Page 80 of Second Chance with Seth
“Was that a problem?” I ask, sensing it might have been.
“Not for them. But it was for me. I hated feeling so helpless.”
“You weren’t helpless. You were busy with River. They’re not the same thing.” She sighs and I stand, pulling her into my arms, even though I know we’re attracting attention. “We’ll work something out,” I say.
“I don’t know what. I thought about going upstairs to get River’s baby carrier, but then I realized that might not be practical… or safe. There’s steam from the barista machine, and hot drinks, and…”
“Stop panicking, babe.”
She looks up at me, unconvinced, and pulls back, recalling where we are, as her eyes dart around the room.
“French toast with bacon?” she says, getting back to practicalities.
“You know me too well.”
“Hmm… I think I do.”
She smiles up at me, licking her lips, before she goes to put my order through and I sit back down again and sip my coffee. It’s good to see her smiling, but that brief interlude has brought it home to me that I really need to make some changes… and I need to do it fast.
I’ve barely had time to contemplate that before Everly comes back.
“It won’t be long,” she says, but before she can leave again, I grab her hand.
“I know you’re busy, but can you sit, just for a second?”
She glances around, then perches opposite me. “Is something wrong?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Her face falls, and I pull her hand a little closer, holding on tight. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What’s that?” she asks.
“I just saw Helen again.”
She shakes her head. “For Christ’s sake. Is she stalking you?”
I smile. “I don’t think so, but thank you for not getting upset.”
“Should I be? Upset, that is?”
“No, but I know how you feel about her.”
“That hasn’t changed, but I’m trying to trust you.”
“And I appreciate that. It means a lot, babe.”
She leans in slightly. “I know it does, although I’d still like to know what happened.”
“She saw me from across the street and come over to say hello.”
“Just hello?”
“No. She suggested we could meet up for coffee this afternoon.”
“Coffee? Where?”
“She didn’t say, but I assumed she meant in here. There’s nowhere else to go for coffee, is there?”
“I suppose you could go to Dawson’s… or MD’s as it is now, but…” She leans back, letting out a sigh. “You think she meant for you to meet in here?”
