“And what is it that you’re not telling me?”Livy looked unconvinced.
Heather paused, trying to decide how to explain everything that had happened.“After I turned and stalked away self-righteously…Because I wassureI was right. Then I realized…”Heather gazed down, then finally looked back up.“I realized Ilikedhis kiss.”
“So you apologized, right?”Livy leaned forward.“Right?”
“No…Well, I tried. I did. I went to go see him the next time I was in town. After I sorted things out in my mind. It was months later. We talked some.”Actually, they’d talked for hours, all night and into the early morning, and she was certain that things would get back on track for them.
“So why are things still so wrong between the two of you?”
“I thought we were back on even footing after our…talk. But then I went to go see him the next night and he had a girl at his cottage. That Shelly Newson.”
“He’s allowed to date. Especially since you shut him down pretty firmly with that slap.”
“I know…but he couldn’t get me away fast enough when Shelly was there. It was awkward, so I just left.”
“And that’s how you left it?”
“Actually, he came to my condo a few days later. I let him in…and he saw some things I had spread out on the table. The paperwork to change my name to Parker. He asked what that was about. So I told him I was legally changing my last name.”
“Okay, so that’s why he knew about the Parker name and I didn’t—and we’ll talk about that in a minute—so you talked it out when he came over. This time Shelly wasn’t around, so you sorted it out?”
“Not exactly.”
“How not exactly?”
“He saw the papers and jumped on it. Thought that legally changing my name was going too far. That it would hurt Mom’s feelings. That I didn’t need to do that to distance myself from my father.”
“He’s right on that. You could avoid your dad without changing your name.Didyou change it to get back at your father?”
“Maybe a little. He never acted like he wanted me to be his daughter. Then after using Heather Parker as my artist name…it just seemed easier.”
“He was probably right about your mom. It will hurt her feelings. Or itwouldhave hurt her feelings. Maybe not now—now that your father is divorcing her.”
“Anyway, I didn’t take the criticism—constructive or not—very well. I kicked him out. I mean, it’s not his decision on what my name is.”Though, that hadn’t been the real reason she’d kicked him out. She’d still been smarting from how he’d been so eager to get rid of her when Shelly was at his cottage.
Livy frowned.“No, it’s not his decision to make. But he was probably just wanting you to consider your options. You know Jesse, he thinks things through from every angle. Over analyzes. Always has.”
“You’re right. He does. But…I’ve had a lot of years of running my life exactly as I see fit. I don’t need anyone controlling my life like my father did. The constant criticism. Never living up to expectations. I don’t like to be told what to do.”
“But Jesse’s not like that.”Livy’s eyes held a glint of skepticism.
“No, Jesse’s not like my father.”Heather sighed. How many times had she sighed this morning?“And he did see me later and apologized for stepping in with his opinion. But really, by then things were strained between us. Then I ran into him again, talking with Shelly on the wharf. They were in an intense conversation, and I figured it was better if I just let things go.”
“Sounds like just one big misunderstanding to me.”Livy shook her head.“Why don’t you try talking to him again?”
“Because…”Heather set down her coffee. It was all so complicated to explain.“Because even though I saidheruined things, I really think it was me.Iruined things. But anyway…if he wants more than friendship, I don’t think I can give him that.”
“Maybe he’d be fine with being friends again.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybeyou should stop being so stubborn. Go talk to him.”
“He is dating Shelly now, isn’t he?”Heather asked, uncertain if she really wanted to know the answer.
“I’ve seen them together a few times. Not often.”
She shrugged.“Maybe things are just better like they are. We grow up. Grow apart.”
