Healing Hearts (Hope River #3) - Margaret McHeyzer Page 0,72

I say when we’re inside. “This town really is something else, isn’t it?”

“You only just figured that out?” Aunt May responds.

This brings my own insecurities into full light. I have a lot to apologize for. “Before we have breakfast, I just need to say how sorry I am about last night.”

Charlie’s pulling plates out of the cupboard, and when he places them on the counter and looks over to me. Aunt May is shaking her head. Shit, have I said something wrong? “Last night was the most real you’ve ever been with me, so don’t you dare apologize. It was refreshing to see you so vulnerable around me.”

I feel my body stiffen. “I don’t like being vulnerable,” I say automatically without even thinking.

“Being vulnerable means you’re letting your walls down, Tabby,” Aunt May says. “And I’m proud of you for doing that.”

Charlie abandons setting the table, and embraces me. Every single thing is screaming at me to back away and not to let anyone see this very public display of affection. And I think Charlie can sense my fragility, so he tightens his arms around me resting his right hand on my ass cheek. “Just give in to me, Pop Rock,” he whispers and kisses me on the cheek. “Just give in to us.”

“Are you two love-birds done? I’m hungry. And I have the morning nurse coming soon.”

“Sure, I’ll set the table,” Charlie says as he pulls away and picks the plates up for breakfast.

Everything is so surreal. Charlie fits in effortlessly in Hope River. I’m starting to like myself more when I’m around him. He manages to push me and make me face things I’ve buried for so long. But I like this change. It’s refreshing and not as exhausting as pushing everyone away. “I have an idea,” I say suddenly.

“What’s that?”

“Aunt May, do you think you’ll be okay here today without me?”

Aunt May gives me a steely glare. “I’ll be seventy soon. I don’t need a babysitter.” Charlie snorts. “Anyway, I’ll have all the people your father hired, so I won’t be alone.”

“Are you working today? Wait, what day is it? I’ve lost track of days,” I say to Charlie.

“Today’s Saturday, and thankfully no. But I’ve got some work to do over at the B&B tomorrow because the slab is going down for the family retreat on Monday or Tuesday. Why do you ask?”

“If it’s okay with you, Aunt May, I’d like to take Charlie out for the day.”

“Oh yes! Good idea. Do that,” she encourages.

“Are you okay with me taking you out on a date?” I ask Charlie.

He sits higher and prouder in his chair. “Not only is it okay, I look forward to it.”

“Excellent, after breakfast, you’ll need to get your swim trunks, and I’ll do the rest.”

“Swim trunks? We’re going to the beach?”

“Not exactly.” I look over at Aunt May and wink. I think she knows where I’m taking Charlie. By the time breakfast is done, I’ve already made a plan for what we’re going to do today.

I’m choosing to move forward and be more present instead of living in the fears caused by my past.

“I’m feeling a bit guilty that I’m not home with Aunt May,” I say to Charlie as I’m driving.

“Why? May’s in capable hands. She has an entire team of people coming in today. And, I can always ask Hope to stop in if you need peace of mind.”

“You’re right. I have to just take a deep breath and let go a bit.”

“A bit?” Charlie laughs. “You’ve got to learn to relax, Tabitha. You can’t control everything. Just let go, and have some fun.”

“I’m making more of a conscious effort not to dwell on my abandonment issues.”

“What you said the other day about your mom took a lot of courage to admit. It must have cut you deeply. And, given what she said, having those deep-seated worries is more than understandable. But there’s only one way you can move past them, and that’s to just let go and allow me into your life. Allow all of us into your life.”

I concentrate on the road as I drive, but Charlie’s words are stuck on repeat. “You know, you sound like you should be a life coach or something,” I’m trying to lighten the mood.

“Huh. Life coach Charlie. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” I look over to see him smirking. “I’ll be your life coach, baby,” he says.

“Ew, that sounded so corny.” I wrinkle my nose and we both