Heather took a sip of her drink and just let Livy continue to tell her what happened in her own time. She could see the turmoil clearly on Livy’s face.
“Anyway, we can’t be a family. We’re not. And honestly, I don’t trust him to not just disappear again.”She let out a long sigh.“Which appears is exactly what he’s doing. He’s no longer going to move here.”
“Well, that’s good news, isn’t it? Though Emily would like him here.”
“He told Emily he wasn’t going to move here because of me. That I wanted him to leave.”
“What?”She set her drink down with a clatter.“You’ve never done one thing to stand between Brett and Emily. It’s all his doing that he hasn’t spent time with her.”
“Emily is furious with me. And, no, I’ve never done anything to stand between her and Brett. And I told her I didnottell him to leave.”A long breath escaped Livy.“I hate being on the outs with Emily. And I don’t want to say anything to her that will hurt her relationship with Brett. Brett and my problems are just that. Problems between just him and me.”
“Emily will calm down. She’s a logical girl.”
“And she says she’s going to Paris with Brett. And they’re going to stay for two months now.”
Heather frowned.“Do you think that’s really going to happen?”
“I don’t know. He said that I should go to Paris with them. We should be a family. I think that’s what he was planning all along.”
“He does realize you arenota family? And then there’s the little detail that you just opened Sea Glass Cafe.”
“It’s all just gotten so complicated.”
“Brett has always been good at complicating your life. Remember Emily’s sixth birthday? I came in town for it. Brett was supposed to come and said he was bringing her a big present. She stood by the window all day watching for him. And he never showed.”
“And you slipped out and bought her the handheld game she’d been wanting and said it was from him.”Livy shook her head.“Brett is full of disappointment and surprises.”
“I’m sorry it’s so hard right now.”
Livy sat back.“And…just to add to things, Austin hasn’t called. Hasn’t asked me out again. I don’t know what’s going on with him. It’s like he kissed me and decided that he’s not interested.”
“Of course he’s interested. Why don’t you call him? You ask him out?”
“I did that last time.”
“Do it again. Bet he says yes. Weren’t you just telling me a few weeks ago to talk to Jesse to sort things out?”
“And did you?”
“No, but… that’s different. You should go talk to Austin.”
Livy slumped in her chair.“I don’t know…and now with Brett and Emily. And the cafe opening. My life is just crazy right now.”
“But you care about him, don’t you? I can tell. I haven’t seen you interested in someone in a very long time.”
“I…I suppose I do care about him. But really, I’ve only known him, what, about a month or so?”
“And some people fall for each other the first time they lay eyes on one another. Anyway, why not ask him out? See what happens. Figure out how he feels. Sometimes you have to just take a risk and go after what you want. You did that with the cafe. You can do that with Austin.”
“Maybe…”Livy sat up straight and grabbed her drink.“But I’m not making any promises.”
“You know I’ll keep bugging you until you do.”Heather grinned.
Livy laughed.“I know you will.”
Chapter 30
The next night Olivia came home to an empty house. Emily had texted that she was out with friends and would be home late. Whether that meant out with school friends or out with Brett, she didn’t know. She wasn’t even certain if Brett was still in town.
