Page 12 of This Heart
“What did you say?”
I shrugged. “That if he would rather take her, that was fine, I didn’t want to overstep…again.”
She dropped back in her chair and sighed. “Maybe he feels bad for asking so many people to watch Winnie. Opal told me that Mary said Liam was always there for Winnie, but when it came to taking her anywhere in town, it was Jake or Mary. Or Liam’s father. She said Liam took her to a park pretty far away from their house. They did campouts in the backyard, but he refused to take her to storytime at your bookshop. Maybe he’s embarrassed to see you. As for avoiding town, maybe he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him.”
I nodded.
“And Opal also said since Mary left, she and Jake have been watching Winnie in the afternoons and at night when Liam is working, if they’re in town. If not, it’s Liam’s father, Mitchell. I don’t think it will last much longer, though, for Jake and Opal. They’re both retired and want to travel together. It’s their time, but Jake feels guilty.”
“Yeah, it was always Mary or Jake and Opal who brought her to storytime. I’m not sure what he’s going to do now that Mary is gone, and, as you said, Jake and Opal want to travel.” I exhaled. “Anyway, it’s not my concern. How are things going with you and Kian?”
Her eyes lit up. “Wonderful. I sometimes have to pinch myself because I feel like I’m living in a dream. I have everything I’ve ever wished for.”
My heart kicked in my chest as a pang of jealousy ripped through my body. All of my friends were finding love, getting married, and starting to have kids, and I felt like I was stuck. I hadn’t ever really dated anyone I could see myself with in the future. Most told me I was obsessed with my bookstore and that they were tired of competing with it. I couldn’t blame them. I was dedicated to that place. The other guys all seemed to want me for one thing. My looks. Maybe I’m guilty of reading too many romance novels and was looking for a guy who simply didn’t exist except on paper.
“I’m so happy for you, Cadie. I really am.” And I was happy for her, even if there was that bit of jealousy going on.
“Aurora, are you sure there’s nothing else bothering you?”
I smiled. “I’m positive.”
“When was the last time you went on a date?”
The change in subject left me slightly dizzy. “I’m sorry?”
“I think you should go out, have some fun. Maybe what you need is more meaningless sex.”
“Hard pass. Having one one-night stand was enough for me, thank you very much.”
She leaned forward. “Okay, hear me out. There is this guy who comes into the bakery every single morning. His name is Gary. He’s new in town.”
“What brought him to Moose Village?” I asked. It wasn’t like our town was a hot spot for people to relocate to for a job. We didn’t have any major businesses besides the city and the school district.
“The city hired him.”
My brows shot up. “Why?”
“According to Harper, her father told her that they needed a new city finance director.”
“Is Charlie leaving?” I asked. Charlie Nettle had been the city’s finance director for as long as I could remember.
She smiled. “He’s retiring at the end of July.”
“Oh wow! That’s great news for him.”
Cadie looked up and smiled. “Speak of the devil. Gary! Hi!”
I turned to see a man standing there with a smile on his face. His dark blond hair was cut and trimmed as if he had just stepped out of a military uniform. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt that showcased his incredibly fit body. When he started toward us, I turned back to Cadie.
“What are you doing?”
“Introducing you to him. Trust me, you’ll like him.”
“Cadie!” I whisper-shouted, and before I could say anything else, Gary was standing at our table.
“Hey there, Cadie. Fancy meeting you here.”
She smiled and looked at me. “Gary, I’d like to introduce you to one of my dear friends, Aurora Banks. Aurora, this is Gary Harris. He’s our new city finance director.”
