Page 30 of Tempting the Heart

That was the worst part. He’d been suffering all those years, and I didn’t have a clue.

“They're here,” Audrey said, standing across from me. She picked up her Diet Coke and held it up as we all turned to see my parents approach us.

My mom’s hand clutched my dad’s as they smiled and walked toward us. Since they were both smiling, I wanted to believe it meant that whatever they had to share with us wasn’t health-related.

They went around the table, hugged us each, and took their seats next to Audrey.

“It’s so good to have all my kids here at the same table,” my mom gushed. “We’re usually always missing one of you.”

Brad chuckled, knowing he was the one she was referring to.

“Alright, Mom.” Emily laughed. “Can we open the envelopes now, or are you going to make us wait?”

The server came over, and my parents ordered two bottles of wine and some appetizers.

My dad squeezed my mom as she took a deep breath and smiled. She tipped her head and rested it against my dad’s shoulder.

“Out with it,” my sister Amelia said, laughing nervously.

My mom squeezed her eyes shut. “We’re retiring.”

My eyes widened as everyone gasped.

One thing we knew would never happen was my mom retiring from her beloved antique store.

She reached over and squeezed my dad’s hand. “It’s time, and I trust it will be in good hands.”

Brad shook his head. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

My mom chuckled. “You’ll be seeing it pretty soon.”

“Why’s that?” Audrey asked as she scooped her dark hair into a ponytail. She started fanning herself with a napkin.

My mom cocked her head. “We’re leaving for Europe in three days. Are you okay? Why are you so hot?”

“Three days?” Amelia’s voice went up an octave as Audrey put her napkin down and stared at our parents.

To say this was unlike them was an understatement.

“What’s happening in three days?” Audrey asked, fanning herself again with the menu this time.

“We’re headed to Europe.” My dad grinned, looking at each of us before moving his gaze to my mom.

“How do you decide to go to Europe overnight?” Audrey asked, wiping the sweat from her brow.

“Honey, are you okay?” my mom prompted, looking at Audrey.

“I’m fine. I’m just…” She straightened in her seat. “I’m not ready for this.”

“You all practically run the store, anyway. You won’t even notice I’m missing,” my mom teased.

“Why in three days?” Brad asked, scratching his head.

“Our friends booked a chateau, but they can’t go. They’d lose all their money.” My mom breathed in deeply.

“Where in Europe?” I asked, trying to reconcile what this meant for everyone. I had just opened my own coffee shop, so I assumed that meant my siblings would be responsible for the store, but I didn’t know. None of us had ever brought this up because we never believed my parents would retire.

“The French countryside,” my mom gushed. “We’ll be flying into London, staying there a week, and driving up to Scotland after.”

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