“She was.” Linda’s own eyes had filled. “And I was fighting myself, Tom. The day she sat me down. I was trying so hard to push you away. I felt guilty for liking you so much. Guilty because I was happy that you made my mother happy. And guilty because I really wanted you to be my new father.”
Tom’s eyes widened.
“You never told me that, Linda,” Tom whispered.
“At the time, my battle with my emotions felt like it was between my dad and me,” Linda admitted. “After Mom and Uncle George both sat me down and helped me make sense of it, I came into this office. I stood in front of that photograph of him.” She nodded toward the picture of the young man in the armyuniform. “And I told my dad that I loved him. That no one would ever take his place in my heart. But I loved you too. And that I wasn’t moving on from him. I was just making room for someone else to step in for him.”
Tom swallowed hard.
“Sweetheart,” Tom rasped. “You’ve never told me that.”
“After that, I was at peace,” Linda told him, the tears rolling down her cheeks as she swiped at them. “I kept his photo beside my bed. I kissed it goodnight every night. Before I closed my eyes, I would picture my favorite day with him. The afternoon he taught me to ride my bike without training wheels. I held that picture in my head every night for years. And I let myself love you, too.”
“Linda,” Tom managed. “Thank you for telling me this.”
“I’m telling you this for a reason, Tom,” Linda continued. “You have to make your peace with finally letting go of Mom. Not all of her. The parts you want to keep, you keep. You keep her in your photos and your memories, and in the way you butter your toast, as she taught you. But she would never have wanted you to stop living.”
Tom drew a slow, shaking breath.
“You’re right,” Tom admitted. “I’m being an idiot.”
“No,” Linda replied gently, shaking her head. “You’re being a widower who lost the love of his life. And fate has just handed you another chance at love.” She sniffed and smiled through the tears in her eyes. “You’re just battling to open the door and accept it.” She squeezed his hand, still resting on the desk. “You and Lila are both lost souls, Tom. You found each otherright here in Sweet Blossom Bay. Embrace that. It doesn’t mean you’re forgetting Mom. It means you’re finally starting to live again.”
Tom drew another breath.
“I just don’t want you and Michael, and the grandchildren, to think...” Tom stopped and cleared his throat. “I don’t want you to think I’m leaving you all behind.”
Linda’s whole face softened.
“Tom Reilly,” Linda exclaimed, “you’ll never lose us. You’re our father. You are the grandfather to my children and Michael’s. You’re the great-grandfather to their children. As far as Uncle George is concerned, you are his brother. We’re your family, Tom, and nothing is going to change that.” Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a teasing glint shone. “Not even if Lila hates the lot of us,” Linda added.
Tom laughed properly. The sound came up from somewhere deep in his chest and surprised him with how good it felt.
“I don’t think Lila could hate anyone,” Tom mused.
“Exactly.” Linda smiled. “And Tom. If you’re going to move on, I’m so glad it’s Lila. I think she’s wonderful for you.”
Tom stood up.
He walked around the side of the desk, Linda stood up too, and he wrapped his arms around her the way he had when she was young and had just told him, in the middle of the bakery kitchen, that she was glad her mother had married him. Linda held on to him just as fiercely now as she had then.
“I love you, kiddo,” Tom said into the top of her head, his voice thick. “Thank you for putting this old man’s head straight.”
“Any time, Dad,” Linda whispered. “And I love you too.”
Tom held her for a long moment longer.
When he stepped back, Linda’s eyes shone, and so did his. They both pretended not to notice.
“Right,” Linda announced briskly. “Now go and stop feeling guilty.”
Tom nodded. He walked to the door. Linda’s voice stopped him on the threshold.
“When is the date?” Linda asked. “I hope not tonight as you already have a date with your family.”
He smiled at his daughter. “It’s tomorrow night,” Tom answered. “I told her I wanted to look over her ideas for the bakery and the new menu.”
“Where are you taking her?” Linda asked.
