Page 80 of Love Over Time

A half-assed, very mechanical apology, if I ever heard one. Mrs. Blaine would have to work on that.

Nikki’s face went pale. She squeezed my shoulder for support, her gaze trained on the window facing the street. “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to her.”

Mrs. Blaine opened her mouth to speak, but Nikki was already gone.

Chapter Thirty-One

But Fools Lived Happiest

Nikki

I never thought I’d be able to hug my sister again. But here she was. She was finally home. My heart leaped at the sight of her as tears streamed down my cheeks. “Welcome home.” I met Lisa out on the sidewalk and wrapped my arms around her. “You made it.”

“Thanks to you. It’s all because of you. I owe you my life,” she croaked, pulling away to look at me.

I did the same, taking in all her details. The last time I’d hugged her, she was way taller than me. Now she was a couple of inches shorter, her hair cut in a bob, face long, and cheeks hollow. Her dark eyes spoke of the many things she’d seen during the time she spent in prison. I hated that she’d gone through it. I swallowed my tears. It was time to let it go and be happy, be a family.

“I had help. Come inside. You don’t want to miss your party.”

“No. I’m fine out here.” She pushed her hair away from her face with trembling fingers.

I grabbed her cold hands and squeezed them between mine. “You have nothing to be afraid of. This is your time. Everyone here knows the truth. They know you were just a victim, that Francesca and Jonathan did this to you.” I didn’t exactly know that. But if Henry had brought all these people here, it was to make sure every single one of them apologized to Lisa. To make sure that everyone showed her the kindness she deserved and welcomed her home. Just as she wanted.

“I don’t need them to apologize.” She looked down at her hands.

“Trust me—you do. It’s the least they can do for you. You can’t let them off that easy.” I put my arm around her, tittering. “Henry had Mrs. Blaine cater the party. I know you’d fantasized about this for years. You’re here. Take it.”

She nodded. “Don’t leave my side.”

“Never.” We walked across the threshold. I met Henry’s gaze across the room, and that prompted him to make his way toward us, zigzagging around the many people who had already gathered. In the time I’d been upstairs getting dressed, the lobby had filled up. I wasn’t an idiot. All these people were here for Henry, because he’d asked them to. But I didn’t care as long as they also welcomed Lisa back to town, her home.

“I wasn’t sure what to wear. I let your lawyer friend talk me into wearing this dress. It feels odd to be in a skirt again.” She tugged at the thick straps as she swallowed. It wasn’t the dress that bothered her. It was all the faces in the room staring at her, the same faces that had pointed a finger at her fifteen years ago, when she was barely an adult, and called her a murderer. They’d let her go to jail without a second thought.

“You look great.” I squeezed her shoulders, slender and hard. Tears welled up in my eyes. How difficult life must’ve been for her. Alone. My heart squeezed tight, but I forced a smile. She didn’t need tears from me right now. She needed to see that everything was going to be okay. That the nightmare was over.

“Lisa.” Henry hugged her, kissing her cheek. “Welcome home.” He glanced toward the window and out into the street. “Where’s Dom?”

“Oh. He had to go. He said he’d call you guys later.” Lisa blushed, smiling at the floor. “I still can’t get over how…you know.”

“How hot he got?” I wrapped my arm around Henry’s waist. “I know.”

“Grown up.” She laughed. Tiny wrinkles covered her eyes as she took both our hands. “Thank you for believing in me.”

“I’m sorry it took me this long to get my head out of my ass.” Henry hugged her again. She looked so small next him, so skinny.

“None of this was your fault. Don’t forget that.” Lisa wiped her eyes and turned to face the buffet table. “The food smells amazing. Did you really get Mrs. Blaine to do all this?”

“She was happy to do it.” He winked at her. That sexy smile of his added more red to Lisa’s cheeks and ears.

“Let me fix you a plate,” Mrs. Blaine cut in. “I mean, are you hungry?” Her eyes darted between Lisa and Henry. She’d do anything to please the new owner of Cavalier Manor and this town.

“Yes. Thank you.” Lisa met my gaze, a small smile pulling on the side of her mouth.

“And also”—Mrs. Blaine slanted a nervous glance at me, wringing her apron between her hands—“I wanted to apologize for my behavior. Before I…I mean we…we were all hurting, and we didn’t know.”

Lisa nodded and patted her arm. “Thank you. I am hungry. I’ll take that plate.”

“Right. Just take a seat, and I’ll bring it to you.” Mrs. Blaine scurried to the buffet, cutting to the front of the line.

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