Page 115 of Just Like Home

“It was probably a longshot. I just got my hopes up,” she said.

“Then convince him to sell it to you.” The finality in his tone was unmistakable.

She scoffed. “How do I do that?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I bet you can think of something.”

At the moment, she couldn’t, but he was right, she didn’t have to give up so quickly, especially since she didn’t have any details about this possible sale. Besides, this was her second chance, her backup plan. And if it fell through, she wasn’t sure what she’d do next.

34

The following day, Charlotte started her morning with a run that took her right past Julianna’s house. She stopped in front of it and stared at the door. It was early. Connor probably wasn’t even up yet.

She hadn’t been able to sleep for fear of losing her chance of buying the dance studio, and honestly, it had tied a huge knot in her stomach.

She’d come here to take it over. She’d come because she wanted to be the one to carry on Julianna’s dream. She’d come for absolution.

She marched toward the front door and knocked, aware that she might not be doing herself a favor showing up unannounced.

But when the door opened and Amelia stood on the other side of it, dressed and wearing a sparkly headband, she hoped she was in the clear.

“Miss Charlotte?” Amelia’s big eyes stared at her.

“Hi, Amelia,” she said. “How are you?”

“Fine.” The little girl gave her a quizzical look. “You saw me yesterday.”

“Right,” she said. “Your turns are looking beautiful.”

She smiled. “Thanks. Why are you here?”

“I’m here to see your dad,” Charlotte said. “Is he here?”

Amelia turned. “Dad! Miss Charlotte is here to see you.”

Connor emerged from another room, baby on his hip, looking slightly more alive than he had the last time she’d seen him. Charlotte smiled. Connor didn’t.

“Charlotte?”

“Sorry to barge in on you,” she said, stepping inside.

“I’m trying to get the kids ready for the babysitter,” he said. “Can this wait?”

“Not really,” she said. It wasn’t true. It could wait. It wasn’t life or death. And yet, it couldn’t wait. Because if he sold the business to someone else and she missed her chance, she’d never forgive herself.

“Okay, well, here.” He shoved the baby in her arms, and the little girl squirmed. “Follow me.”

She did, straight through the house and into the sweetest nursery Charlotte could’ve imagined. The soft cream was accented by colors just slightly deeper than pastel and in the corner was a rocking chair. She could practically see Jules rocking her babies to sleep right there, singing a quiet lullaby.

“Charlotte?”

She turned to find Connor staring at her, holding a stack of diapers. “Sorry, what?”

“What’s so important you showed up this early?”

She shifted the baby to her other hip and watched as he packed the diaper bag with all the necessities. He seemed better, but she wondered if he was just going through the motions.

“Don’t sell the dance studio to that person from Chicago,” she said.

---