Page 66 of All You Need Is Love

He flicked his long brown bangs out of his eyes and snagged the money she offered. “Okay. Thanks.” Racing off, he joined his friend in line.

“I can’t get a rise outta that kid.” Chuckling, Jenna stopped in front of the Oil Me This booth—owned by Shannon’s Aunt Louise—and lifted an eyebrow at Shannon. “How are you?”

Shannon raised a vial of oregano oil to her nose and inhaled the rich aroma. “Fine.”

“Uh huh.”

She should have known Jenna was going to call it like she saw it. Recapping the sample oil, Shannon shoved it back onto the rack. “I am fine. I’m not going to crumble.”

“Of course you’re not. You’re strong. But that doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be fine.”

“I know.” Shannon sighed. “I’ll be honest. I don’t know where things stand with Quinn—if they’ll ever be better—and I’m still heartsick over Noah. And then there’s Marshall …”

“He really left?”

“Apparently.” Tyler had said as much when Shannon had returned to the brunch a few hours after leaving Quinn standing alone in the kitchen.

“Did you try texting or calling him?” Jenna moved toward the Frosted Cake’s booth, where Miss Josephine and her retired husband, Arnie, were selling apple pie slices impaled with American flag toothpicks.

“He was the one who left.”

“His loss then. But I’m sorry. I know how much you cared about him.”

“I did.” I still do.

But maybe some fairytales weren’t meant to last forever. Maybe they just helped people become who they were meant to be—even if hearts got bruised in the process.

“Let’s grab a treat before we head to the beach.” Jenna joined the Frosted Cake’s line, which was about five people deep.

“Miss Shannon! Miss Shannon!”

She turned just as a small body rammed into her. Wrapping her arms around Noah, Shannon leaned down to bury her nose in his soft hair. “I’ve missed you, buddy. How are you doing?”

He pulled back and gestured over his shoulder. “Great! My mom is back.”

About ten feet away, Noah’s social worker Miranda stood with a petite woman wearing jeans and a red blouse, her long blonde curls pulled into a ponytail. She kneaded her hands in front of her and stared at Shannon.

So this must be Julie Robinson.

Jenna squeezed Shannon’s elbow, a show of support.

A lump formed in Shannon’s throat. “That’s wonderful, Noah. Would you introduce me?”

“Sure!” Noah led her over. “Mom, this is my teacher. The one with the dog.”

Julie held out her hand, which trembled slightly. “Shannon, right? I’m Julie.”

“Nice to meet you.” Shannon studied the woman. She’d expected sunken cheeks, glazed eyes, not this healthy-looking woman who exuded humility.

Noah left Shannon’s side and snuggled up to his mom, pulling Julie’s hands around him so she hugged him from behind.

Shannon’s own hands tingled with the need to hold him. Instead, she folded them together and forced a smile she didn’t necessarily feel—but wanted to. Because right now, it was clear that he didn’t belong to Shannon. He belonged here, with his mom, so long as she could handle the responsibility. Thankfully, Miranda wouldn’t let him go back to a bad situation. The careful eye she currently had on Julie and the research she’d already done into her story gave Shannon peace of mind.

Julie chewed her bottom lip. “I can’t thank you enough for taking such good care of my boy when I couldn’t.”

“It was truly my pleasure. Noah is a special kid.”

They chatted for a few minutes about Julie’s plans to return to Los Angeles and move her mother to a care facility nearby. “Of course, I need to prove myself to Miranda here first. Noah will continue to live with Florence for a few more weeks until she has to move, and then we will see what happens.”

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