The Inn At Seagrove - Rachel Hanna Page 0,44

Michael?"

SuAnn paused for a moment. "I think because I was scared of change. If you changed, then it was forcing me to think about my own life. And then I saw Janine come here and reinvent her life too. The more I saw, the more pressure I felt."

"You could have talked to us. This whole time, we thought you were happy with Buddy. And we thought you were disappointed in us," Janine said. SuAnn reached out another hand to hold Janine's.

"Look, I have a really hard time being vulnerable. I didn't grow up that way. In my house, there wasn’t a lot of emotion. It's just how things were back then. Anytime I have seemed critical, please know I haven't meant to be that way.”

Julie put her hand on her mother’s shoulder. "I know this must have been hard to deal with on your own, and I'm sorry we didn't know you were struggling. You just have to understand that we are all adults, and you don't have any right to be critical or give us your opinion unless we ask for it. We have to set some boundaries if you're going to live here."

"I love you girls, and I'm very proud of you. I know I don't say it very much, but it's true."

"How did you buy the bakery if you spent all your money?"

"I didn't exactly spend all of it. I had a little nest egg that Buddy never knew about, you know, just in case I needed to make a run for it."

Julie and Janine laughed. "Poor Buddy."

"Don't you worry. I've already decided as soon as I start making profit on the bakery, I'm going to send him a little something every month. Pay back the money that was rightfully his. That is, if he doesn't have me thrown in jail."

"I don't think he'll do that," Julie said. Janine cut her eyes at her sister, both of them wondering if he might actually go through with something like that.

“I’m also planning to sign the house over to him. That will more than pay him back for what I did.”

“I’m glad you’re taking responsibility,” Julie said.

"You know, that Dawson fellow is quite a catch, Julie. He really had a nice heart-to-heart talk with me. He's a keeper."

Julie smiled. "You don't have to tell me that. I got very lucky with that one."

Janine looked down at her hands. "I thought I had gotten lucky. But apparently, he didn't feel the same way."

SuAnn squeezed Janine's hand. "I'm sure he'll come around. He knows what he's missing."

The three women sat there, holding each other's hands and smiling. Julie had never felt so close to her mother, and she prayed that this was a new beginning for all of them.

Chapter Twelve

It had been over a week since Buddy showed up unannounced at Julie's house, and the relationship she had with her mother had only improved. Now, they were having lunch most days of the week, along with Janine and sometimes one or both of the girls. Her bakery was growing more successful by the day, and as holiday tourists started to arrive in town, she was getting busier and busier. Meg was even helping her build a website to sell her poundcake across the country.

The addition of Darcy working there had proven to be a good one. Not only was she a good worker, but she challenged SuAnn at any given opportunity. For some reason, that seemed to have kept her under control.

"What do you think about my make up?" Julie asked as she poked her head into the room. She and Janine were at Dawson's house getting ready for the masquerade ball. It just seemed easier to set up all of the make up and outfits there instead of trying to make their way from Julie's house all dressed up.

"It's beautiful, but half of your face is going to be covered anyway with that mask you bought."

"I know, but I doubt I'll wear that thing all night long. I need to look nice underneath," Julie said, dabbing at her lipstick.

"I don't even know if I want to be here. I'm the only one I know without a date. Even Dixie has a man!"

Julie put her hands on Janine's shoulders from behind, both of them looking in the mirror. "Don't give up on William. He just might surprise you."

Janine turned around and looked at her sister. "No, he won't. I shouldn't have done it, but I went to their company website today