perfectly plotted flowerbeds teeming with different colors line the street. Sandwich boards dot the sidewalk announcing sales or specials for the day. Ornate light posts are set every so often. Banners hang from them announcing a town event, the high school athletes celebrated for the week, and town businesses.

It’s the definition of quaint and idyllic.

A place many would dream of calling home. Home? Is that what Redemption Falls is to me? Has it become that for me yet?

I’m not sure. Bits and pieces of it feel like it at times. And at others, not so much. But all I know is that while its small-town quirks have taken some time to get used to, I think I can definitively say I am happy.

And after the shit I’ve been through, that’s more than enough for me.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Crew

“Girls. You do remember we’re going to be here for the next four months, right? There’s no need to go into every single shop—”

“They’re called boutiques, Dad,” Paige says with a huff and a roll of her eyes. She pushes open the door of the current boutique we’re in . . . without holding the door for me so that I’m hit squarely in the shoulder, smashing the bags my hands are loaded down with.

“I’ll rephrase.” The smart aleck. “We don’t have to stop in every boutique today. We have weeks to do that. Hell, we’ve already been in half of them as it is.” I set the bags down on one of the many benches that line the little shopping district of town, my ass beside them, and blow out a sigh. No doubt these shops are for the tourists who frequent here, and per my wallet, they definitely charge the tourist markup.

“If we’ve already worn you out, we can go into the next one on our own. You can just stay here. All we’ll need is your credit card,” Addy says.

“And so it begins,” I grumble more to myself than to anyone. I’ve been warned about having girls. About how expensive they become when they reach a certain age.

I think we’ve just hit that age.

Paige narrows her eyes at my comment, but her smile remains. “So what’ll it be?”

“How about no, you’re not getting my credit card, and while you’re at it, how about a few more thank yous and pleases get thrown in the mix, huh?” I say, internally waging that forever constant parental battle of whether I’m spoiling them or not.

And with the thought of spoiling comes the notion that I’m using this trip to make up for their mother’s revelation today via email that she isn’t going to make it back to the States for their birthday after all.

No friends in this new town to celebrate with. No mother coming to help fill that void. My sister is taking care of my mom fresh off hip replacement surgery so either of them visiting is out of the picture.