Marrying Mr. Darcy (Love Manor #2) - Kate O'Keeffe Page 0,88

her face. “How are you doing, Charlene?”

“I’m great, Penny,” Mom replies as I pull away from her and wipe away my tears before Penny notices.

Man, I’ve got to get a grip! I cry more than a toddler in a tantrum. Only with less screaming and throwing of fists as I lie on the floor.

“The flowers are beautiful, thank you, Penny,” Mom coos as Penny places them on the windowsill.

“You’re welcome.” She smiles at Mom, and then her eyes find mine. She pulls her brows together in question, and I shake my head, warning her to leave it alone.

“Charlene? I forgot to bring my phone. I left it in my car, and in today’s heat it’ll be melted in ten minutes. I’m gonna go get it.”

“Sure, Penny,” Mom replies.

“Emma, I sure could use your help,” Penny says.

I shoot her a questioning look. She needs help to retrieve her phone from her car? Before I have the chance to respond, she takes me by the hand and leads me out of the room and down along the hospital corridor until we’re out of hearing distance.

“What is it? Bad news? Has your mom gone downhill since I was here earlier?”

I shake my head. “Mom’s doing great. The doctor said the lump was about an inch in diameter, which isn’t too large.”

“That’s good news. When does she start radiation?”

“Not for a month.”

“So you’ve got some breathing space, huh? Timothy needs you back, baby.”

I smile at her. “You got it.”

“How are you holding up?”

“Oh, you know,” I reply with a shrug that’s convincing no one. “The doctor is optimistic, so I’ve gotta be, too.”

“I meant about you and Seb.”

The mention of his name shoots pain through my chest. “Oh.”

“I wish it didn’t have to be like this for you guys. You’re so in love.”

“I wish a lot of things, Penn, but wishing isn’t going to change anything. He’s better off without me.”

“But are you better off without him, Em?”

Of course I’m not. I’m bereft without him. But I’m not going to tell Penny that. I’ve cried enough on her shoulder over the last week. So instead, I reply, “I’m working on it, Penn. My priority right now is my mom. It’s got to be. Then, well, then I’ll try to get myself happy again.”

“Oh, Em.” She wraps her arms around me and holds me tight. “I wish I could fix this for you.”

“It’ll get easier. I just need to give it some time.”

As the words leave my lips, I know they’re not true. My love for Sebastian is so deeply embedded within me, it’s become a part of who I am.

I know I’ll never get over Mr. Darcy.

Chapter 25

It’s just over a week later, and you’d think Mom had never even had surgery, she’s so full of energy. She’s got me helping her reorganize the kitchen cabinets, out walking with her through Memorial Park, and visiting our favorite market to get treats like cheese and jalapeño cornbread, cherry pie, and of course, the best chocolate chip cookies in the state.

Sebastian’s gifts and messages haven’t stopped. With enough flowers to decorate a church, Mom’s living room looks more like a greenhouse than an actual room. The messages are always the same, and every time I read those three little words, I kick myself for opening the cards.

I know I need to respond, but I keep putting it off. At the very least I need to arrange to have the rest of my stuff sent over, and I need to get Frank back. I miss his furry face.

“Mom?” I call out as I walk from my room down the corridor.

“In here, honey,” she says from the kitchen. She’s sitting at the table, reading her phone with her glasses balanced on the end of her nose.

“I’m gonna head out, if that’s okay with you. I thought I might go to Central Market and pick up one of those platters we had last week.

“Oh, that was delicious.”

I grab the keys to Mom’s Hyundai from the kitchen counter. It’s a stark contrast to Sebastian’s classic Aston Martin, but at least the steering wheel is on the correct side of the car. “Be back soon.”

“Honey?” She removes her glasses and looks up at me. “I know you don’t want to talk about you and Seb, and I get that. But it’s been playing on my mind these past few days, ever since I heard you talk to Aunt Judy about him and you, and I cannot rest until I say my