“She’s a remarkable young lady. You must be proud.”
“I am. Very proud. And she’s the reason I finally had the courage to walk in here.”
“I hope to see you next week,” Ellen said.
I thanked her again and then hurried up the stairs and out into the parking lot. I’d just gotten to my car when I heard my name being called. I turned to see Dorian approaching.
“Hey,” Dorian said. “Just wanted to see how you are. Did it feel all right?”
“It did, actually. I can’t believe I actually talked.”
“I remember thinking that the first time too,” Dorian said.
“How’s Poe? Did he survive his big escape from the other night?”
Dorian laughed. It was a nice laugh. Kind of hushed but real. “That cat’s going to give me an ulcer.”
“I’ll let you know if he shows up at the gallery again.”
“He better not escape again or I’ll send him to live with you full time.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “The bookstore’s his home.”
“He misses my mother, I think.”
“Maybe that’s why he wanted to see me. He needs a feminine presence.”
Dorian rolled his eyes. “Or he just loves to mess with me.”
“I should get home. Annie’s waiting.”
“Yes, I should get going too.”
“Good to see you,” I said.
“Same.”
I unlocked my car and he sort of held the door for me as I slid inside. It was nice. No big deal, though.
He stepped back but stayed where he was, watching as I drove out of the parking lot and giving me a quick wave as I pulled out to the street.
I made it home before the tears came. And boy did they come, in violent waves that pulled me under like a strong riptide. I put my forehead against the steering wheel and sobbed, without telling myself it was all fine and to suck it up like I usually did. Instead, I just let myself wallow in grief and regret until the coating of the steering wheel was as wet as my eyes. When there were no more tears left to cry, I wiped my face and went inside to my daughter.
Even in my grief, I knew one thing. Annie was my heart. I had to remain standing for her.
9
DORIAN
On Friday morning, I arrived at work a little before ten. During summer months, I hired extra staff to compensate for all the tourists who invaded Willet Cove, but the high school student I’d hired didn’t show. Instead, he sent a text saying he needed some time to sort through some issues. I had to chuckle, although annoyed. Some of these kids had no idea what the world was really like.
So I put thehelp wantedsign back up in the front window and then opened for business. Poe came out from one of his favorite spots in the kids’ section, stretching, yawning, and acting irritated that his breakfast wasn’t out yet. He used the litter box in my office while I opened a can of wet food for him. He ate it without a note of gratitude in his sassy little face.
No one had come into the store by quarter past, leaving me too much time to think. Last night’s meeting was on my mind. Everett and June talking about dating again had me thinking about it for myself. When I first returned to Willet Cove I went out on a few dates, but nothing came of them. Then Nate died and dating was the last thing on my mind. But now that cloud was starting to lift, I’d started thinking about meeting someone. I wanted to get married, maybe even have a family.
Delphine Delacroix drifted into my thoughts, but I pushed them aside. She was extraordinary, but didn’t seem to think the same about me. However, maybe there was someone out there for me.
The kids had put their mothers’ profiles up on Second Chance and now they were all happily married. Not necessarily because of the app but because it had prompted them to be open to possibilities.
