to the top shelf and straightened a row of books about organic gardening. “Never say never.”
“Oh, I’m definitely saying never.”
Julie blew out a breath. “Fine. Then he’s your new boy toy.”
Dixie cackled. “Boy toy? Good Lord.”
“Seriously, why can’t I meet this mystery man?”
Dixie stopped stocking the shelf and looked at her. “Sweetie, it’s nothing serious. We’re just getting to know each other. When you get my age, you don’t get too attached.”
“That’s sad, Dixie. You should look forward to a long and wonderful life.”
She smiled. “I do, hon. I love this life I live.”
Julie hugged her. “And you deserve an amazing second love story in your life.”
“I didn’t say anything about love,” she chided.
“Fine. I’ll leave you alone about it… for now,” Julie said with a wink.
The door chimed, and Julie looked up to see Christian walking in. He looked tired, almost beat down, and it worried Julie the moment she saw him.
“Hey, Christian. Are you okay?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry to bother you both while you’re working.”
“Aw, hon, we’re rarely actually working,” Dixie said with a chuckle. Realizing he was serious, she cleared her throat. “I’m just going to do a little work in the storage room. Call me if you need me, Julie.”
She made herself scarce as Julie pointed for Christian to sit down at one of the little tables in the cafe area. “What’s going on? Is the baby okay?”
“Vivi’s fine. It’s Meg I’m worried about.”
“Meg? What’s the matter?”
He sighed. “Honestly, I don’t really know.” His thick French accent was still taking Julie time to get used to, but she understood most of what he said.
Julie was growing concerned. “What’s going on, Christian?”
“I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but I’m getting worried. She seems sad a lot of the time.”
“Maybe she’s just overwhelmed with being a new mother?”
“That’s what I thought at first, but I don’t think that’s it. She’s sleeping a lot, but then she stays up all night. She doesn’t seem interested in things anymore either.”
Julie’s stomach clenched. “Do you think she might hurt herself or the baby?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so, but this isn’t the woman I know. I’ve tried talking to her, but she cries, and I hate when she cries.”
Julie reached over and squeezed his hand. She felt sorry for him, being in a new country, trying to work a new job and bond with his new baby. He looked haggard, as her grandmother would’ve said.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been around to help more. I didn’t want to intrude, but it sounds like you need backup?”
He smiled slightly. “Yes, please.”
“How about if I come by after work and bring some dinner? I’ll see if Meg will talk to me. Sound good?”
He let out a breath. “Sounds great, actually. I think Meg really needs you right now, even if she doesn’t realize it.”
Christian stood up, and Julie hugged him. She’d really grown to like him since having the chance to get to know him the last few months. He seemed to be a good father, and she hoped he would make a good husband to her daughter one day. She didn’t ask about their plans for getting married, not wanting to cause a rift in her relationship with Meg.
As she watched Christian walk down the sidewalk, Dixie reappeared from the stock room. “Everything okay?”
Julie sighed and sat back down. “Not really. Christian said Meg is struggling.”
Dixie sat down across from her. “Oh, I surely remember those days.”
“You do?”
She chuckled. “I’m not a hundred years old, my dear. I can still remember things, even what I had for breakfast this morning.”
Julie smiled. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised to hear that you struggled.”
“Oh my, yes. After I had William, I thought I was losing my sanity. Back in those days, there was no room for women to talk about such things, though. There were times I cried all day for no reason. I was horrible to Johnny too. When I told my doctor, he called me a ‘hysterical woman’ and told me take a tranquilizer pill. Of course, I never did, but it took me months to feel almost normal again.”
“Wow, I guess I was blessed. I never had any issues after having my girls.”
“It’s a crapshoot, I suppose. Some women do fine and others struggle. They call it…”
“Postpartum depression.”
“Yes, that’s right. I watched a news report about it years ago. Maybe Meg is struggling with that?”
“I think you’re probably right. Listen, do you mind