Return To You - Leia Stone Page 0,65

sits back in her chair, closing her eyes and letting the sun drench her face in light. "Mmm hmm," she agrees.

I go inside and whip up a lean, mean, and green juice for the both of us. Just before I step outside with a drink in each hand, I notice a man's two-tone gold watch peeking from behind a basket on the counter.

I walk outside, hand her the drink, and ask about the watch.

"No clue," she answers, taking the drink I'm holding out to her. "It must be Owen's."

I stare at her for a beat, searching her face for any indication this watch and the note in the pantry are related, but she just tips her juice back and chugs. Only the slightest bit of panic crossed her face when I first showed her the watch, but it was also when I’d handed her the green drink, so it might just be that. The watch being Owen's makes sense. He's a man who's been coming here weekly for years. I decide to let it go

"Cheers," I tell Mom, holding up my glass.

We finish our juice in the sunshine, then go inside and get ready to face the day.

Linda, my mom's friend at chemo, smiles at me. "It's nice to see you again, Autumn." Her cold cap is already on her head. My mom sits beside her, hair not yet tucked into the cap, and I wonder if we’ll have to shave her head. She lost her hair both times before with the chemo, so I’m trying to mentally prepare myself.

The beautiful nurse from before situates my mom, making sure she has what she needs.

"Do you want me to stay, Mom? I can." I pat the purse resting on my hip. "I brought a book."

"No, no." Mom gestures with her hand. "You go. Call that new friend you've made and ask her to lunch."

My lips pinch as I consider her suggestion. I haven't seen Livvie since the night Owen's dad needed help, and I wonder how she's doing. I also don’t love the idea of seeing my mom poked with needles.

"That's a good idea," I agree, shifting to my other foot. "Text me when you're ready, okay? Or if you need anything?"

Mom sends me the thumbs-up sign as she leans over to Linda to see what magazine she's paging through. I head out of the room, surreptitiously looking around for Owen. I'd been hoping he'd make an appearance at my mom's appointment, but so far, he hasn't been around.

On my way out of the hospital I pull out my phone and text Livvie, asking if she can meet for lunch.

She writes back immediately: Do WASP's play croquet?

I bark a laugh. If I never lived in the Northeast, I don't know if I'd have understood her joke. Either way, Livvie is hilarious and I’m glad she’s in town for the time being.

We agree to meet at the cafe near her bookstore. It doesn't escape my attention that it's the middle of the day and as far as I know she is the sole employee of her business. Which means she's turning over the “open” sign in the window to meet me for lunch.

Bad business management or living life to the fullest? I’m not one to judge, seeing as I’m currently jobless.

When I arrive at the restaurant, Livvie is already there. She wears a black maxi dress, and several gold bangles on her right arm.

"You look beautiful," I tell her when I get to the table. She stands up to greet me, pulling me in for a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Do you think it will be enough to make my husband come to his senses?"

I stop with my napkin in mid-air and stare. "Is he here?"

She picks up the phone lying facedown on the table and glances at it, then replaces it. "His flight arrives in a few hours. I'll drive down to the valley and pick him up after we eat."

I adjust my seat and take a sip of water. "Are you excited?"

She captures her lips with two fingers and twists. After a moment, she lets go and says, "Yes. But I'm nervous too. What if this is it? What if he comes out here and decides he hates it? He might, you know." She picks up the small menu. "This feels like a turning point for us. I still can't believe I convinced him to leave work for a few days and come out here."

“What are you hoping