Page 78 of Follow My Heart

I sighed. “I’m only one person. Surely, it won’t make that much of a difference.”

“I have to know how many people to feed.”

I sighed, a little irritated that I’d been reduced to a mouth to feed. “I told you I wasn’t sure I could get away. I don’t want to leave my shop in the hands of my employees for too long.”

“You can close it,” she said like it was no big deal.

“You know I can’t do that.” The one thing I’d learned in business was that consistency was key. If the shop was suddenly closed when it was supposed to be open, customers would think something was wrong. I’d seen owners go on vacation for a week and post it on the door, but those were more established than mine.

“Family should come first.”

In our family, Danielle came first. “You’ll be fine without me.”

“Danielle’s going through something important in her life. I think you should be here to support her.”

“I opened a business, and no one has even been to Maryland to visit, much less support me,” I said before I could censor myself. Pointing the unfairness out never helped me.

“Violet. We live in Florida,” she said as if that explained everything.

Mom would never travel to Maryland to visit me here. I suspected it, but it was another thing to hear her say it. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea yet.”

“Why do you make things so difficult. Danielle told me right away she was coming.”

Why wouldn’t she? She was the golden child. My parents gushed over her whenever she came by. But I was largely ignored when I wasn’t being criticized for my silly dreams.

“You just run an ice cream shop.”

Her implication was that it wasn’t important. “Which is my livelihood.” I wasn’t willing to give it up or throw away my dreams. I pulled up to Ryder’s house. “Listen, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

Before Mom could ask if I was coming to Christmas again, I hung up. By the time my foot touched the bottom step to the porch, Ryder opened the front door with a smile. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I said as I walked into his open arms. It felt good to come home to him. He wore a soft long-sleeve shirt that felt nice against my cheek.

“Is Violet here?” Faith asked from somewhere deep in the house.

Ryder turned to say, “Sure is,” but kept an arm around my back.

“Stop hogging her,” Faith called back, and we both chuckled. It was nice to see each other, but we wouldn’t have time alone until she went to sleep.

Ryder let me go, and I followed the sound of her voice to the living room. “What did you do today?”

“We went to the farm. Charlotte’s getting everything ready for the festival next week,” Faith said excitedly.

“I’ll have my ice-cream cart there.”

“It’s going to be so much fun. There’s going to be all these vendors selling art, jewelry, candles, and even food. The theme is holiday.”

“I have my ice-cream flavors all planned.”

“Can I help you at the stand? I’m good at scooping ice cream,” Faith asked.

“That’s up to Violet. It’s her work,” Ryder said.

“I have an employee but I don’t mind showing you what we do.”

Faith’s eyes widened. “That would be so fun.”

I laughed at her enthusiasm. “It’s just ice cream.”

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