Page 94 of Finding Forever

“If you’d like me to buy your share of the cottage, I’m happy to do that.”

“I don’t want to sell either. In fact, I have other plans for the cottage. How would you feel if I moved back to Sunrise Bay?”

My mouth dropped open. “I thought you liked living in Indianapolis.”

“I do. But I like living closer to you. It wouldn’t be right away. I’d have to find another job and sell my house.”

“I can’t think of anything I’d like more. Once Eric finds a place of his own, I could move into Granddad and Grandma’s side of the cottage, and you could have our side.”

Mom sent me a confident smile. “I think Eric might have something to say about that. It seems to me that he’s more in love with you than he realizes.”

“You have your wedding blinkers on again. Eric’s still working out what’s important in his life. And that might not be me.”

She sighed. “Take it from someone who knows a thing or two about love. That man is head over heels in love with you. He just needs a little time for his brain to catch up with his heart.” Mom picked up the bucket we brought. “After I’ve filled this with water, we’ll wash the headstone. And then you can tell me how your painting’s coming along.”

As she walked over to the faucet, I knelt beside my grandparents’ grave. The white roses I brought were from Grandma’s garden. Lifting the blooms to my nose, I breathed in their sweet fragrance. Memories flooded me—being cuddled close in Grandma’s arms, working beside her in the garden, weeding and pruning the plants, picnics in their backyard, and the cookies Grandma loved to bake.

Closing my eyes, I wrapped those memories around me, filling all the sad spaces with their love. When I opened my eyes, a calmness washed over me. I knew, without knowing how, that my grandparents weren’t upset I wasn’t at their funeral.

One day didn’t overshadow all the time we spent together, the days when they loved me with a depth that would sustain me for the rest of my life.

sixty-seven

ERIC

Four days later, I parked my truck around the corner from the general store. For a few minutes I sat there, watching the people of Sunrise Bay go about their daily lives. For such a small town, it was always bustling.

I checked my watch. The grand opening of Jonathan’s store had started half an hour ago. On the flight to New York City, I’d rearranged my week, pushing a few appointments into the evening so I could be back home for Friday afternoon.

My agent wasn’t impressed. But after everything that had happened over the last few weeks, I wasn’t staying in New York City for longer than I had to.

A knock on the driver’s window startled me. Alex’s grinning face didn’t make it any better.

I opened the door, scowling at him. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“It’s called living dangerously. Welcome home.”

I’d done my fair share of living dangerously, and I wasn’t eager to go back to it.

“I thought your flight wasn’t arriving until ten o’clock tonight.”

“I moved my appointments around. I wanted to be here for the opening of Jonathan’s store.”

“I’m heading there, too. Does Riley know you’re here?”

I shook my head. “It’s a surprise.” So were the two bottles of champagne sitting on my back seat. I grabbed one of them before locking the truck. “Did you get your project finished?”

Alex’s smile disappeared. “Not yet. Something’s not working, and I can’t figure out what’s wrong. Instead of staring at a blank computer screen, I thought I’d get out of the house and support Jonathan. How was the Big Apple?”

“Busy, noisy, and productive. My book’s scheduled to be released in early December.”

“You’ll be hitting the Christmas market. Well done. Did they give you a pay raise?”

I rubbed my leg, feeling the sting of the cramp making me limp. “You’ve been talking to Riley’s mom.”

“I saw her on Wednesday. Kathleen couldn’t stop raving about your book. But don’t worry, she didn’t give anything away.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’ll be in the stores soon enough.”

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