The Inn At Seagrove - Rachel Hanna Page 0,28

you have a house or an apartment?" Julie said.

"Well, not exactly. I was so busy worrying about getting this place open that I didn't have a chance to look for a place to live. And, I don't have a whole lot of money yet, so I can't really invest in a house…"

Julie's stomach churned. Please don't ask to live with me. Please don't ask to live with me.

"So where have you been staying?" Janine asked.

"Well, I actually just got here yesterday."

"You just got here yesterday, and you opened today? But you don't even have employees here to help you."

"I did. I do, actually. Young girl that has been helping me get things set up behind the scenes. But she wasn't available today."

"Your only employee wasn't available on your opening day?" Colleen said.

"Well, she might have quit. But that's neither here nor there. I'll find somebody to help out."

"Back to my original question. Where did you stay last night? In your car?" Janine asked.

SuAnn smiled, but not in a normal way. She smiled and that sly way she always did when she was up to no good. "Well, there's this wonderful little inn that I found out about…"

"No. No you did not. You did not stay at the inn. The doors just opened. You did not take up space as his first guest ever." Julie said.

"Oh, but I did."

"Why didn't you call me last night? I can't believe you didn't tell me she was in town!" Julie said as Dawson stood there trying to defend himself. She had been hammering on for more than five minutes, not giving him the ability to even say a word.

“Julie, she asked me not to ruin the surprise. I assumed she was trying to just surprise her two daughters. She laid on a pretty big guilt trip.“

Julie sat down at one of the picnic tables on the deck and stared out over the vast ocean. Normally she found this place to be very peaceful, but right now she kind of wanted to run straight out into the water and see what would happen.

"Well, she certainly succeeded in surprising us."

He sat down across from her. "I'm really sorry I didn't tell you. I thought I was doing a nice thing for your mother."

"I just cannot believe she's here, and for good. I never would've predicted that she would've left her husband and moved here without telling anyone." Julie put her head in her hands.

"I know this isn't an ideal situation…"

"Ideal? This is horrible, Dawson. My mother, and I love her, is like some sort of poisonous octopus with these tentacles that just curl around you and cut your very air supply off.”

"Is it possible you might be just a little overdramatic right now?" Dawson said, shrinking down a bit as if he was afraid she was going to slug him.

She sighed and laid her head on the table. "It's just that I love my life here. I love you. I love Dixie. I love the bookstore. And even though I love my mother, she just sucks the life out of me sometimes. This is the most drama free place I've ever lived, but that's all about to change."

"Maybe not. Maybe she really did come here because she misses her family, and I don't think you would ever forgive yourself if your mother died and she didn't get to spend time with all of you."

She sat up and glared at him, her eyes squinting. "Did she tell you to say that? Has she gotten to you? That sounds like something she’d say.“

Dawson laughed. "Yes, last night we had several brainwashing sessions where she told me what to say."

"Very funny. I don't know what to do."

"What can you do? Burn down her bakery?"

“You probably shouldn't give me any ideas right now because I have a lighter, and I can get an alibi,” Julie said, laying her head back down on the table.

"Look, there's nothing your mother can do that is going to break us apart. There's nothing she can do to make you lose your business or your friendships or your relationships with your daughters.”

"You underestimate her."

"Maybe this is a chance for you to build a new relationship with her. Set boundaries. You're a grown woman. You have the right to tell her what's acceptable and what's not acceptable."

She looked at him. “Bless your heart. That all sounds very logical. But, this is my mother, and you can't use logic when it comes to her. I'm telling you