“Thank you. I’ll call them and let them know to put me on the schedule. I’m going to store all my furniture with them until I figure out where I’m going to live.”
Daisy took a deep breath. “What is wrong with you? We met Desean. He’s fantastic. Thoughtful, kind, funny and possibly the most attractive man on the planet.”
Cassidy’s lips twitched. “The planet? Really? That’s quite the endorsement.” Her mouth straightened. “You met him?”
“We had dinner with him and talked for hours. What don’t you like about him? Cassidy, have you considered you’re throwing away what might be the best relationship you’ll ever have? I know you’re scared, but come on. Suck it up and act like a grown-up here. Face your fears and take a chance.”
Cassidy turned away. “I can’t.”
“Why not? Are you so afraid of being happy? Yes, there will be bad times, but you get through them and are stronger because of them.”
Cassidy brushed tears from her cheeks. “Because you know about this? I’m sorry, but where’s your husband?”
“I haven’t got a clue and you know what? That’s irrelevant. Jordan and I are having problems. Even if we work things out, we’ll have problems again. Hopefully the next time, we’ll handle them better. But the fact that he and I have messed up doesn’t mean no one should ever try to be in a relationship. You and I are getting along right now. We’re close and I like it, but do you think that means we won’t drift apart at some point? We could. Or we could make an effort to keep what we have and build on it. That’s the point. We have choices and we make decisions.”
Daisy leaned forward, determined to get through to her sister. “I vow, as of right now, that no matter what, I’m not giving up on you. Not this time. If you run, I will hunt you down and make you be my sister.”
Cassidy’s eyes widened. “You’d really do that?”
“When have I lied to you?”
“You haven’t.”
“Okay, then yes, I’d really do that.” She exhaled. “Cassidy, give him a chance. No, I take that back. Give yourself a chance. Men like him are rare and you’re going to be sorry you let him go. I know you’re scared, but some things are worth fighting for.”
“I want to believe you,” Cassidy began. “But I can’t.”
Daisy smiled at her. “That’s okay, because the only person you have to be believe right now is yourself. You’re stronger than you think and as soon as you recognize that, you’ll be able to move forward rather than staying stuck.”
Cassidy studied her for a couple of seconds. “You really won’t let me go?”
“I am with you to the end, kid. Deal with it.”
* * *
Two days later, Sage arrived home from work to find that her mother had returned, looking happy, refreshed and at least five pounds thinner.
“I had a wonderful time,” Joanne said, hugging Sage for the third time in two minutes. “Thank you so much for sending me to the spa.”
Sage hugged her back. “I’m glad it worked out. So the spa was nice?”
“It’s beautiful and they treat the guests so well, but that wasn’t the best part.”
Sage stepped out of her heels and tried to tell herself that whatever her mother was going to say would be fine. She’d done her bit, springing for the week at the spa—nothing else was on her.
“I met someone!”
Sage smiled, hoping her dismay didn’t show. What her mother needed was a break from the manhunt, not a new target in her sights.
“Did you? Tell me about him.”
Her mother led the way to the kitchen where she had all kinds of vegetables laid out on the counter. She picked up a knife and began cutting a red pepper into strips.
“His name is Thomas and you’ll never guess.”
Sage sat on one of the kitchen chairs. “What?”
“I knew him in high school! We both went to Culver City High, if you can believe it. A few of us went out the first evening we were at the spa. Just to a local place, just for fun. I saw this man watching me and something about him was familiar.” Her mother beamed. “He came over and asked if I’d gone to Culver City High School and that was it.” She sighed dramatically. “It was like a TV reality show. Honestly I was looking everywhere for the camera.”
“That’s great, Mom,” Sage said, hoping this particular relationship had a happy ending.