Page 78 of Tangled Up In You

Molly frowned.What the hell did Jackie mean by that?

Neil ignored her comment. "What's the problem?"

"The problem is this store is a scab on the block and it needs to go. She's selling nonsense and stealing people's money. I won't stand for it."

"I'm not going anywhere." She stepped around Neil so she could face Jackie. "This store is not a scab or a scam. That trash could have been left by your own customers or some random person walking down the street."

"I saw those teenagers who were working here earlier eating this food."

"They threw their bags away inside the store. But let me take care of that for you." She grabbed the bags from Jackie's hand. "Are we done?"

Jackie whirled around on her high heel and stormed back to her boutique.

"She's still a piece of work," Neil muttered.

"That seems like too nice of a description. She can't stand me or the store, as you just heard. I don't know how Phoebe tolerated her all these years. I've thought about trying to kill her with kindness, but I think she might kill me first. I wish she would just give me a chance to prove that I can be a good neighbor and I can show her exactly what I'm selling."

"I don’t think that will matter. I don't know about her relationship with Phoebe, but her animosity toward you is probably not just about the store; it's also about your mother."

"What are you talking about?"

"I dated Jackie for a few months. I broke up with her shortly after I met your mother."

"I had no idea."

"She thought your mom stole me from her, but that wasn't true."

She stared at him in amazement. "Really? You dated Jackie?"

"I didn't realize when we first started going out that she was such an unhappy person. She had only been in town a few years then, and I didn't know her sad history."

"What was her history?"

"She lost a child. It was an accidental drowning. Her husband left her shortly after that. She moved to Whisper Lake to start over. Her sister lived here. That's how we met—through her sister. But it became clear that we weren't right for each other. I was going to break it off. Then I met your mother, and I knew I had to end it with Jackie. The two events weren't as connected as she might have thought, but they did happen fairly close together."

"My mom said something once about how popular you were. I didn't know that someone hated her guts for stealing you."

"I don't think that Jackie and your mom had much to do with each other."

"Did Jackie try to get you back after we left?"

"No. The only thing Jackie has more than anger is pride."

"Well, thanks for telling me. I need to figure out a way to get along with her, which doesn't seem likely, but I have to try. We're neighbors. I can't have her bad-mouthing me and the store to everyone in town."

"Your customers will counter that with their own rave reviews. I wouldn't waste too much time on Jackie." He paused. "Are you going to stay in town, Molly? Is this where you plan to be for a while?"

"I'm here for now. That's all I can say."

His gaze filled with shadows. "You sound just like your mother."

"I grew up with her. It's hard not to be like her. We moved around so much, she was the longest and strongest influence in my life."

"I understand. I'm glad you're back, for however long. If you'd ever like to get coffee or a meal sometime, I wouldn't mind hearing more about your life."

"Sure, maybe once I get things more settled."

"Whenever you're ready—and only if you want to. Take care."

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