Page 81 of V is for Valentine
“Good. I never liked the guy.”
A smile started to curve her lips, then faded again. This was only the first of many uncomfortable steps she was about to make.
“Feliss,” her dad continued in a serious voice, “life is short. We know that from sad experience.”
The same thing Sean had said, but when her dad said it, the words seemed to touch her soul. Her family had experienced the heartbreak of a life cut short.
“You do what you have to do,” he added gruffly. “I’ll back you one hundred.”
“Even if I end up living in the basement?”
“You can have your bedroom.”
Felicity laughed. “I love you, Dad. I don’t want you to worry.”
“We Evans are fighters. You’ll land on your feet again.” He cleared his throat again. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m still working it out. I’ll keep you posted.”
Felicity ended the call, then pulled the child’s valentine from the envelope, turning it over to read the glittery words written on a cartoon chalkboard.
V is for Valentine. No matter what happens, you’ll always be mine.
Love, Danny.
The message he’d told her to ignore. The message he’d given her before concluding that he couldn’t be just friends.
She propped an arm over her eyes. Whatever happened, she’d always be his. Truer words were never written in glitter.
And he’d tried to renege on that promise the night before she’d left Holly.
That challenge would not go unanswered.
*
“Fork Horn signed.”Sandra sounded like she was on the verge of doing a back handspring. “We did it!”
“Yeah. I guess we did.”
He and Sandra had spent two backbreaking days clearing debris prior to the arrival of the crew, thus giving them a clean slate upon which to work their disinfecting magic. But the effort had been worth it when he’d called the Fork Horn rep Sandra had been negotiating with and invited him for a casual one-on-one meeting at the warehouse after the cleaning was complete. They’d walked through that very morning, but he honestly hadn’t expected any kind of decision until early next week.
“He loved the brick work and the windows and the view of the river. And I think he really loved the fact that Holly is expanding in that direction, and that the city had signed on to build bike and jogging paths and to put in a small amphitheater.”
“He’s wise to sign now,” Danny said.
“I also got a call concerning one of the smaller spaces. I’ll get back to you with the details tomorrow, and I have a lead on another property I want to run by you.”
“Tomorrow?” They’d planned to meet that evening.
“Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. Something came up and I can’t make it tonight.”
“Okay.” She sounded flustered, and he wondered if she was going on an impromptu date. If so, more power to her. “Tomorrow works for me.”
“Great. Talk to you then.”
He set the phone on the table. Things were falling into place in all areas but one, and that would be the Felicity area.
He went to the window and looked out at the frost-covered Audi. He was beginning to love and hate that car. It reminded him of the fact that Felicity was coming back, but it also reminded him that the next move was hers and he had a bad feeling that she wasn’t going to make it. That she believed that time and distance would turn love back into friendship.
