“Is there a reason I shouldn’t have hired her?” He lifts a brow at me in question.
I don’t have an answer to that, so I just shake my head.
“And that decision was made long before any of this heart failure business. I just brought things forward a bit.” His gaze softens on me. “You used to be friends. I know it’s been a long time, but maybe you can be again.”
He looks… hopeful? As if it could be that easy. As if watching her live here with the family she built after she moved on and forgot about me will be no big deal.
“Yeah, maybe.” I nod and turn to leave, only to find Avi herself standing in the doorway.
Her lips are pressed into a firm line and she’s tied her long blonde waves into a ponytail so they cascade down her back. Her jeans are tucked into duck boots and the lightweight long-sleeve top she’s wearing clings to her body. She has more curves now than she did the last time we were here.
I felt so mature back then, at seventeen, but we were practically kids.
Kids who didn’t know a thing about love or relationships, playing at being adults. And look how that turned out.
I clear my throat and stride past her without a single word because I still don’t know what I’m supposed to say.
I’m sorry?
Why didn’t you come back?
Why couldn’t we have stayed friends?
Why didn’t you tell me you’d moved on?
Where’s your family? The guy you moved on with? Yourchild?
But I don’t say any of those things. I just walk away—the wayIdid our last summer together… the wayshedid when she wouldn’t let me apologize and disappeared from my life.
CHAPTER SIX
Avonlea – Now
Idon’t know what I expected in seeing Jamie. And how could I, when I wasn’t prepared for this reunion?
The sheepish look on Angus’s face as Jamie leaves the kitchen should feel vindicating, but I’m too exhausted for anything besides dread.
“You have some explaining to do, sir,” I chastise, but it lacks any real heat. What is it people say?You laugh to keep from crying? Yeah, that’s about where I am right now. Because even if there’s nothing this man could do that I wouldn’t forgive, he has not only thrust me into an awkward situation, but a potentially life-changing one.
“Who, me?” he says innocently before pushing to his feet. It’s clearly an effort and he uses his cane to support most of his weight. “Come here, lass. Let me get a proper look at you.”
I step closer, rolling my eyes. Goodness, he’s such amother hen.
“You look good. You’re good, aren’t you?” He places one firm hand against my cheek and I smile at his concern. “And Lennox, he’s with your parents?”
“I thought it was best to let him finish the school year while I get settled. It’s only two months.” How many times will I tell myself this before I finally believe it? “Now, back to why you didn’t tell me Jamie was visiting.”
Angus darts his eyes away, looking every bit like I caught him with his hand in the biscuit tin. “He’s not,” he states.
“Excuse me… Care to repeat that? Because I’m pretty sure the man I just watched walk out of here”—I point toward the door—“was your grandson, Jameson Liam Murray? I thought it was your heart having problems, not your head.” I try to joke—that instinct feels easier than the alternative—and it appears to land with Angus because he barks out a laugh. It’s infectious, pulling a matching one from me, and it feels good to laugh with this man who has been a mentor, a grandfather, a friend.
He settles himself back behind his desk, dabbing at the corners of his eyes, and indicates for me to sit across from him.
“Oh, my head is just fine, girl. Goodness, you still have sass.” He chuckles again. “I meant that Jamie’s notvisiting. He’s staying for the time being. To help out around here. To help when I…” He trails off.
This is the first time I’ve seen a flicker of sadness in his features, and I wish we could go back to the jovialness of a moment ago. Underneath his casual facade, he’s hurting more than he’s letting on. But as his words sink in—allhis words—I feel my stomach flip.
“He’sstaying… here?” I whisper.
