Page 55 of What Love Can Do

“He was looking for you,” Avery chimed in, sliding receipts toward her then shoving them into a file folder.

“And you told him I’d gone to the city and would be back later today, didn’t you, Mom?”

Her mother huffed, studying Lilly in the eye, almost as if debating what to say or how to say it. Lilly’s stomach sank when she saw the guilt and yes, even regret, in her mother’s expression. “I told him you were gone. I think he took that to mean you were gone for good.”

The words knocked the air out of Lilly’s windpipe, so much that she had to swallow to keep from choking on dry air. “You think he did? And you didn’t bother to tell him otherwise?”

“It’s for the best, Lillian.” Avery gave her an obviously fake sympathetic pressed-lip look. “Isn’t that right, Pen?”

Her mother said nothing. From the looks of it, her mother almost seemed unhappy about this, like she understood she’d gone too far and regretted hurting not only her daughter, but Quinn too. But right now, Lilly was too upset with her to feel much compassion.

“Mother, how could you?” she whispered, then turned away.

“You’re not upset, are you, Lillian?” Avery called. “You didn’t really think of him as anything more than beefcake, did you?”

This made Lilly slow down.

She had a choice—she could march herself right over there and put that horrible woman in her place, cause a commotion near the guests, and upset her mom, who seemed to be on her side for once. Or…she could turn the other cheek. It didn’t matter what Avery said to irk her—Lilly knew that Quinn, though handsome and boasting an athletic body, was, in fact, beefcake-quality, he was much, much more than that. He was funny, sweet, smart, charming, and even had a good head for business. Sexy as hell too.

Lilly took tentative steps towards the foyer. Then a few more, until she flat-out faced Avery Benson and her plump, cheeky face. “I don’t know what Neil’s leaving did to you,” she said, using fire to fight fire. “But it’s not pretty. You haven’t spent one minute with Quinn O’Neill whereas I spent two weeks. So guess what? You’re not qualified to have an opinion. So I suggest you shut your trap before you stick your foot so far in your mouth…”

“Lillian,” her mother warned. “You’ve made your point.”

“…that it comes out the other side,” Lilly finished.

Avery’s face dropped. The receipts fluttered to the desk. Forcefully, she plucked her sweater off the back of Mom’s chair and wrapped it around her body. “That was completely uncalled for. Penny, out of respect for our friendship, I won’t give her the time of day. She’s your daughter. But I will say this. I wasn’t going to say anything, but Bernie saw that Quinn boy coming out of the flower shop today with a full bouquet.” Avery sneered a victorious grin. “Then she saw him entering Mulligan’s later on with the same flowers. I wonder, if he knew that Lilly wasn’t in town, why he’d be buying flowers. Hmm. Looks to me like he found someone else to give him a goodbye shag, since you weren’t available, Lillian.”

Lilly watched her mother’s jaw drop open just before she whipped around to face Avery. “Oh, stick a sock in it, would you, Ave? Jesus Christ.”

Stunned, Avery stared a moment at Penny, then throwing on her sweater, she picked up her purse, plucked her keys out, and entered the kitchen to leave the back way. “See y’all later.”

Lilly seethed, her blood boiled, and eyeballs hurt from how badly she wanted to scream. She stormed out of the foyer, charged down the hall, raced up the secret stairs, and stumbled into her bedroom, slamming the door. God that woman was infuriating! Throwing her crap down on the bed, Lilly burst through the French doors and didn’t stop until she reached the edge of her balcony railing.

There, mustering up every cell of frustration in her body, she let loose the mightiest yell, which echoed across the valley. Dogs barked, and doors unlatched, as folks peeked their heads out.

“Everything okay?” someone called from somewhere, possibly a guest down below sitting in their neighboring vineyard.

“No,” she whispered, then she frowned and said much more loudly, “But it will be.” Just as soon as she found Quinn. It sucked, knowing what her mother had done, but she didn’t believe for even one second that Quinn had been bringing flowers to another woman. He loved her and despite their fight, he still did, just as she loved him.

A sound from inside her room made her look up, and then her mother stood at her French doors, holding something in her hands. Stretching them out in a gentle offer, she said, “This came for you today. Lillian, I’m sorry about everything Avery said. I don’t agree with her. Well…not completely. I know how much he means to you. I know you two formed a strong bond in a short amount of time and I know you’re going to go looking for him. Most of all, I know he loves you too. I saw it for myself in his expression when he was looking for you and when he’d thought you’d gone for good. Hell, maybe you’ll move to Dublin after Miami!” Her mouth quivered even as she handed Lilly the package. “But the point is, it’s your life, not Avery’s and not mine, and I want you to know that, as scared as I am of losing you, you have my full support.”

Lilly could hardly believe that after everything, her mom was finally trying to do the right thing. Lilly walked over to her mom and hugged her. “Thanks, Mom.”

“It’s true. I love you so much. You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

“You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me too,” Lilly replied, genuinely meaning it, though she could now add a certain Irishman to the mix.

“So you can understand how sad and scared I am knowing you’re going to leave me with Avery.” Mom giggled against Lilly’s shoulder, her laughs turning into half-chuckles, half sobs. “Anyway, I have to get back. And I know you have a certain Irish lad to find.” She reached out and pinched Lilly’s cheek.

Lilly smiled, watching her mother traipse through her room and out the door.

The package was still in her hand. Looking at it, she knew exactly what it was, and her heart tore open once again. The Mosaic photo album. She ripped open the envelope and pulled out the square, hardcover book, flipping through the photos she’d named “Where Life Began,” because it was true. From the moment Maggie Phillips met Grant O’Neill, life had begun for her. Without knowing it, life had begun for Quinn too. Without his parents, there’d be no Quinn, no Con, no Brady, and no…what were his twin brothers called again?

Sean and Riley. The wee ones.

And without Quinn’s parents, there would be no Quinn and Lilly either.

Keeping hold of the photo book, Lilly turned to grab Maggie’s journal, frowning when she didn’t immediately see it where she’d left it. Had her mother taken it? And if so, what had she done with it?

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