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Annabel snorted. “Um… I don’t have money for that kind of visit. That would require a passport, and tickets, and who knows what else. It would just be better if you’d come here a couple times a year.”
“A couple times a year?” Scarlett scoffed. “I would never be able to manage that.” She cocked her head. “But maybe I could sponsor you.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already got one of those, and I’m pretty sure she’s not going to be thrilled to hear from me when I give her a call.”
“No, I mean I’ll pay for your trip. Or trips. You can come see where I work and what it’s all about.”
Annabel’s eyes widened. Her mouth fell open and a little bit of water drizzled from the corner, causing Scarlett to let out a laugh. Annabel brushed a hand over the spill before staring at Scarlett again. “You can’t be serious.”
“Sure, I can. It’s no different than me coming here. But at least I won’t have to take a ton of time off work.” She grimaced. “Hopefully, they’ll take me back. I hadn’t thought about that.” The unease swirled within her. So many uncertainties. What if she couldn’t get her job back? What if she were stuck here in Copper Creek?
With Elijah…
Her heart breaking once more, she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, causing stars to appear.
“Really, Scar. Are you going to be okay?”
Scarlett nodded, not releasing the hold she had on her eyes. “I’ll be fine. I just need to get a hold of myself.”
“What are you going to tell your father?”
Finally, she pulled her hands down and glanced blearily at her friend. “I don’t know. I don’t want to make him feel bad. There was a reason he didn’t tell me. I would rather not start a fight, you know?”
Annabel nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”
“I suppose I’ll just tell him that my job wanted me back so bad that they offered a raise or something. He’d believe that.” Lying didn’t sit well with her, but it was one of the only options she could think of. Her father wanted her gone. Just like Elijah wanted her gone. The only one here who wanted her to stay was sitting in the kitchen right now.
Scarlett smiled at her friend. “I’m so glad we were able to get back to a good place,” she whispered. Annabel would never know just how much she helped Scarlett heal from this particular brand of bad that this trip had become.
“Me, too,” Annabel added.
“We’re going to have to make the most of the time we have left, don’t you think?”
Annabel nodded. “Absolutely.”
“But not dancing.”
She made a face and they both laughed. “Agreed. No dancing.”
“So…” Scarlett grasped for any topic that they could discuss that would take her mind off the farm, her father, and Elijah. “Tell me how things are going with Derek. After our brunch, I haven’t seen you messaging him as much. Is everything alright there?”
Annabel shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You don’tknow?”
“Honestly? I think he might have just been looking to help his cousin find someone. When he saw us at the club, he probably figured we’d both be available.”
Scarlett gasped. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” She swung her eyes back to Scarlett. “You wanna know something else? I think I finally realized why I have been so willing to avoid relationships.” She looked away briefly, turning her now empty glass between her hands. “I sorta take on characteristics of the guy I’m dating. I don’t feel like I’m myself. Does that sound crazy?”
“It makes total sense.”
“Maybe I’m just not ready to find anyone. Maybe I never will.”
“Don’t say that,” Scarlett attempted to comfort her. “I’m sure there’s someone out there for you—someone who will see you for you and not try to change you.”
Annabel shrugged again but didn’t comment.
