Page 90 of Make You Stay

I need to bite the bullet and sit the man down to discuss Betsey’s house.

My house.

Possibly our house, should he agree.

Scanning the interior of the pub, I see Barbara perched at the far end of the bar. Wonderful. I get that she’s a local and feels she had a prior claim to Aidan, but I really don’t want to be enemies with this woman.

Despite my Yankee upbringing, I want people to like me.

I’d also like to frequent the southern diner and not fear the woman took a piss in my food.

Nodding in her direction, I take a seat on the opposite end, turning my focus to the television. Bowling. All the excitement.

I notice Barbara moving toward me from the corner of my eye and steel myself for the inevitable—and likely uncomfortable—conversation.

“We haven’t been properly introduced and, in the south, that’s a travesty. Time to break bread… over some whiskey,” she states, extending her hand before ordering us both a drink. “I’m Barbara.”

Well, this is unexpected.

“Chloe.”

“I wanted to speak with you after that unfortunate incident the other night. Aidan and I discussed things earlier and cleared everything up.”

Oh crap, what does that even mean? The last discussion they had involved an awful lot of tongue and no words. Forcing out a slow breath, I meet her gaze. “What things?”

She chuckles, but there’s no malice in it. In fact, she has a beautiful laugh. She’s a beautiful woman. “It’s embarrassing to read a situation or person so wrong. Have you ever done that?”

“All the time.” Please, God, don’t let me be doing that right now. “I think I’m professional level, at this point.”

“Deep down, I knew it the first time I saw you two together, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like you, even though I had no reason.”

“You knewwhatexactly?”

“That Aidan was in love with you and had been since you first arrived.”

“Don’t know about that,” I remark drily, earning a guffaw from Barbara. “He was less than friendly in the beginning.”

“You mean the funeral? He was an oaf, but he honestly didn’t know the truth about you and Betsey. I did, and I reiterated that fact earlier today.”

“You knew Betsey?”

Barbara nods, her eyes glassy. “My own mother was no account, so Betsey took me under her wing. She talked about you all the time.”

“Yet she was never around.”

“Betsey had flaws, Chloe. Much like us all. Her biggest flaw was sticking her head in the sand instead of facing what she did to you and your father. She wasted years, and she knew it was all on her.”

There’s something in Barbara’s words that brings on a rash of tears. The ability to release some of the anger I’ve held onto for years. “I needed to hear that, that she was sorry for what she did. I never got to hear it from her. No one thought she was going to die.”

“She did,” Barbara replies, rubbing my shoulder. “She always had this way of knowing, so she asked me to pass along a message, on the off chance she never got to hug you again. Don’t waste a moment on grudges or on what might have been. Betsey always knew you were stronger than her, and she worried that strength might keep you isolated. It’s okay to need people, Chloe.” She nods toward the stage. “Looks like your man is about to play.”

“He’s not— ”

Barbara stops me with her intense stare. “It’s okay to need people, Chloe. Remember that.”

“Barbara, thanks for loving my mom.”

“That’s what I do. Don’t worry, you’ll be in that group soon, too.” With a pat on my hand, she slips away, returning to her date for the evening.

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