“Let’s see, it’s Tuesday. Can I book a flight for Thursday night?”
“Yeah. I’ll have everything back to you Thursday morning.”
“Then we’re good. Talk to you later.”
After he hangs up, something nags at the back of my mind. This deal seems rushed. But who am I to second-guess Elsie? She always knows what she’s doing, so it should be fine. I just wish it had taken a little longer. Now I’ll be more committed than ever, and with Maddie entering my life, I don’t know how I feel about that. Do I really want to make a big commitment like this? Then again, do I have a choice?
CHAPTER 34
Maddie
The second Rhonda’s arms pull me into a heartfelt embrace, I lose it.
Rhonda’s dad, a Marine, was killed in Afghanistan when she was seven. She has two younger sisters, and Macie was only a baby at the time. By the time Rhonda and I became best friends, her mom was working two jobs, which pretty much made Rhonda the mother in their house. Even back then, my dad was barely running his roofing business and losing a lot at the poker tables. We were both poor as dirt, but that didn’t stop Mom from trying to help Rhonda as much as she could.
Mom showed her all kinds of tricks for stretching her grocery budget, things like how oatmeal costs a lot less than a box of cereal, and how to make casseroles with cheaper ingredients like potatoes or zucchini. I don’t know what Rhonda would have done without Mom’s help.
At the same time, Rhonda shared several of her mother’s recipes with us. I still make most of them. Her mom’s string-bean casserole is one of my favorites.
So, even though we don’t share the same DNA, we were all one big, poor, struggling family who looked out for each other. That’s why Mom’s passing means so much to her.
Now, all those memories come flooding back with my friend’s hug, and suddenly, I can’t stop crying. Fortunately, we’re the only two in the store, so it’ll be nice to have a chance to talk.
After I tell her about Riggs and how he literally had to carry me out of the casino after dad’s call, and how he saved me from a lifetime of hating myself, and how he took care of all the funeral expenses, she’s eyeing me suspiciously. Why is she looking at me like that? “What?”
“That’s everything?”
“Everything I can think of. The funeral is on Saturday, and Riggs made sure everything is taken care of.”
“Girl, you’re giving your pussy to a billionaire. I think that’s worth mentioning. And don’t try to act like you’re not.”
I feel my cheeks flush and I’m not sure what to say.
She stares me down for a long, uncomfortable moment. “Wait a minute. Are you falling for him?” Then she throws her arms around me again. “I’m so happy for you! After what Jake did, I wasn’t sure if you’d ever give another guy a chance.”
She knows me too well, and I hug her back. At least this time I don’t feel like crying.
When she lets go, we talk about everything and even compare notes. Ash sounds like a wild man in bed, while Riggs is the more sensitive type, which is perfect for both of us.
“What are the odds?” she says. “It’s like all the planets lined up perfectly for both of us.”
“I’ve thought about that too. If it hadn’t been for that snowstorm, they never wouldhave been there.”
“Yeah, and we just happened to be at a ski resort we never would have been at if Ms. Southerby didn’t have her honeymoon there. I mean, we never do anything like that.”
I’m nodding in agreement. “The whole thing is bizarre, like we were meant to find them.”
“I know, right?”
My stomach growls. I haven’t eaten yet and I’m hungry. “Riggs got up early to get us both breakfast from the bakery.”
“That was sweet of him.” She grabs the bag and opens it, but before I can say anything, I already see her disappointment. “I take it he didn’t know what time they open.”
That draws a chuckle from me. “We already had a conversation about that.”
We take the muffins and coffee past the rows of sewing machines, past the fabric-cutting table, and past the rows of fabrics and sewing paraphernalia, all the way to the back room where there’s a table, microwave, and fridge. If anyone comes in, we’ll hear the bell above the front door.
Heated up in the microwave, the muffins will be okay. We’re just used to strawberry-rhubarb, which is way better.
