know? Because we all love you. We all want you in our lives, but we want Amanda – in all her glory. And I think you know that.” Tanya kissed her cheek and squeezed her again. “I love you. I don’t want to see you in pain. If Tommy can fix that, then let him.”
Amanda nodded and wiped at her cheeks again.
Both of their gazes dropped to the donut box again and the last unglazed blueberry cake donut. Tanya lifted her gaze to Amanda. “Any chance you want to split it?”
“I’m the product of an affair. I think I get full dibs.” Amanda’s deadpan expression made Tanya break out into a full belly laugh which Amanda cracked a smile at.
She’d be okay. They’d all be okay. Now they just had to figure out a way to get Amanda to let herself be okay.
Chapter 42
Amanda
They were over a week from Christmas and Amanda hadn’t gone back home. Brooke claimed Tommy had been invited to stay by their father which stung Amanda’s pride more than she wanted to admit.
How could Dad choose Tommy over her? Didn’t he think she had the right to be mad at the guy who had betrayed her?
Amanda didn’t even want to talk to Tanya after the dressing down her sister had given her. She didn’t know what was happening with the Jennifer situation and Amanda didn’t care. She couldn’t. She had too much going on in her head and her heart.
Plus, she wasn’t sure she trusted anyone enough to give her all the information she needed.
Staying with Taylor had its perks. Roman cooked sometimes and he was almost as good as Taylor in the kitchen.
“Your head is in the clouds today. Do you want to cover the counter or go in back and package?” Cari nudged Amanda’s elbow with hers and stared pointedly at her.
Amanda blinked and shook her head, glancing back down at the rag and window cleaner in her hands. “Sorry, I’m not sleeping very good. The twins are eating Taylor out of house and home and they wake all of the adults up in the house at night.” Amanda smiled at Cari. “I’ll help out wherever you need me.”
“Perfect. Because a really good-looking guy just came in and Nick still isn’t very secure with me around anyone too good looking.” Cari laughed and shook her head, tucking a stray chunk of hair behind her ear.
“Well, he’ll get over it soon. I’ll take care of the customer.” Amanda turned, hoping to find Tommy there but the man on the other side of the counter had a smile that was different than Tommy’s. The edges of his mouth turned up on the sides but didn’t quite reach his eyes like he was haunted by something.
“Hi, what can I get you?” Amanda waved her hand toward the collection of glass displays Cari kept full of delicious pastries designed to keep a girl in her bigger pants.
The man set his hands on the counter and sighed. “I’m hoping you can help me. First, I better start with one of those maple twist bars. Then, I’m looking for a decorator, but no one can agree on the best one in town.”
“Ah, a decorator?” Cari stood half-behind Amanda and to the side. “Our sister, Tanya, is amazing. She did this place and half the offices in town. She has four homes under her belt and she’s always adding more.”
“Your sister? Okay. Can I get her information?” The guy grinned, his smile dazzling but missing something that Amanda preferred in Tommy’s features.
Cari snapped her fingers. “Actually, well, I mean, yes, I’ll give you her info, but I just remembered she’s out of town until after Christmas. I think until the middle of January? But I can’t remember.” Cari twisted her lips to the side and tapped her finger against her lip. “Yeah, I think she said until mid-January.”
Amanda jerked her gaze to Cari’s and narrowed her eyes. “She’s gone?” Amanda hadn’t answered any of the calls from Tanya that she’d gotten the last couple days since the meeting between the Deans and the Wilsons. She’d been wallowing in her hurt pride.
Cari glanced between the customer needing a decorator and Amanda. “Well, yeah, she tried calling you. Something to do with Colt? I’m not sure.” Cari reached into the display nearest them and pulled out a large maple twist. She set it in a small white paper bag and then slid the item across the table. She wrote down Tanya’s contact information