Page 10 of This Heart
My father was going to twist my balls off and shove them down my throat once I told him I still hadn’t found anyone to watch Winnie for me. That was one phone call I wasn’t looking forward to—but definitely one I was going to have to make.
Aurora
Turning the corner, I saw Liam walking into the Moose Village Hotel, pushing Winnie in her stroller. He looked frazzled and kept checking his phone. I frowned as I turned toward the hotel. Once I walked into the lobby, I saw him at the elevator. A part of me screamed to keep walking, but the other part saw the stressed look on his face.
“Liam?”
He spun around and smiled when he saw me. “Oh, um, hey. A-Aurora. It’s good to see you. I mean, I’ve been wanting to appoligize to you for um…”
He glanced around nervously and I did the same. If he was going to bring up that night right here and now, anyone could hear it.
“It’s fine,” I quickly said.
He swallowed hard and drew in a deep breath before he blurted out, “Did you talk to Nathan?”
Confused by the sudden change in topic, I frowned and asked, “Um, about what?”
It was his turn to frown. “I asked him to tell you hi and that Winnie and I would love to see you sometime.”
Glancing down, I smiled as Winnie chewed on the antler of the moose I had given her for Christmas. “Hi, Winnie.”
She waved but didn’t take the moose out of her mouth.
I looked back at Liam. “Oh, that…he did mention it, yes. I didn’t see you at The Green for the Father’s Day events this year. You haven’t missed it in the past so I was surprised to not see you there.”
For a moment he appeared confused. “Yeah, we kept Father’s Day low key this year. Just family on that Sunday. I guess that was really all I was up for, to be honest.”
I smiled softly and simply nodded.
“Anyway, Winnie and I would love to have you over for dinner, and I owe you a massive apology that can’t be rushed, and right now, the health inspector is waiting for me so…”
His voice trailed off, and the elevator doors opened. “Are you taking Winnie with you?”
He turned them both around. “Yeah, Mary went back to New York; Jake and Opal are out of town, and I haven’t been able to reach my father. So, it’s Bring Your Daughter to Work Day. Maybe she’ll bring me some good luck with whatever this health inspector needs to talk to me about.”
I stepped in and blocked the doors from closing. “Liam, let me take her. It’s been too long and we can go to Memory Lane Toys. I told Brystol I would pop in and make sure everything was okay since she just gave birth a couple of weeks ago.”
He looked at Winnie, then at me. “I don’t want to impose, so I’ll just have one of the managers play with her in my office.”
“It’s no imposition. I offered, Liam.” I knew my voice suddenly sounded cold and distant, but I was instantly reminded about that night months ago and I could still hear him accusing me of trying to worm my way into their lives. Remembering that evening so vividly, I was having second thoughts about my offer and didn’t want to help him after all.
“If you would rather take her, then that’s fine,” I stated as I backed out of the way of the elevator doors. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to give you the impression I’m overstepping...again.”
Spinning on my heel, I started for the lobby doors. I felt guilty, but I wasn’t about to beg him to help him out with Winnie. The moment I stepped out of the hotel, I drew in a deep breath and waited.
Nothing. I wasn’t sure why, but Liam letting me walk away stung.
“Whatever,” I whispered and made my way down Main Street. I’d check in on everyone at Memory Lane Toys, then head to work. Liam’s problems were his own.
“Aurora!”
The sound of my name being yelled caused me to turn and see Cadie. She laughed. “Didn’t you hear me?”
I let out a small laugh, but it sounded more like a relieved sigh than a laugh. Cadie would be a good distraction.
“Morning!” she said as she stopped, and we exchanged a hug.
“Hey, Cadie. Why aren’t you at the bakery?”
