Page 30 of Love Over Time

Mr. Paredes waved at him. “Henry. Good morning. I see you worked things out.” He pointed at Henry’s hands, beaming.

I pulled away, but Henry tightened his hold on me. “We’re getting there.”

“Good morning” was all I could say as Mr. Paredes waved goodbye. What was wrong with me? Where was Nikki Swift? My gaze darted from smiling face to smiling face. Everyone loved Henry. They were all glad he was back. They had no clue the Morrow girl was back too.

A couple of blocks down, we reached Mrs. Blaine’s diner. The smell of pancake batter and coffee wafted out the door and down the street. The place was exactly how I remembered it, with wooden floors and copper-tiled ceiling. As soon as she spotted us, she waddled her way toward us. Mrs. Blaine was in her late fifties, the town’s gossip, and a huge Cavalier family fan.

“Henry. What a pleasant surprise.” She wiped her hands on her apron and hugged him. She turned to me, eyebrows up while she looked from me to Henry. Back and forth until her curiosity won over. “And who is your lovely friend?”

“Oh.” Henry faced me, brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t realized he was the only one who remembered me, who could see me. “This is—”

“Nikki Swift.” I offered her my hand. I was Nikki Swift now. I could handle Mrs. Blaine. “Nice to meet you. I’m Henry’s friend from school.”

Her smile morphed into a grin so big I could see her molars. She placed her hand over her chest. Her eyes darted around the restaurant, taking inventory of who was around to witness our visit to her place. “Ah. From Canada. What an honor.” She shook my hand. “Here. Why don’t you grab this table by the window? You’ll have a great view of our town.” She gestured for us to sit at a wooden booth. We were on display, like trinkets in an antique shop.

When she left, Henry turned those soft and caring brown eyes on me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”

“Don’t worry about it. I can handle her. Let’s order.” I sat and opened the menu, which hadn’t changed since the last time I was here, and Mrs. Blaine had refused to serve me.

In fifteen minutes flat, our server brought our breakfast and coffee. The two tables next to us had barely gotten their waters and menus, even though they’d been waiting when we walked in. Henry may not have the Cavalier fortune anymore, but he was still one of them. If I hadn’t been good enough for him then, what made me think things could be different now?

“A penny for your thoughts?” He squeezed my hand again.

I gave him my Nikki Swift smile. I needed Nikki right now more than ever. “I thought you could read me.”

“I’d rather hear it from you. I’m such an asshole. All I wanted was to get you out of your room. This was a poor choice. I’m sorry.” He kissed my hand. Mrs. Blaine practically squealed behind the counter.

I raised an eyebrow. “She seems to like Nikki from Canada.”

He chuckled, and then his face blanched, as if he’d seen a ghost. I turned in my seat, and my stomach rolled. His aunt, all decked out like she was on her way to a party, glided through the door and went straight to the counter. This was someone who loved playing the Cavalier card. Mrs. Blaine greeted her and promptly reported Henry was here too, with adate.

“Fuck. She’s coming this way.” Henry squeezed my hand tighter. This time it was more for his own benefit.

“Henry. Honey. How are you?” His aunt touched her cheek to his. He didn’t move a muscle, his face blank, eyes dark and menacing. If his aunt noticed, she didn’t show it. “I hear you’re here with a friend.” She regarded me up and down. Her gaze settled on the two-carat diamond studs on my earlobes. She smiled in approval, and my insides twisted. “I’m Francesca Cavalier, Henry’s aunt.” She offered me her hand.

“Nice to meet you.” I gave her a weak shake, barely touching her fingers. “Henry didn’t tell me he had an aunt.”

She pursed her lips for a second before she plastered on a grin. “Well, that’s Henry for you. But now that we’ve met, my husband, the mayor, and I would love to have you over for this year’s Founders’ celebration at the manor.”

This wasn’t an invitation. This was a list of her credentials. The mayor’s wife who could make the call on who got invited to Cavalier Manor. All she was to me was the witch who’d made Lisa and me clean the floors over and over until they were exactly how she liked them, who’d yell at ten-year-old me for stepping on the expensive rug in the living room.

I flashed her a smile. “Thank you. You’re too kind for thinking of us.”

Across from me, Henry sat back and glared at his aunt. This was the woman living in his house, spending his money. “Is that it? We’d like to enjoy our breakfast.” He gestured for her to leave.

A small gasp left her lips, and she glanced over her shoulder. Keeping appearances was everything to her. Mrs. Blaine caught her eye and took the opportunity to join the conversation. Great. I sipped my black coffee. It burned my tongue, but I kept drinking. A reminder I needed to keep my cool.

“Aren’t they a lovely couple?” Mrs. Blaine asked.

I didn’t bother telling her we weren’t together. A part of me liked that Mrs. Blaine thought Nikki Swift was good enough to date the Prince of Paradise.

Francesca nodded. “I’m so happy for you, Henry. The last time you were in town, your choice in friends was, well, terrible. But that’s how those Morrow girls were, bad seeds. I’m glad you were able to get away from all that.”

Henry’s face remained blank as he met my gaze for a moment. “What made you think of them?”

“We celebrate your dad every year during the Founders’ Day Gala. And every year, I pray that Morrow girl is rotting in prison for what she did.” She wrung her apron, her lips pursed.

She still hated my sister…us. I wished her words didn’t hurt me still, after all these years. Lisa was right. The only way to come back home was to prove her innocence.

---