The Bookstore on the Beach - Brenda Novak Page 0,94

I’d never done what I did—but especially with Oliver.”

“Have you told Caden that?”

“I’ve tried.”

“How hard?”

That was a good question. Not very hard. She’d been too panicked over the pregnancy. “Maybe I need to try again.”

“I would. From what I’ve seen, he’s a pretty cool brother. And you’re going to need him and your mother more than ever before once the baby comes.”

That was an ominous statement; it was also true. Even if Sierra moved to Tampa, she wouldn’t be able to get there until after she graduated, and the baby would be born by then. “I’ll talk to him.”

“When?”

“Later. He’s at the beach right now. I don’t want to make a big scene in front of his friends.”

“Better to avoid that,” Sierra agreed.

Taylor frowned at her swollen eyes in the mirror over the dresser. “What are you doing today?”

“Job applications.”

“This late in the summer? All the jobs are taken.”

“I’ve got to find something. My dad and I had another blowout last night, and he told me that it was time for me to start helping with the bills.”

“But you’ve got school in...what? Only six weeks?” She knew Sierra had had a job at the Tastee Burger until the owner’s daughter got a divorce and moved home in March. They’d talked about it. She also knew Sierra had put in a few applications since then, but with so many college kids returning for the summer, she didn’t get any callbacks.

“I was planning to try again once everyone left to go back to school, but my father says I’m costing him a fortune, and he doesn’t want to wait that long.”

Douchebag, Taylor thought. But she didn’t say that. “So where will you apply?”

“I’ll try the ice cream store again and hit up the tourist shops.”

“And if that doesn’t work?”

“I’ll go online, see if there’s a nanny position available. I’ll find something.”

“Are you upset?” she asked, feeling a little guilty for how good she had it. Her father had gone missing, but they’d never had to stress about how to cover their basic needs.

“Not really. This had to happen eventually, right? Besides, it’ll be good to have my own money. I don’t like asking him when I need something.”

“Isn’t that sort of his job? To take care of you until you graduate? I mean, he is your father.”

“Yeah, well, I once had a mother, too. Just having the title doesn’t mean you do the job.”

Taylor winced at that response. Not only had she had the benefit of what money could buy, she’d also had good parents. The best. “My grandma is putting a coffee shop in her bookstore. If it takes off, she might be able to hire some part-time help. I’ll talk to her about you. The only problem is...the contractor won’t even start until fall. My grandma didn’t want the place torn apart during tourist season. That’s when she makes most of her money.”

“That would be cool,” Sierra said. “I’d love working at the bookstore. Thanks for putting in a good word for me.”

“Sure thing. What are you doing later?”

“Cleaning and getting groceries. There’s nothing to eat in this house.”

Sierra already did so much for her father. Taylor wondered how he was going to get by without her, once she moved to Tampa. Maybe then he’d realize how much easier life was when she was around. “Wait for me. I’ll go with you.”

“Okay. Come over whenever you can.”

Sierra obviously thought that was the end of the conversation, but Taylor caught her before she could hang up. “Sierra?”

“Yes?”

Taylor wanted to tell her about the discussion she’d had with her mother a few minutes ago. She’d cleared a huge hurdle just by letting Autumn know she might be gay. But if she still wasn’t sure, there wasn’t a lot for Sierra to get excited about. “Never mind.”

“Say it,” Sierra insisted.

Taylor drew a deep breath and said something else—something that was equally true—instead. “You mean more to me than any of my other friends ever have. I just want you to know that.”

There was a long silence. Then Sierra said, “You already know how I feel about you,” and hung up.

* * *

“Autumn brought up her father last night,” Mary said while she and Laurie were preparing to have a sandwich in the back room. “She wants to know more about him.”

Laurie had just parted the drape to check the front of the store. Since Autumn hadn’t come in yet, she wanted to be sure they weren’t neglecting a customer while they had lunch.