Page 30 of Never Let You Go

“Yes, please! Now, let me roll up your sleeves,” she says, then massages my hands with a lotion that smells heavenly.

“Have you lived in Emerald Creek all your life?” I ask her.

“Mostly. I lived in Texas for a little while, when I was married. Then, after my divorce, I came back here.”

“Oh, I’m s—”

“Nothing to be sorry about. We all make mistakes, don’t we?” She flexes my fingers back, giving me a relaxing hand stretch. “I like it here,” she says, looking out the window. “It’s home, you know? My mom lives outside the village, my brother is up the road, Chris and Skye are right here, and the people of Emerald Creek are good people. That’s all I really need,” she says with a soft smile.

There has to be more to her story, but I’m not going to ask. The truth is, she does seem at peace and fulfilled. Something I will probably never experience. “I have to say, it must be wonderful to be able to build a life here.”

“It is. Who knows? Maybe you’ll stay,” she says lightly.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t. I need to get back to New York.”

“Of course. Do you like it over there?”

I hate it over there. “It’s—It’s complicated.”

She rolls my sleeves down. “I’m sure.”

“You have your family here.”

“You’ll find yours. Sometimes, the strongest families are those you choose, not those you were born into,” she says.

I think about this for a bit. If I weren’t the kind of person who constantly attracted disaster, I would probably yearn for a solid relationship. Marriage. Children. Being part of my spouse’s family. My heart tightens. “The company I work for in New York, it’s like a big family.” I’ve repeated this mantra—one of Rita’s mantras—often, believing it wholeheartedly. But, somehow, it feels a bit odd today.

Grace smiles softly, pretending to go along with my answer. People who have a family don’t understand people like me, and it’s okay. I’m used to that. I just don’t have the words or energy to explain that, when you can’t have the thing you want most, you just make up a substitute for it.

I pull out my phone and take close-up photos of Grace as she cleans the nail station. “You look so much like Skye, you could be her mother.”

“Mm,” Grace says, her gaze darkening as she stands.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s all right. Skye doesn’t have a mother,” she says, confirming what Skye said last night. “It’s a touchy subject, mainly for Chris. I think he struggles with how to protect her from the pain.” She runs her hand through her hair. “I’m around as much as I can, but it’s not the same. There’s going to be a day when she asks why. And, deep down, she has to know that her mother didn’t want her, you know? It’s not like she died tragically or anything.”

She doesn’t tell me what happened, and although I’m burning to know, I don’t ask. I’ve been here less than twenty-four hours, and she’s opening up about family secrets already. Just like Christopher and Skye last night. When was the last time someone opened up to me?

“He takes her to therapy,” she continues as we make our way toward the front of the salon. “She’ll be okay. She’s already okay.” Her eyes narrow on me, concern in her expression. “Chris, I’m not so sure. I worry about him, sometimes. He can be so tough on the outside, but inside, he’s all mush. You know how men are.”

“Not really.” I blush as I slip my coat on. She looks at me with curiosity. Although I hate to talk about myself, I can’t stay a closed book after everything she just unloaded on me. “No father, no brother, or even cousins. And I’ve never had a serious relationship. Don’t want one. It’s not in the cards for me.”

She seems amused. “Is that so?”

“Hundred percent.”

She looks at me differently, like I’m a mystery to her and she’s trying to figure me out, but at least she’s not trying to convince me that a man is the best thing that could ever happen to me. I suppose I can credit that to her divorce. It’s almost like I can hear Rita’s approval.

“You’re a good listener,” she says. A smile warms her features again. “That’s a rare thing.”

“I’m sorry if I appeared nosy… regarding Skye.” My cheeks heat up again. “It wasn’t my intention.”

“You’re not nosy, Alex. You’re caring. I can tell the difference. And I’m happy you’ll be staying with Chris and Skye for a while. Skye… she already likes you. And Chris? He needs to get out of his comfort zone.” She smiles mischievously at me as the doorbell chimes and her first client enters

The funny things happening in my stomach at her words need to stop.

Right. Now.

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