Page 47 of Secondhand Secrets

It wasn’t all bad though. No one in Harlow ever showed up without a tray of food or a cooler of drinks to share, and the extra people added life and community to this party.

Aggie, the sheriff, Gordon, Blaine and Emilia, even Dean and Sarah had swung by. Though Sarah held a tense and reluctant air about her, she wasn’t to know that Ally understood her a little more now and intended to make nice later on in the day.

Ally caught Chip’s stare and offered a wave, the other guys—Dean, Blaine, and Gordon—predictably smart-ass enough to wave back at her along with Chip.

Ally’s mom laughed, although her light brown eyes held a slight sheen. “I’m so happy for you. Your art business is coming along, and you have Chip back.”

“Thanks.” Despite the lighthearted response, Ally frowned at the iced tea nestled between her palms in her lap. Her mom best not to pin her happiness on Chip being any kind of permanent fixture or Ally’s ceramics turning any real profit.

“I’m still waiting on my thank-you, by the way.” Laila smiled over at Ally while she bounced a giggling Whitney on her knee. “Wasn’t I the one who angled for you two the day Chip first came over?”

Ally pitched a flat stare. “That’s not when things happened for us.”

Her sister dipped her chin in a disbelieving manner, her stare boring into Ally in a way that only older siblings could do, the sort of stare that always melted her resolve.

“Okay, fine.” Ally swept a hand upward and released a groan. “We kissed.”

Laila flopped back into her seat and let loose a loud laugh, instant shame forcing Ally to elaborate. “But we regretted it instantly.”

Laila’s laugh only intensified, and she doubled forward, shifting Whitney off her knee and lowering the tall glass in her hand to the nearby slatted table. “Chip that bad a kisser, huh?”

Ally tried so hard to press her lips together and hold back any amusement, only to abandon her defenses and join in on her sister’s goof balling. “None of your business.”

“Oh, no.” Laila chuckled some more, only pausing to wipe tears from her eyes. “That must mean you’re the bad kisser!”

Though still giggling, Ally twisted and grabbed an outdoor cushion from behind her and then tossed it at her sister. “Stop it, you—”

She caught a glimpse of her mom, her lips curled in a small smile, and her far-off gaze stuck on her boisterous daughters. Laila glanced to their mom too and released a sigh, a short hush descending between the women.

“Seriously though, I’m glad you and Chip are having fun.” Laila’s lips pressed into a heartfelt grin in Ally’s direction. “Those early days of being in love are something special.”

Ally’s heart swelled at the chink in her sister’s support, Laila’s ordeal from young love to single-motherhood a cautionary tale that sent Ally’s attention back to Chip.

The experience of sitting here amongst all her family and friends—the cozy sense of belonging—narrowed her feelings for Chip into sobering focus.

Yeah, sure, she wanted adventure and time away from this little town, but wanting that and wanting him felt selfish.

Her mom’s smile dropped, and deep shadows overtook the space below her eyes. That worry-filled expression confirmed Ally’s fears and made her heart slow to a fast and thudding beat.

Chip’s imminent return to Boston already lit a constant wish in her to drop everything and follow him, which only left her in an increasingly difficult position.

Lose these people. Or lose him.

No matter what happens, I lose.

She took a deep swallow against the lump forming in her throat and blinked up to find Laila peering over the rim of her tea glass, her analytical stare seeming to catch Ally’s reticence. “How’s things with the Argyle deal? Any news?”

Ally set to peering across the yard again and shrugged, her attempt to appear casual likely failing. Laila had been a know-it-all since the day she was born, intuitive about everything but her own personal life, that is.

Laila did know because Ally’s insides did a little flip every time she thought about the whole Argyle thing. Her art had a chance of becoming more than something she alone enjoyed. More than a side project or the occasional bit of loose change in her pocket.

“No word yet.” She braved looking at her sister again, offering a carefree smile. “They might not even tell Emilia if the answer is no.”

Laila made a breathy pfft sound with her lips and swatted her hand as if to dismiss the idea. “Emilia won’t let them slip away quietly. The woman’s stubborn in the best sorta way.”

Ally glanced back to her uncharacteristically silent mother, her fallen gaze rising from the lush lawn, along with another weak smile that scrubbed away all pretense of happiness.

Though Ally opened her mouth to ask if her mom was okay, her mom shook her head and rejected any show of concern.

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