Page 112 of Tangled Up In You

"I love you, too."

It was the goodnight they'd shared for so many years but tonight it brought mixed feelings. She was happy to see her mom, but she'd known there was going to be trouble since her mother had first walked through the door, and she'd been right.

"I just made the biggest sale of the day," Diana told Molly on Thursday morning. "That woman I just waited on spent $422."

"That's impressive, Mom," she said, as she finished stocking one of the shelves with vitamins. Her mother seemed to have embraced her role as super saleswoman, much the way she attacked any part she had to play.

"I'm very good at moving merchandise."

"Yes. You are very talented at telling people what they want, even if they don't know they want it. Thanks for helping out today."

"It has actually been fun. Not that I'd want to do it forever." She lowered her voice. "And, honestly, honey, I can't imagine that you would, either. You're doing a good job, and clearly you've already made some friends here, but it's just a little store in a little town."

She let out a sigh. "Don't do that, Mom. Don't belittle the store or the town or the people."

"I didn't mean it that way. It's a beautiful town and you've made this store far nicer than I remember. It's very organized, too." She tipped her head toward Drew. "That young man is very sharp. He showed me the website he's building for you. And he mentioned that he set up the software system."

"Yes. Drew has been amazing."

"He might make a great manager."

"He's nineteen, and he's going back to college in a few months."

"Oh, well, maybe someone else then."

"I haven't decided anything."

"I know. I know. What are you doing for lunch?" her mom asked.

"I have to run some errands."

"I can do that with you."

"It will require a lot of boring standing in line at the post office. Why don't you go out, walk around? Chloe runs the Blue Sky Café. It has a great menu. It's on Silver Street."

"Are you sure you won't go with me?"

"I'm sure." She needed a little time away from her mom.

"All right. I'll see you later." Her mother grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

Molly took the empty box into the storeroom to be torn down and placed it in the recycle bin. Then she went back into the store and told Drew she'd be out for a while.

He gave her a nod. "No problem. Take as long as you need."

As she walked outside, a warm breeze lifted her hair, and she felt better than she had since she'd gotten up that morning. She hoped late summer would last for a while longer. She was really enjoying the weather.

Her enjoyment fled as she neared the park and saw the Jeep coming in the opposite direction. It was Adam. He parked, then got out and came toward her.

"I was just coming to your store," he said. "Where are you going?"

"Post office. I have a package to pick up."

"Where's your mom?"

"I sent her to Chloe's café."

"She's still in town?"

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