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Erin cleared her throat.
Finally, after a few more uncomfortable heartbeats, Cedar spoke up. “I really have a sister, eh? Out in the wild.”
I stared at her, feeling a squeeze on my shoulders from Erin. “A half-sister, but yeah. Surprise, it’s a girl.”
“Can I give you a hug?”
Tears streamed down my cheeks in a flash flood, and I nodded.
She wrapped her arms around me, stroking my hair. “I have a sister out in the wild, wow.” A rush of cool air filled the space as she broke away. “It’ll take time, but we’ll get through this. Together. We have so much to catch up on. But we’ll get to that.” She pushed back but kept her hands on my shoulders. “For now, the most important things you should do are - one, go see your father again, and feel free to tell him how I said he could take a long walk off a short pier.”
Involuntarily, I pulled away, scrunching up my nose in the process.
“Scratch that. I don’t think it’s in you to do that, and it wouldn’t be very nice. But the next thing you need to do is to repair the damage with Landon. Maybe start with him first, and then the dad thing.”
“Okay.”
“That’s an order from your big sister. And by the way, Landon loved your chocolates.” With a wink, she started walking away, muttering under her breath. “I really have a little sister. Here, in Cheshire Bay. What an incredibly small freaking world.”
I glanced over to Erin, who was now leaning on the counter with Adam standing behind her.
“What are you looking at me for? You heard her.” Erin nudged her head toward the door.
“We’re okay?” I couldn’t leave without making sure she didn’t hate me.
Erin stepped back over. “We’re fine. You kept things hidden, but it’s not like I don’t understand why. That was a lot of information in a few minutes. I’m just stunned you’re so much younger than I thought. On occasion, you’ve seemed so much more mature.”
“Thanks.” Without asking, I wrapped her in a hug. Maybe things would end up being okay. I just needed to fix things between Landon and me. “I need to make some chocolates.”
“Let me know how I can help.” Erin smiled. “You can use my kitchen if you need more space.”
Adam added, with a wink. “I think it’s in your best interest to have us taste test them beforehand, just to make sure they’re good enough to give away.”
With a quick wave, I dashed out of the bookstore.
First things first, I had to call Everest, and explain how Cedar was not going to help and for him to get Dad onto a different track for recovery pronto. However, I also desperately needed to get home and whip up a batch of fresh chocolates and carefully word an apology to Landon. But what to say? And how?
Chapter Fourteen
Courage comes with a price, or so I’m told. The only price I was receiving was a case of weak bowels and dry mouth. I’d never been good at apologizing, at least not sincerely, but over the two-day course of making chocolate chews in a variety of flavours, I’d replayed my apology enough to recite it word for word. I’d even practiced in a mirror to make sure my facial expressions matched my tone.
Inhaling to calm my racing heart, I grabbed the box of homemade treats and walked up his sidewalk with my shoulders back. I rang his doorbell and waited.
Nothing.
I pushed it again and brushed the strands of hair from my eyes.
Still nothing.
I peered into the doorbell, looking for the camera. I wasn’t leaving without saying my apology, and maybe he was likely on the other side of the door too angry to open it and hear me out.
“Hey, it’s me.” I sighed a stupid, heavy sound. Of course, he knew it was me. He’d be able to see it later when he reviewed the footage, if he had the same one as Sylvia, if he wasn’t watching it right now. “I made you these.” I opened the box and tried my best to put it into the frame. “I hope you’ll like them. I’ll just set them here for you for when you get home.”
I set the box by the door after putting it into a plastic bag. Would be awful if a squirrel or a marmot found it first. Not only would the chocolate kill the animal, but it would also be tainted and therefore ruin Landon’s gift.
“Listen, I’m really sorry for how things ended between us. The truth is, and this is so hard to say.” I wrapped my hands around my gut, hoping to settle the noisy churning. “Yes, I used you to get to Cedar. It’s true. Our father is dying, and it was his final request to see his oldest daughter before he goes if she didn’t match for donation. I’m not sure about his reasoning, but it is what it is. I was tasked with getting that information to her, and sure, my idea and pathway were less than brilliant.”
I snorted and pushed my hair off my face, checking out a passing car. It wasn’t him.
