Maybe this would work out okay? She never wanted to keep Emily from Brett. But this had all come on so suddenly, and it was so like Brett not to give her a heads up.
She looked up at the stars, searching for answers and hoping they’d give her strength or a clue on how to learn to live with Brett back in their lives.
Chapter 22
“What’s wrong with you today?”Heather asked Olivia as she passed by her in the cafe, a bin of dirty dishes tucked against her hip.“You gave table two table one’s order. And you’re not stopping and chatting with people. You okay?”
Olivia sighed.“I’m…fine.”
“Right.”Heather rolled her eyes.“We’ll talk after the crowd dies down.”
Sure enough, Heather came and found her in the kitchen as the breakfast crowd waned.“So, tell me what’s going on.”
Olivia sank into a chair.“Guess who’s back in town.”
“I have no clue.”Heather grabbed the chair across from her.“Who?”
“Brett.”
“Really? He hasn’t visited in a long time.”
“Yes, well, this isn’t a visit. He’s moving to Moonbeam.”
Heather’s eyes flew open wide.“Moving here? But…why?”
“He said he wanted to be closer to his…family.”
“You mean closer to Emily.”Heather frowned.
“I’m just repeating what he said. He’s planning on getting an apartment. He has no job here yet though. And as near as I can figure he’s planning on seeing Emily all the time.”She shrugged.“Which, I get it. Emily is excited to have him here. I’m happy for her. I’m just not used to…sharing her. That sounds terrible, doesn’t it?”
Heather reached over and squeezed her hand.“No, it doesn’t sound terrible. It sounds normal. It will be a big adjustment having him here.”
“I just don’t know how it will all work out. When he gets a place, will he want her to stay there some? Is he going to start voicing opinions on what she does? Where she’s thinking of going to college? I’m used to raising her alone. Making decisions on my own.”
“You guys will work it out. It just might take a bit.”Heather leaned forward and frowned.“And…what else is bothering you?”
She let out a short laugh.“Ah, you know me so well. It seems that Brett couldn’t have planned his return at a more unfortunate time.”
“Why’s that?”Heather’s brow quirked up questioningly.
“So after Austin walked me home?”She felt a blush sweep across her cheeks.“He…he kissed me.”
“Well, good for him.”
“It was…nice. Very nice. I asked him inside. Thought we might have a drink out on the lanai.”
Heather grinned.
“But then we went inside and there was Brett, sitting at the kitchen table with Emily, and acting like he belonged there.”
“That was some lousy timing.”
“Austin couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I can’t blame him. It was just…awkward.”
“I’m sure he’ll pop by today and talk to you. You two can sort that out, too. Sounds like you have a lot of sorting out to do.”Heather laughed.“And you hate feeling out of control.”
“I do.”She grimaced.“I so hate it.”
