A Seagrove Christmas (South Carolina Sunsets #6) - Rachel Hanna Page 0,26

you.”

She furrowed her eyebrows at him. “I don’t think you can understand. Look, I had a rift with my daughters for so many years. It has taken us a lot of work over the last year to really get to a good place with each other, and picking up and leaving doesn’t seem like the best move for me right now. Plus, I just opened my own business. I’m really proud of that.”

He sighed. “Do you plan to spend the rest of your life living here because your family does? Do you want to work forever? I can take care of you, Susie. You’d never have to work again.”

She felt so deflated. “This is the first time I’ve really had the life I wanted, Nick. I like it here. I have friends, and I really love running the bakery. It was a dream of mine for a long time.”

“I don’t remember you ever having that dream,” he muttered.

“Well, I did. Not as a child, but as an adult. I spent my entire life being a wife and mother, and this is the first time I’ve had something for myself. I don’t think I want to give that up.”

“Not even for me?”

She sat there quietly. “I don’t think it’s fair for you to ask me to make such a huge decision when we’ve only been back together for a few days.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to push. I just know I’m not getting any younger, Susie, and I’m ready to live the life I’ve always wanted.”

She paused for a moment. “What happens if the life you want isn’t the one I want?”

“I don’t know. I guess that was a possibility I never considered.”

* * *

Julie was so excited to have the Christmas cookie party. It was something she had done when her kids were little, and getting to watch her new son and her granddaughter experience the magic of Christmas was a blessing to her.

Dawson had been helping get everything ready, including buying cookie decorations at the store for her. She had so much to do lately that it felt like it was so hard to keep up. The one thing she didn’t want to lose was the ability to experience the holidays. Sometimes people got so caught up in the holidays they didn’t enjoy it. She was determined that would not happen to her.

“Is there anything else I can do?” Tina asked. She had been very helpful in the kitchen, getting things ready. Julie and Tina had made their own batch of sugar cookies even though people were going to be bringing plenty to decorate. The fire department was going to be overwhelmed with sweet treats by the end of the day.

“If you could put the tablecloth on the extra table. Since we’re going to be decorating, I’d like to avoid having sprinkles all over the hardwood floors.”

Even though it was the holidays, they didn’t have anyone staying at the inn right now. Most people were with family, so they had cut off reservations until after the first of the year. It meant less money, but Julie was happy to have the place to themselves to enjoy the holidays as a family. Taking care of other people who were staying there took up a lot of time and energy, and right now she just wanted to focus on her family.

“No problem. Do you want the red tablecloth?”

Julie nodded. “Yes. And if you don’t mind lighting a couple of those gingerbread candles in the foyer? They smell so good.”

Tina nodded. “Will do. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

Tina had been a big help with the Christmas festival and the preparations for the cookie party. She enjoyed having an extra helper, although she felt kind of bad asking her to do things since she technically was a guest.

“I’m here!” She heard her mother say as she walked through the front door. SuAnn looked at Tina, said nothing and kept walking. She didn’t understand what problem her mother had with Tina, but she hoped she could behave herself today.

“Please tell me you brought the pound cakes?”

SuAnn rolled her eyes. “Of course I did. I even drizzled some red and green icing over the top of them. I’m sure the firefighters will love them. They often come into the bakery.”

“I’m sure they will. Thanks. You can just put them over there on the counter.”

Julie was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Lots of people were going to