Page 83 of The Things That Hold Us

“Charlie. I’m going to say this once, and I need you to know I mean this with love. Ok?”

I nod my head, looking up at her.

“Sam wouldwantyou to experience love again. He would want you to be happy. I just know it.” she pauses, “And I think he’d approve of Logan.”

That sentence brings tears to my eyes, and I quickly blink them away.

She puts a hand on my leg, attempting to comfort me.

“Just, don’t completely dismiss him. Ok?”

“I could be wrong, anyways.”

“Wrong about what?”

“Logan. He was telling me about his friend he lost when he was deployed. Maybe the look I saw in his eyes was because of that, not me.”

She tilts her head side to side as if contemplating it.

“Maybe, but he was looking atyou.

My heart tightens, and I know she’s right. I can’t talk about this anymore. I need to go home and figure everything out.

I stand, and start grabbing Pudding's things. “I probably need to get home, call the insurance company and all that.”

“Ok babe. Call me if you need anything ok? And do me a favor?”

“Hm?”

“Don’t shut him out. I know that scared look in your eyes, and that's usually how you look before shutting someone out.”

I give her a tight smile, because that's not something I can promise right now.

She gives me a hug, and Pudding and I start walking home.

Chapter Seventeen

pride and prejudice

I’m sitting on my couch under a blanket, a notebook in hand, and a phone pinned between my ear and shoulder.

Pudding is curled up on my feet, and the insurance company is telling me that I’m getting back a bigger amount than I planned.

Now, I’m figuring out costs and everything I would need to open the store in Sage Valley.

I’d have to rent a moving truck, get the electricity turned on, hang signs, and bring in shelves and cases for everything.

It’s a lot, and I’m getting slightly overwhelmed.

“Honey, are you sure it's worth all the hassle? To move stores?” my mom asks me, her voice concerned.

“The insurance company said my building isn’t salvageable. If I want to keep Charlie’s Antiques running, the only option is to find a new building.”

“Yes, but why one so far away? That’s a long drive to do every day.”

She has a point, and I’ve thought about it a lot. It is a drive, but I won't go every single day.

“I’m going to hire someone to run the store on the days I’m not there.”

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