Page 47 of An Heir For Her Enemy

Tears sprang to Delaney’s eyes. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

“Are you sure you have to go?”

“I’m sure.” Delaney patted her eyes with a napkin. “I’m surer every day. There’s just too much chance of running into Logan here.”

“You could avoid him,” Cora said. “It’s not like you run in the same circles, apart from a few art events.”

Delaney shook her head. “Our lives are too tied together. He just donatedThe Cherished Infantto the Met, for instance, and I’m invited to the unveiling.”

“Wait. What?”

Delaney quickly explained about the invitation. Cora stared at her.

“Okay, you’re right. You would run into him there, definitely.” She leaned forward. “But aren’t you just the least bit curious?”

“Of course I am.” Delaney took a sip of her tea. As always, the herbal taste reminded her of mornings with Logan in Rome. “I just can’t let myself act on my curiosity.”

“Right.” Cora drank her coffee. “I just wonder why Logan invited you. Maybe he wants to make up.”

“Maybe, but that’s the same hope that’s been hurting me. Even if he wants to make up, I don’t know what that would mean to him. Does he want to have a casual relationship? Or just befriends? Either way, I don’t think I could do that — and I know he wouldn’t want anything more.”

“He’s missing out,” Cora said loyally. “You’re an amazing person. I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Oh, don’t start again!” Cora’s words tugged on Delaney’s heartstrings. “You know I’m going to miss you like crazy. But you’ll come visit, right?”

“Obviously. You won’t be able to keep me away.”

“That’s the dream.” The two women smiled at each other. “But let’s talk about other things now. I don’t want to think about Rome or about Logan.”

“How about baby names, then?” Cora leaned forward with a twinkle in her eyes. “I’ve always liked the name Cora…”

Delaney chuckled. “I’m not naming the baby after you.”

“Why not?” The twinkle turned to puppy eyes. “I am your very best friend.”

“You are. But for one thing, I’m pretty sure I’m having a boy.” A boy with Logan’s easy athleticism and intelligence. A boy with Logan’s gray eyes and smile.

“I could accept Cory, too.”

“You are shameless, you know that right?”

Back and forth they joked, until Delaney almost forgot about her impending departure and about her ongoing worries involving millionaires and art unveilings. At the end of the meal, the friends embraced, although Delaney reminded Cora that they’d see each other again at the airport before she left.

“I know. We just won’t have our special brunches again after that.” Cora tried to smile bravely, but Delaney could see that she was still sad. Delaney was, too.

“The next brunch will be in Rome.” Delaney squeezed her friend once more. “See you later.”

“Bye.”

Delaney hurried off towards her studio. She was on the brink of tears again and wished she wasn’t. Leaving her friends and family would be hard in any situation, but it was especially difficult with pregnancy hormones mixed in.

The next couple days were filled with goodbyes. Delaney bid farewell not just to her friends, but to the city that she loved. This was the city where she’d worked hard and made a lot of her dreams come true. It felt bittersweet to walk one last time through Central Park in a huge puffer jacket against the November chill, to get one more tea at her favorite coffee shop, and to pack up the last of her things in her studio.

Finally, though, it was the day before Delaney was supposed to leave. She spent a quiet morning finishing her packing, but as afternoon rolled in, thoughts of the art unveiling began to creep in again. The event was tonight, and as Delaney had told Cora, she really was curious. Beyond curious. Even though she knew that seeing Logan again would be a mistake, part of her wanted to go anyway. Maybe it would offer her some closure, if nothing else.

Plus, Delaney hadn’t yet packed the cream-colored dress that she wore to all formal events. It hung on the back of her bathroom door, waiting for her to fold it neatly and add it to her brimming suitcase. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t packed it yet,but something had made her leave the dress until the very last minute.

Maybe it was fate.

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