AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought you couldn’t stay here?”
I wasn’t sure I could, but going back to the city was out of the question. Not when my mother was there. Not when Baker would be so close and I couldn’t have her.
“I don’t know if I can. I might try to get a transfer to Yosemite or somewhere. I just know I can’t go back to New York.”
“What about your garage?”
“Maybe I’ll lease the building. Sell it. You can still use it if you need to while I decide. I can’t think about it now.”
Disappointment over letting that dream go slithered through me. It had been so real with Baker. And it wasn’t just me losing out. I’d taken it from her too. That was worse than letting my own plans fall by the wayside.
“You’re hurting. And you have every right to be. But don’t let your dad leave without talking to him. He needs you.”
“I won’t.” I pressed my lips to her hair again. “I’m gonna miss you, Easy.”
She gave me a watery smile. “You’ll be so busy with your new life, you’ll forget all about me.”
“Impossible.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Baker
Everything hurt.
The feeling only intensified as the day progressed. Trish and Andrew considered putting off the wedding, but decided not to give his mother that kind of power.
Everyone tried to put on a happy front, but the air had somberness to it. They deserved better than that, but in the real world, even the fairy tale became spoiled.
“If you aren’t going to get on with the first dance, Baker and I are going to get out there and tear it up.” Patrick stood and offered me his hand.
Somehow, he’d managed to make me laugh. I followed him to the small space cleared near the long table we’d dined at. He took me in his arms and dipped me.
“Patrick.”
“We’ve gotta turn this doom and gloom to a party. You in?”
He spun us over toward the band, who was playing a slow tune, and signaled to the singer to pick it up. They immediately transitioned into “She Loves You.”
Andrew stood and led Trish to the dance floor as we twirled by.
“I can’t believe our first dance is to The Beatles,” he said as we passed.
Trish laughed, the first real smile I’d seen from her all day. “It’s perfect.”
The rest of the party sat almost stoically around the table.
“I think we’re about to have to go Dirty Dancing style,” Patrick said against my ear.
“What?” I tried to put some distance between us.
“Like how the staff pulled the guests out of their seats to dance at the end.” He waggled his brows. “Or we could do what you had in mind.”
I slapped at his chest. “You take Mrs. Quinn. I’ll take Mr. Dixon.”
“Then we’ll get them together. Can you handle a spin with Holt?”
“Can you handle Marlow?” I challenged.
