Page 25 of Off-Limits Love
That had opened the flood gates, and Mak had unloaded on the woman every bad thought, painful truth, and emotional dagger she felt.
According to Zoey, children adapted much faster to their environments while adults had a harder time working through the nuances of a divorce, location move, child-rearing, coparenting—and impending death of a loved one.
It was a lot.
And that didn’t even include Mak’s growing fascination and concern with Finn Blackwell. There was that, too, but Mak didn’t want the woman to put her in a padded room.
Just hearing Zoey stack up the list of things pulling Mak out to sea like a riptide had left Mak acknowledging that she felt more than a bit shaky and off-kilter. So while Emi had her session with Rachel, Mak talked with Zoey about trying to find her footing in this new world of divorced single mom. Of her desire for stability and a sense of peace in the storm.
Thankfully Zoey knew her stuff, and it helped having someone objective to talk to. By the end of the session, the woman had encouraged Mak to make a short list of goals to think about and help give her a sense of direction and control.
Topping the list?
Figure out what she was going to do to support them once Sam no longer needed her to work as his aide. Child support only went so far, especially with Brad not paying the spousal he was court ordered to pay, and they wouldn’t live with Sam forever.
Emi started school full-time next year, and Mak would need a job that allowed her some flexibility unless she was able to find—and afford—after-school care. The weight of the worry staggered her at times.
“Is your order okay? If not, I can make you another.”
The woman’s voice startled Mak so badly she practically hovered over her seat for a few seconds.
“Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry!” the woman gushed. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m London, the owner. I was sitting over there doing paperwork and saw you weren’t drinking, and since I take coffee orders and customer satisfaction very seriously, if there’s anything wrong with it…”
Mak forced a smile and tried to slow her thundering heart rate as she plucked at the list of goals she’d scribbled onto a paper napkin.
The counseling office was a block away from London’s Lattes, so they’d taken advantage of the sunshine and beautiful day and gotten some fresh air. “No, it’s fine. I—just have a lot on my mind. I actually forgot it was there.”
Another burst of laughter came from the tables up front and drew Mak’s attention, giving her an excuse to shift the focus off her as she gave the group an envious glance. “They’re having fun over there.”
“Oh, yeah, they always do. They’re a group of local artists and friends who meet up whenever they can. Several of them are new moms, so it’s kind of a mix of mom-therapy and artist gab-fest.” London tilted her head to the side. “I haven’t seen you in here before. Are you just visiting Carolina Cove? Here for a winter rental?”
So much for shifting the focus. Mak took a long look at the woman’s smiling, friendly face and judged her as being kind. “Actually I just moved here. Well, not here, but just over the bridge. I used to live in Wrightsville, but—it’s a long story.”
“Most of them are,” the woman said with a knowing grin and a glance in the direction of Mak’s left hand. “And I see a goal list. You bake?”
Another item on the list was to check into whether or not she could bake at home and sell her cakes. Apparently London noticed.
A bell chimed, and multiple footsteps sounded.
“I do, but I’m not a professional. I’m self-taught. It’s just…kind of a dream of mine. I don’t know the logistics of baking at home as a business, though, or if it’s even possible.”
“Easy enough to check into. I looked into it myself years ago, but I’m more interested in coffee than baking. That’s why I order things in. I do know it’s doable so long as nothing requires refrigeration, but you’ll need a license and inspection.”
“Mak? Hey, beautiful. It’s good to see you,” Hudson said with a wide, gorgeous grin.
Mak blinked and then blinked again at the man standing beside him. She sucked in a breath and then frowned.
“Ha! That expression never gets old,” Hudson said, grinning from ear to ear as he chuckled. “Makayla Jensen, this is my brother, Elias. He’s Finn’s twin.”
Twins? Yeah, that fact definitely fell under new and noteworthy. The two were so similar and yet…not. It was uncanny. But where Finn was a jeans-and-cowboy-hat kind of guy, Elias looked more… What was the word? Fastidious? Intense? Was that even possible? “It’s nice to meet you, Elias.”
“Mak is Finn’s new neighbor,” Hudson said. “She and her daughter live with Sam.”
She’d have to be blind not to see and sense Elias’s increased interest at that last bit of news. But why?
Had Finn said something about what happened yesterday?
Or mentioned getting handcuffed by the police?
