Page 31 of Love's Cure

“Yes, I do,” said GG solemnly. “Your mother’s boyfriend almost got away with raping you. If you hadn’t been strong, and he hadn’t had too much to drink, it might’ve happened. That’s when you chose to look different from her. At the time, it was important to do so. And then it became your signature look. But I like the idea of your being ready to make the change. You’re a beautiful woman, Crystal.”

“You know how much I hated my mother growing up. With help, I’ve learned to forgive her and to understand I’m not like her at all.”

“Perhaps it’s time to prove you’ve moved on. Is that what you came to hear?” said GG. “If it is, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. Your childhood wasn’t easy. You raised your sister and fought to keep her safe, away from a lot of the turmoil.” GG raised a hand to stop her. “I know a lot more about it than you might suspect.”

Crystal drew a shaky breath and blinked back tears. She didn’t allow herself too much time to think about those years, which is why being able to talk to GG was important. “So, you think I’m right?”

“Indeed, I do,” said GG. “Now come give me that hug we both want.”

Laughing and crying at the same time, Crystal went over to the couch and allowed GG to wrap her in a perfumed embrace.

When she sat up, Crystal said, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“I heard about the incident with Emmett’s mother at Jake’s. You must have been humiliated. She’s such an unhappy person. But that doesn’t make it okay to be unkind to others.”

“What do you mean?” Crystal asked, intrigued.

“Natalie Chamberlain comes from a modest background. She married Everett for prestige as much as his money. Instead of being grateful and using her resources for good, she’s hurt a lot of people along the way by not following through on commitments she’s made. Her husband has cheated on her so many times, it’s not news anymore. She has every reason to be unhappy because of it, but she has no excuse for treating others badly.”

“And you wanted me to know this because?” Crystal asked.

“Because no one should ever speak to you in such an awful way when they don’t even know you. The real you,” said GG with a tone of anger Crystal seldom had heard. “I was horrified to hear it. If she were here, I’d tell Natalie myself. I knew her back when she’d just married Everett. I know what she could’ve made of her life with him by serving others.”

“Poor Emmett. No wonder he wanted to change his name. Everett isn’t his birth father,” said Crystal. “I wonder where he is.”

“My understanding is that his father was killed in service to his country. Desert Storm, I believe. At least that’s what I heard.”

“Now that I’ve heard this story, I like Emmett even more,” said Crystal. “Just as a friend,” she quickly added.

“Oh, yes,” said GG. “He’s a man to admire.”

Later, Crystal left The Woodlands, full of conviction that she was doing the right thing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next day, Crystalwaited until the Café was ready for the breakfast crowd and then left it to the care of her staff so she could be off on her secret mission to Boston.High Styleswas the “in” hair salon in the Back Bay area. Missy Howell, a friend of hers from summer theater jobs in Maine, worked there and was squeezing her in for an appointment. She was as excited about the task as Crystal was nervous.

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