Page 58 of Falling for Keeps

She draws her hand behind my back and squeezes softly. When Jen left me, Maven was the first person I called. She knew how rocky things were in my relationship. I knew she’d understand my biggest concerns right out of the gate, because the divorce was causing my child to relive my childhood—being raised by a single parent. There would be no shared custody situation when Jen stopped being interested in motherhood. I couldn’t risk giving Penny further trauma, and Jen didn’t mind letting go of all her parental rights, which was the final nail in the coffin. Then, when I made the call to pack up my life and buy out Vance’s practice, Maven was also my voice of reason, telling me it was a good move to be near Mom and have her support.

My sister is level-headed and my best friend. If only she and my other best friend would reconcile…but I understand their relationship is between her and Ben and none of my business.

“How has business been this afternoon?” she asks. “Any better?”

I shake my head. “We need to get appointments on the books.”

“Run a booth at the Fall Festival. You can offer some enticement for people who schedule a routine cleaning in the next month.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Like a discounted service or something.”

“Yeah. You need to get people in the door. Have you thought of having a BBQ or some grand opening party?”

“The thought was there at some point.” I scrub a hand down my face. “I’m not cut out for this.”

Maven gives me a stern look. “You’re overwhelmed. Pick a day for an opening party, schedule a face painter and balloon artist⁠—”

“A what?”

“You know, the guy who makes balloon animals? And put out some sort of food. You can pass out flyers next week at the festival.”

“You want to come be my marketing person?”

“No.” Maven grins. “I need to run. Let me know if you want help with the flyers.”

“Thanks.”

“I won’t bug Penny while she’s exploring, so give her a hug from me.” She lifts a hand toward the front desk. “Bye, Barb! See you guys later.”

Once she’s gone, I park in a chair near the treehouse and watch Penny explore every single item I placed in there. I’m still waiting on the cushions Emma’s going to make, but that’s not stopping Penny from sitting up there and reading.

The moment I shared with Emma soaked in rainwater last night keeps popping in my head. I can’t stop thinking about the dinner she’s having with her librarian friend tonight. Is she going to wear a dress? The dress? Will she be impressed by his reading stamina and the sheer number of pages he gets through in a week and fall madly in love? She could be beguiled, thinking of all the little readers they could produce together. I could stand outside and throw a football far or show off my root canal skills, but I don’t think either of those things will make Emma swoon.

Not that I need to do that. I shouldn’t even want to make her swoon.

Gosh, what is wrong with me? I don’t usually get worked up like this over a woman. I don’t even think twice about them—haven’t since I met Jen.

A melancholy falls over me until Penny pokes her head through the small window. “This is amazing.”

“Fantastic. So you want to hang out there while I sort through patient files? Then Nana is taking you out for a girls’ night.”

“The movies!” She jumps on her toes, excited to spend time with Nana and Maven. I’m happy to put a dent in these file boxes. With Penny occupied, I’ll have some guilt-free work time.

I’m way too dead to figure out dinner, and my mom has this Price girls evening planned anyway, so I think I might take advantage of my solo time and get a burger on the way home.

If I happen to see Emma, it’s a total coincidence.

Emma

My sister, Rosie, bought a bed and breakfast right on Main Street to renovate into the inn of her dreams, so I head over on my way to dinner—Seth is meeting me at the restaurant—and let myself inside.

“Rosie?” I call out, pushing the door open. “You here?”

“Upstairs,” she replies.

My hand slides along the banister as I make my way to the second level. I find her bending over a baseboard in a half-yellow room with a roll of painter’s tape. She’s wearing overalls and her blonde hair is pulled up in a messy bun.

“Love the yellow.”