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“How many times do I have to tell you, Eden, that you’re only responsible for your own happiness?”
Eden sighed. “And I’ve even screwed that up.”
“So tell me, love.” Her mother hugged her close. “What will make you happy?”
It only took a second to answer. “Nash Beaumont,” she said. “I want to marry him and have his children. And I want to live in a house close to a park where Nash and I can run in the mornings and take our kids to play in the afternoons. And I want to have friends like I never had in high school. The kind of friends who will come over if I’m in trouble or just need to talk. And I want a dog. Yes, I really want a dog—” Her mother chuckled, and Eden pulled back and stared at her. “What’s so funny?”
Her mother smiled. “I just never thought that my goal-setting daughter’s top goal would be to become a wife and a mother. But I guess I should’ve expected it. You didn’t like the fact that your father and I never married.”
Tears filled Eden’s eyes. “I don’t care that much if he marries me, Mom. All I care about is if he loves me as long as Dad has loved you. But that isn’t going to happen. He hates me.”
“Even after you wrote the retraction?”
She swallowed. “It wasn’t pages from my journal. I really did pose as an escort to get a story.”
“I see.” A few moments passed before her mother got up and tucked the sheet around her. “Good night, sweetheart.” She placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’m making multigrain pancakes in the morning.”
“Wait,” Eden stopped her before she could get to the door. “Is that it? You don’t have any advice for me?”
Her mother walked back to the bed. “I don’t need to give you any advice, Eden. You just told me what it’s going to take to make you happy. Now the choice is yours. And somehow I think that the young woman who had enough guts to go to San Francisco by herself and then pose as an escort to achieve someone else’s dream will have enough guts to go back and achieve her own.”
For a moment, Eden just sat there as the truth of her mother’s words washed over her. She did have a choice. She could stay here with her parents and feel sorry for herself or she could go after her dream. Suddenly her heartache and depression were eclipsed by strength and determination.
“I’m going back to San Francisco,” she stated as she started to get out of bed.
Her mother stopped her. “Not tonight, young lady. I won’t have you driving on the highways this late at night. You’ll get a good night’s sleep and leave first thing in the morning.”
“But I’m really not tired, Mom.”
“That’s because your chakras need to be cleaned out.” She rubbed her palms together. “Now lie down on your stomach. Once your spirit channels are clear and open, you’ll have a much better chance of making good decisions.”
Eden sighed and lay down on the bed. Once her mother had massaged her back, cleared all chakras, and kissed her good night, Eden had to admit that she felt better. Or maybe she just felt better because she now had some goals. Her own goals.
Grabbing a pen and paper from the nightstand, she made a list.Get Nash to love me. Get Madison to forgive me. Find a new career.When written down on paper, they seemed a little daunting. But she ignored the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and listed the things she’d have to do to achieve her goals.
First and foremost, she would have to move back to San Francisco. Then she would need to get a job. Thinking that she was leaving for good, she had quit her job at The Lemon Drop. Hopefully Joe hadn’t found a replacement yet. Since she had left her apartment to Madison and Madison now hated her, she would need a place to live. Mimi and Pops’s was the best choice. Not only because she could live there rent-free but also because her main goal lived right next door. Which meant she would run into Nash on a regular basis.
Eden had just written downbuy sexy running clotheswhen her cell phone rang. The first thought that popped into her head wasNASH!Diving for the phone, she answered. It wasn’t Nash, but the voice that came through the receiver was just as welcome.
“Thank God you answered,” Madison said.
“Maddie, I’m so glad you returned my call. I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for lying to—”
Madison cut her off. “Okay, I forgive you. Now we have other problems. Chloe’s life is in danger.”
Eden sat up on the edge of the bed. “What happened? Is it Zac? Has he hurt her again?”
“Yes, but this time, he only got in a few punches before she sprayed him in the face with the mace I gave her and got out of there.”
Relieved, Eden laughed. “Good for her! I hope it stung like hell.”
“Me too.” Madison had a smile in her voice. “Except now we have another problem. Once Zac gets his eyes flushed out, he’s going to be hopping mad and gunning for Chloe.”
“Please don’t tell me that she still refuses to call the police.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t matter. Someone called the police and told them about Zac’s escort business, and the cops set up a sting operation and now have one of his escorts in custody. Which is why Zac got so mad at Chloe. He thought she had turned him in. Did you, Eden?”
“No. After the article came out, the police came and questioned me, but I didn’t tell them anything. And it doesn’t matter how they found out. What matters is keeping Chloe safe until Zac is behind bars. Where are you right now?”
