Page 77 of Tangled Up In You

Her gaze narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"She liked new over old, change over stability. I used to think she was running away from something more than she was running toward something, but she told me I was wrong. That the future called to her, that she couldn't turn away from the possibilities and just settle for what she already knew."

Something about his statement didn't jibe with what had happened between him and her mother. "I don't understand what you're saying. The only time my mother wanted to stay anywhere was here in Whisper Lake, but you didn't want to get married. That's why we left."

He shook his head. "That's not why you left."

"It is. She thought you were going to propose but you didn't. When she pressed you about the future, you said you didn't see anything long-term. She came home crying. We packed up a few days later. She was devastated by your breakup."

Neil stared at her in disbelief. "Molly, that's not what happened."

"Of course it happened. I was there."

"You weren't there when I asked your mother to marry me, and she said no."

His words were shocking. "That's impossible. She wouldn't have said no. She loved you. She wanted us to be a family.Iwanted us to be a family. You were the only person I ever wanted to be my stepfather. But you pushed us away. You let us go."

"I can't believe she told you that," he said in shock.

He put out a hand to touch her arm, but she jerked away, her emotions reeling.

"My mother didn't lie to me. She was a lot of things, but she wasn't a liar. She would tell me when she wanted to leave somewhere. She didn't make up a story." The more she talked, the more desperate she became to convince herself, but seeds of doubt were growing in her mind.

"She made up a story that night. I proposed to her, Molly. I showed her a ring," Neil said forcefully. "I asked her to be my wife. She said no. She was sorry. She thought she could say yes. She thought she could settle down, but she couldn't do it. I never saw her again after that."

"Why would she lie?" she whispered, talking more to herself than to him.

"I don't know. Maybe it was easier for her to be the victim."

"Because I would have been angry," she said, answering her own question. "I wanted her to marry you. I wanted you to be my stepfather, and she knew that." She shook her head in bewilderment. "Why did she say no? She told me she was in love with you."

"Not enough to stay, Molly," he replied, a heavy note in his voice. "Like I said before, I didn't know if she was running away from something or toward something, but I knew she was running, and she couldn't stop. She couldn't stay in one place. She was afraid it would stop her from being who she was meant to be. It sounds like she's happy now. Is she married?"

"No. And I don't know if she's happy or if she's staying in New York. Nothing seems to last long with her. I guess she's just built that way."

He cleared his throat. "For what it's worth, I wanted to be your stepfather, too. I thought about you a lot after you left. I've actually been following you online."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, but not in a creepy way," he added hastily. "I just like to see what you're up to. I was shocked when I heard Phoebe left you the store. But then I remembered how close you two were." He paused, smiling to himself. "And now I understand why she told me a few weeks ago that eventually the people we love come back. I thought she was talking about your mom, but she must have been speaking about you."

"I don't think she knew she would die so suddenly and so soon, though. Although, she did read tarot card and tea leaves, so who knows?"

"Are you into all that, too?"

"No. I'm into health and wellness, but not the mystical stuff. I guess I just don't have that much faith in the universe. I prefer to call my own shots."

"I think that's wise."

She looked past Neil, startled to see Jackie Hunt bearing down on them, carrying what appeared to be two fast-food bags.

"These were left outside my store by your employees," Jackie said. "If this happens again, I will call the police."

Neil stepped between them as Jackie looked like she was about to toss the trash in Molly's face.

"What's going on, Jackie?" Neil asked.

Jackie stiffened. "Well, of course you'd be here, coming to her rescue."

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