“Really.” I shake my head. “It probably makes me the most basic girl ever. I want to live in a small town, run a bakery, fall in love, and have a family.” I laugh humorlessly. “I’m like a bad ad for a B-rated romance.”
Piper giggles at that. “And who cares? Who flippin’ cares? Your dreams are your own. And they’re allgoodthings. If it makes you happy, then that’s good enough. If people have enough time to talk down about your life’s dreams…then it means they’re not busy chasing their own.”
I lift my coffee cup in the air in a toasting gesture. “Here, here. When did you get so wise?”
“My wisdom only makes an appearance after an all-nighter.” She grins and closes her laptop. “Oh, by the way, with this operating loan, there’s no way we can afford a place in Bend. We’re going to have to go farther out and find something less competitive.”
I sigh. “Honestly? That sounds amazing. Maybe we can find a cute little town that has enough tourism to keep us in business and zero competition. Is that too much to ask?”
“Probably,” Piper mutters.
Ever the realist. Piper only says what she means. Her saying that my dreams are my own and worth pursuing? That holds weight because she is painfully honest.
I should probably have her talk me out of falling for Nash. She’d give me a hundred reasons on why it’s a bad idea.
Which is why I don’t ask her opinion.
CHAPTER 22
Nash
Today feelsempty without the prospect of seeing Magnolia, but I know I did the right thing, telling her we wouldn’t continue this. I’m interrupting her dreams and goals.
It’s time to tell Grandpa the truth. I park my car in front of the main door at his house.
Eli is there to take the keys from me. It will never feel normal to have a chauffeur around.
“Do you mind if I park it behind the house?” he asks.
I look at him and see the concern on his face. “What’s going on?” I ask. It’s never been an issue that I’ve parked in the front before.
“There’ve been a lot of rumors going around. Someone called the house to give their condolences about your grandpa’s passing.”
A pain shoots through my chest at his words.
Eli holds up his hands and shakes his head rapidly. “He’s totally fine. That’s what I mean. It’s just someone spreading a rumor. Your grandpa thought it would bebetter not to have any cars parked in the front so people wouldn’t assume you were here, grieving.”
“Who else is here?” I ask.
“Your aunt and uncle. And the family lawyer.”
“Well, this ought to be interesting.”
Eli grins. “Why do you think I’m happy to be parking cars?”
I slap him on the back, then make my way inside.
I wipe my shoes against the front rug. The ground is wet outside from the light rain this morning. It feels weird to wear shoes in the house. It’s something my mom would yell at me for. If there’s one thing she can’t stand, it is outside germs in her house. And heaven forbid Dad or I came in with cow manure all over our boots and stepped in her freshly mopped kitchen. Then we’d really get it.
Dad and I were always testing the boundaries of Mom’s righteous anger. She’d pretend to be mad and chase us out of the house, but usually, we’d see her crack a smile before she slammed the door in our faces.
Those memories bring a smile back to my face.
I can hear voices in the living room, so instead of going straight upstairs, I head toward whatever is happening right now. Probably between Uncle Kevin and the lawyer.
When I turn the corner, I’m greeted with a pleasant sight. Grandpa is sitting in his favorite armchair, looking pleased as can be.
Kevin is busy yelling at the lawyer, telling him that he shouldn’t be listening to a man who’s on his deathbed. I glance at Grandpa, who has good color in his cheeks and doesn’t look so ill today.
