it, and did it again. “Celia asked me to take her back.”
“And?”
“I don’t want to. But there’s a part of me that remembers what it was like before. How happy we were.” I flicked the napkin across the table. “But she’d been cheating on me with Cameron. He’d planned to ask her to marry him, even though he knew she was cheating on me with him. So, no, I wouldn’t take her back, especially since I found out Roman’s been keeping her bed warm.” That wasn't love. That wasn't the sacrificial love I’d had given to me all my life by the man before me.
Had she ever loved me? Even after everything she’d put me through, I wouldn’t have considered being with one of her friends, let alone two. Was there something about me that the women I cared for wouldn’t stick around?
“I wish you’d never had to experience that. And I know it won’t help, but if it hadn’t, you wouldn’t have Baker.”
Mrs. Quinn touched Dad’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I don’t have a key to the room.”
“Oh.” Dad fumbled in his pocket and produced the plastic key card. “I took off without saying anything.”
She squeezed. “You didn’t need to.”
“Would you like to join us?” I indicated to the chair across from me.
“I don’t want to intrude—”
“We’d like you to,” I said, motioning for the server. “Whiskey okay for you?”
There was a determined set to her jaw when she lifted her chin. “Sure.”
* * *
With a fresh round of drinks, the mood wasn’t quite so heavy.
“We’re still scheduled to head out on Sunday, but if you want, we can move it up to tomorrow.” Dad looked at me over the rim of his glass.
I shifted in my seat. “I’m not going back.”
He clutched his tumbler and cleared his throat. “This time, I’m not leaving you out here on your own. Expect more than one visit a year.”
“I look forward to it. Hope you’ll come too, Mrs. Quinn.” I tipped my glass to her.
“It’s not my place to say anything, but I’m going to anyway.” Her lips thinned. “Take it from someone who’s made the mistake of letting the past dictate her future. Don’t do it.”
I didn’t respond. She had no idea what I’d been through.
“And just so I’m clear, in your case, I’m talking about you walking away from Baker. It’s no secret I adore her, but I adore you too. And if you let her go, you will regret it for the rest of your life.”
“She might leave me. And I can't take that,” I said tightly.
“One day, you’ll wake up and wonder how you got this old. Make sure when you open your eyes, there’s someone beside you who loves you no matter what.” She tossed back her drink. “Stop kidding yourself.”
She stood, kissed the top of Dad’s head, and then kissed mine. “If I didn’t care about you, I’d keep my mouth shut.” She kissed me again before leaving Dad and me staring after her.
“She’s right.”
“I know. But it doesn’t matter.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Baker
The order for lip gloss came at the best possible time.
It kept me busy enough that I didn’t have time to mope around on the sofa. So I moped and made lip gloss at the same time. See? Multi-tasking.
The ache from Holt’s absence was my constant companion. I’d even spent the night at the shelter a few times just so I wouldn’t have to go home to an empty apartment.
But I’d just delivered the remaining lip gloss to Juniper. Four days early. What was I going to do with all the extra time on my hands?
I wandered from the boutique to Trish’s food truck. The line was down the block, so I caught her attention through the window. She unlocked the back door for me.
“Need some help?”
“How’d it go?”
We spoke at the same time and laughed.
“She didn’t order more,” I said. I shrugged like it was no big deal, but I was disappointed.
“Did you ask?”
“No?”
Was I supposed to?
“Then you can do it tomorrow. Call and make sure everything is okay with the shipment. Then ask if she needs more.” Trish was so business savvy. I was lucky to have her.
“Okay,” I said, brightening. “Hey, Cricket.”
She gave a little wave of acknowledgement from where she boxed up an order.
“The new logo is getting rave reviews,” I said.
“That’s good,” she mumbled without looking up.
I clapped my hands and exchanged a look with Trish. “What can I do?”
“Fill drinks,” she said as she went back to