The Bookstore on the Beach - Brenda Novak Page 0,131
help give me a history—some credibility and cover so that I could leave my past behind. Then, when the owner of the bookstore decided to retire so that he and his wife could move closer to their kids, he made it possible for us to buy the store with no money down, so we decided to do it together, and you know the rest.”
“I’m glad you’ve had her,” Autumn said sadly.
Mary must’ve been able to tell that Autumn felt a sense of loss, because she said, “You have her, too. Laurie, Chris, Jacob, Nana. They all love us, so does it really matter that we aren’t genetically connected?”
Did it matter? They’d stuck by them so far, hadn’t they? Autumn had no reason to believe those relationships would change. “I guess not. But...where’s your real mother?”
“I don’t know,” she replied.
“You haven’t had any contact with her over all these years?”
“None.”
“Because...”
Mary smiled sadly. “She wasn’t much of a mother.”
Autumn got up and kissed her cheek. “Then she’s nothing like you.”
* * *
Quinn checked his phone as soon as he woke up.
He still hadn’t heard from Autumn, which made him feel sick, so he rolled over and went back to sleep. He wasn’t eager to get up two hours later, either, but he had no choice. His parents were counting on him.
After dragging himself into the shower, he threw on some clothes, got the laundry out of the dryer and stuffed it back into the bag he’d brought home and hurried downstairs to grab a cup of coffee. His father was expecting him so they could start the food prep for the day, which meant he’d have to wait to eat anything else until he arrived at the restaurant.
He hoped to find his mother puttering around the kitchen, something she did when she was feeling strong enough.
When he reached the landing, he heard her talking, but she wasn’t alone. He also heard Autumn’s voice.
Dropping the laundry, he rounded the corner to see both of them sitting on the sofa.
“Look who stopped by to say hello,” Beth said.
Autumn was holding a cup of coffee, but when she saw him, she set it on the side table and stood up. “Sleep good?”
“I’ve slept better,” he replied.
“Are you in a hurry to get to the restaurant, or do you have a moment to talk?”
He was late and feeling some pressure because of it, but he wasn’t going to forgo this opportunity. “I can talk. Why don’t we go for a drive?”
“Sounds good.”
She thanked his mother for the coffee, carried her cup over to the sink and, after he grabbed the laundry he needed to return to the restaurant, left with him through the side door.
“Is this good news or bad?” he asked as he put the bag in his car.
She shifted to her other foot. “What do you think?”
He came back to her as he fished his keys out of his pocket. “I don’t want to hear it if it’s going to be bad.”
She held out a piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“I found it on my bed last night when I got home.”
He unfolded it. It was a note from Taylor.
Mom, please don’t be mad at Quinn. He really cares about you. And he hasn’t done anything wrong. I asked him not to tell you, and he was nice enough to let me handle it. I know you would’ve done the same if you were him, because it was the right thing to do. I’m sorry—for everything. I love you! XOXO Tay
“Wow. How nice of her,” he said.
“She must like you.”
He was starting to feel better. “I like her, too.”
Autumn took the letter, folded it up and shoved it into the pocket of her capri pants. “I’m sorry, Quinn,” she said. “Yesterday was a rough day for me, but I know now that you had good reason to do what you did.”
They were still in the garage, but they had the privacy they were after, so they didn’t bother getting into his car. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Will you forgive me?”
Relief coursed through him. “Of course. It couldn’t have been easy to hear about the pregnancy. And I understand why you felt betrayed. I just didn’t have a good choice.”
“I know, but it wasn’t only Taylor’s pregnancy. You won’t believe what else happened.”
What else could there be? “You want to tell me about it?”
“Not right now. I know you have to go to work. I just... I wanted you to know that...that I was miserable without you.