“Make sure you bring in the community,” she murmured over the rim of her coffee cup. “You might consider a couple of dinner packages. And ask if the gallery wants to coordinate with an artist for a silent auction or something.”
“That would be a great way to up the proceeds,” Celeste beamed. “Between you and Sharon Trumble there’s so much talent in this town.”
“Sure.” Natalie was too sore to think about working right now. She had more pressing—or depressing—thoughts to deal with right now.
She’d expected Trent to be there when she woke up in the hospital. Expected him to be close, eager to see her. Grateful as she was for her sisters, it wasn’t the same thing as being left behind by the man before she had a chance to tell him she loved him.
Natalie’s phone hummed with a text, but she flipped it over. With her sisters right here, odds were good it was Trent reachingout. She wasn’t ready. Not with so much uncertainty swirling through her system. Every breath felt sharp and her heart ached with a goodbye that was barreling down on her like a freight train.
At Veronica’s pointed look at her cell phone, she shrugged. “I’ll get it later.”
“You’re not seriously avoiding Trent?” Roni asked. “That’s so unlike you.”
“I know it’s wrong.” Delaying the inevitable. “I’m just… I mean…” She stopped and took a breath. “What’s the point of answering? He doesn’t live here. I do. What I want from him, for us, feels almost hopeless.” She turned on Roni. “Don’t you dare call me dramatic. There’s just so much. So much more than I expected.” She pressed her hands to her stomach. “One minute it’s exciting, with butterflies flitting through a sunny garden and the next it’s just a dark queasy fear.”
There was a time when Natalie had been absolutely positive she would never be ready for anything more than a casual fling. All about temporary and fun. No strings attached. After their first coffee chat, she recalled thinking Trent would make an ideal fling. At that point seeing him again was optional, a simple pleasure with none of this desperate awareness of what she was letting go.
But they had connected. Over far more than his hunt for a criminal. Her time with Trent was a bell she couldn’t unring.
Her heart demanded more. Refused to settle for anything less than her deepest desire. Which was probably entirely selfish. Better to own it than fight it. Every time she tried to fight herself in her artwork or her personal life it backfired in heartbreaking ways.
“You’re in love with him,” Celeste declared. “You knew it before, um, everything. Back on sister night.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “And I need to tell him.”
Roni rubbed her shoulders. “Are you sure, Nat?”
“It’s not something I want to hold in,” she confessed. She wasn’t sure it was possible tonottell him at this point. “Isn’t it more important to share love than anything else?”
“That sounds like something Mom would’ve said.” Roni’s smile was sad at the edges.
“That’s probably why it’s in my head.” Natalie, contrary to her usual nature, shrugged off her sister’s touch, pacing away. “I’m off balance. Nothing feels right. If I don’t tell him, I’m afraid that feeling will stick around.” She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t bear that.”
“Then go tell him,” Celeste urged. “However it goes, you know we’re here for you.”
“Always.” She appreciated the support of her sisters more than ever. They’d grown so much closer, the bonds stronger as adults. “I think Mom would be really proud of us.”
“Absolutely,” Celeste agreed.
Veronica nodded. “Go on,” she said. “Don’t be a chicken about it.”
“You’re a brat,” Nat accused.
“Yeah, but I’m older and wiser,” Roni shot back.
“Older for sure.” Natalie felt the pressure of her tears ease up and wrapped her sister in a big hug. “Thank you.”
“Go get him,” Roni whispered in her ear. “If he loves you, y’all will find a way.”
Celeste handed her a cold compress for her flushed face and puffy eyes. “She’s right. You’ve got this, baby sister.”
Nat buried her face in the cool cloth for a minute. Picking up her phone, she took her time deciding where she wanted to have this conversation. Then she sent the text to Trent.
His response came back immediately and she let her sisters read it with her.
“Okay.” Carefully, she dragged in a big breath. “Looks like I’ve got a date at the beach. Who’s driving me?”
She was grateful Celeste volunteered. Roni wouldn’t have been content with the silence on the drive over. More composed, she thanked her oldest sister and climbed out, determined not to blubber all over Trent when she spelled out what she wanted. In her mind, it would be a beautiful conversation and not an emotional meltdown.
