Page 76 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

Funny how easy that becomes when you’re not running a billion-dollar empire.

Her fingers moved across the keys, and she started singing. “It was the tattoo. That’s what I noticed.” Her daughter came closer. Stevie loved when her mom sang. “I had the same one, except it was different. His moon, my sun, our universe. When I’m alone, my ink is dark. When he stands next to me, it glows. And so it goes, the yin and yang, yang and yin?—”

“Yin yin,” Stevie shouted, clapping her hands.

“You like Mommy’s song?” When Stevie nodded, Noa’s hands went back to the piano, and the two of them sang their hearts out, inventing new lyrics and breaking into familiar, beloved tunes. It was the best feeling in the world.

They were interrupted by her phone buzzing in her pocket. She had so many balls in the air that she had to check it. “Hang on. It’s my dad.” She hit the button and said, “Hey. How’s it going?”

“Great.” In the background, she could hear people talking. “But we’ve hit a wall.”

“You guys don’t have to get everything done in one afternoon.” She felt bad that their to-do list was so long. “If you’re tired, come back. Or stay in a hotel and get more done tomorrow. You want me to make a reservation?”

“Lor, how old do you think I am? Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean a shopping trip wears me out.”

“You said you hit a wall.” She laughed. Her dad had retired in his forties. So, not old at all. “I thought it was too much. What’s the problem?”

“This store has ten of the same soap dishes, and Margot says we either get twelve of everything or we get a different theme for each cabin.”

Lorelei burst out laughing.

His voice went muffled when he said, “She’s laughing at me.” And then, he came back on the line. “What’s so funny?”

“Because I never imagined those words would come out of your mouth.”

“I’m just the messenger. Here. You talk to her.”

After a momentary whooshing sound, her stepmom came on the line. “It’s a wedding. I want it to be perfect. And I’m willing to go to five more stores until we get just the right soap dishes.”

“Maybe I will take that nap,” her dad called in the background. “Book the hotel room, Lor.”

“Margot, I love you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to my dad.”

“Well, to be fair, I think it was you coming back into his life,” her stepmom said. “But yeah, we’re good for each other. Now, do you want me to keep looking for twelve of the same soap dishes, or get a different one for each bathroom?”

The whooshing came back, and her dad’s voice rumbled in her ear. “And don’t settle for something you don’t want because you think I’m too feeble to go to another store.”

“Dad, I think we both know you didn’t really retire. You might’ve given Walker the mine, but now you’re running a shopping mall and a lodge. So, trust me, it’s not that I don’t think you can handle it. I just feel bad for making you guys run all over Idaho Springs for me. But to answer your question, I don’t think it matters. I just want the cabins to be gorgeous and luxurious. You know Noa and her people.” She teased her friend.

“Hey,” Noa said. “My people spit chew out the car window. They don’t care about a soap holder.”

“Well, there’s your answer,” Lorelei said to her dad. “There’s no theme for the cabins. Just get the best quality sheets, towels, and duvets.”

“That’s already done. All right, then. We’ll grab these, and then, I think we’ve got everything we need. We’ll stop for dinner and then head home.”

“Awesome. Thank you so much.” She disconnected quickly and scanned the text messages that’d been blowing up her phone. “Oh, for God’s sake. The Brothers Hope just bailed on the music festival. I’ve got to go into town.” Which sucked. Because she really wanted to be here when Booker showed up.

She wouldn’t lie. She’d liked what she’d heard about him from Ginty, but she’d also enjoyed their phone conversation.

She got up and reached for her daughter. “Come on, punkin. We’ve got to go.”

But the toddler clung to Noa. “Stay wif No-No.”

“Noa’s got stuff to do. She’s planning a whole wedding.”

“You’re darn right, Noa’s got stuff to do.” Her friend lifted Stevie and held her in the air like an airplane, swooping around the room. “We’re flying.”

Stevie shrieked, and Noa mouthed, “Go.”

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