Sweet Heart (The Hearts of Sawyers Bend #2) - Ivy Layne Page 0,42

to say something else. Snapping her mouth shut, she looked down at the screen and everything about her changed. Her eyes brightened and her smile stretched wide. It was as if a sunbeam cut right through the ceiling of Sweetheart Bakery and illuminated my mother.

Shit.

She stood there, her face wreathed in smiles, eyes glowing, and all I felt was dread. I knew what put that look on my mother's face. I wasn't ready.

Deciding to take a page from her book, I shoved my misgivings away and looked at Grams. “What did you want to talk about when you came in? I was distracted, and I wasn't really paying attention.”

Grams shot a concerned look at my mother, then shook it off. “I wanted to know if you're ready to talk about the next lunchtime pop-up. I can't believe how fast we sold out of those grilled cheeses. I was thinking it would be fun to do chili with bread bowls. Though that's really more of a winter thing. Or Paninis! We could have two or three options and put the press behind the counter. What do you think?”

My mother slipped out to the front of the shop, leaving us to strategize. I decided not to worry about what she was up to and told Grams my latest brainstorm. “Do you remember me telling you that I had a picnic with Royal the other night? Well—” Ignoring the flush that hit my cheeks at the thought of that picnic, I told Grams all about the single serving quiches Royal's chef had prepared.

“It's in our wheelhouse considering it's basically a pie. It's easy to keep warm without drying out and cook ahead of time. We can have samples outside like you did with the grilled cheese.”

“Oh, Daisy, you're brilliant. I love it! I'll do some research and come up with a few options. We can try them out and decide which ones—”

The door between the shop and the kitchen swung open with a flourish. My father strode through, arms spread wide.

My heart swelled and my stomach sank. He was here, finally.

Maybe now I’d get the answers I needed.

Maybe, but I doubted it.

Chapter Eighteen

Daisy

My father's grin matched my mother's. “My girls! I have all my girls together. I've missed you so much.”

I was struck dumb by his presence, by the sheer force of him and, uncomfortably, by his resemblance to Royal. Just like Royal, he filled the room. All that charisma wrapped around us as he pulled Grams into a hug and rocked her back and forth, half-dancing her across the kitchen until they reached me.

Then I was in their embrace, smelling my father's familiar cologne, his arms strong as he rocked me back and forth like he had Grams. I wanted to stay there in my dad's arms, soaking up his love, as fragile and illusory as I knew it was.

With a tight squeeze, he said, “My beautiful baby girl. I've missed you so much.” Leaning back, he took in my face and touched the same spot under my eye that Grams had. “Such a pretty girl shouldn't work so hard. I'm sending all you girls to the spa. You need a day off. You need a vacation! I'll get it all set up.”

I wanted to ask where he was getting the money to pay for us to go to the spa and if he had it could he please pay me back. Obviously, I couldn't do that because a) I doubted he had the money to send us to the spa, and b) if I asked for it I'd have to tell Grams why he owed me money.

Out of the corner of my eye, I took in Grams beaming at my father, and I knew that I wasn't hiding his debt just because I didn't want her to know I'd been stupid enough to lend him money.

I was partly doing it because I didn't want Grams to know her son had sunk low enough to scam his own daughter.

Maybe he didn't scam you, I tried to convince myself. Maybe he has the money—or at least some of it—and everything is going to be fine. I wanted to believe that was true.

I stepped out of his embrace and looked away, fiddling with the knot I'd tied in my apron. As soon as I was out of his immediate sphere he turned back to Grams and Mom, soaking in the love and approval beaming off both their faces. Grams was so happy to