Page 20 of Must Have Been Love

“She’s six, Hudson, not thirty-six. Where were you planning to take her? To some five star swanky place where she’ll have to behave like she isn’t a kid?”

Truth is, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Maybe I don’t let myself. Having fought so hard to get her back with me, I’ve learned to take each day as it comes. “A party really isn’t a good idea,” I say.

“Why not?” Autumn reaches into the bag next to the sofa and pulls out her tablet. “I’ve already started planning the theme. You know how intoFrozenshe is. I thought we could use that as the theme. Or maybe go a bit wider and do Princes and Princesses.”

“It’s spring,” I point out. “Almost summer.” As far as I can remember,Frozentakes place in winter.

“Exactly. It means we get to play with decorations and outfits. There’s this company that sends princesses to run the party, with games and gifts and pretty cakes.” She shoves the tablet toward me, but all I see is a sea of pastel blues and pinks. “I called them and paid a deposit.”

“Isn’t there a small problem?” I ask, because I really don’t want to throw a party. I love my daughter more than I love anything in life, but I fucking hate being surrounded by people I don’t know.

“What?” Autumn asks, tipping her head to the side and glaring at me.

“She has no friends to invite,” I point out.

From the corner of my eye I see Parker watching us. He doesn’t step in between us, mostly because he knows that my kid sister usually has me wrapped around her little finger.

“Of course she does,” Autumn counters. “There are kids on the island. And adults too. They’re all her friends.”

“What if she doesn’t want to have a party?” I ask, grasping for straws.

“What kid doesn’t want a party?” Autumn runs her finger over her bottom lip, like she’s cooking something up. “And anyway, aren’t you always the first to tell us we should be treating her like a normal kid? And normal kids have parties, Hudson. With pretty dresses and pink cakes and other kids throwing up because they eat too much sugar.” Autumn’s on a roll now. “So stop being an ass and just say yes.”

I let out a long breath. “Let me run it past Dr. Methi the next time I see him.” I take Ayda to a psychiatrist for therapy on the mainland once a week.

“I already called him,” Autumn says smugly, making me regret putting her on the list of approved people for Dr. Methi “He thinks it’s a great idea. I’ve already ordered the invitations for us to hand out.”

Parker coughs out a laugh, because he knows I’ve lost this battle. And maybe that’s a good thing, I don’t know.

I want Ayda to be happy. I want her to talk again.

“Okay,” I say, already regretting it. “We’ll have a damn party.”

Autumn claps her hands together and grins at me. “Thank you. It’s going to be the best day ever.”

seven

SKYLER

I wake up the next morning determined to finish cleaning out my dad’s closet, just as soon as I’ve hunted down a good cup of coffee. Not that I’ve even started going through it yet. My plan to get everything done is going a little awry, much to Lee’s amusement.

Timetables and lists have never been my thing. On the plus side, I’ve been through every record Dad had and listened to each of them. I worked out how to change them over in the Wurlitzer so I get to dance in the bar alone to them, thinking of how he might have done the same.

In a weird way, I feel closer to him now more than ever. Maybe that’s why I’m putting off cleaning out his clothes. I’ll never get him back, but it just feels so final.

Because I’m the ultimate avoider, instead of facing my task I slide my feet into a pair of sandals that are decorated with shells and head up the road to the main town. The sun is out in her full late spring glory, her rays bouncing off the ripples in the ocean, making them sparkle like diamonds. By the time I reach Main Street there’s already a healthy number of visitors here, all talking excitedly and popping in and out of theIsland Treasures Thrift Shopand theLiberty Book Nook, two shops that I make a note to visit later when I have more avoiding to do.

But right now I head straight for the coffee shop that stands proudly at the top of the hill, my lips twitching when I see the sign hanging above it.

Brewed Awakeningsis painted in swirly gold letters, with little beans scattered around on the sign. Whoever named it is a fellow pun lover at least.

The café is busy, filled with the hum of conversation and a radio playing softly in the background. The aroma of roasted beans is enough to set my blood racing in anticipation of caffeine.

“Hello,” the familiar woman behind the counter says as I walk up. “What can I get you?”

“Hi,” I say smiling at Eileen. She looks even older than I remember as she stands behind the counter, which isn’t a huge surprise. Is the woman so poor she has to run a guesthouse and a coffee shop? Maybe Hudson Fitzgerald should concentrate on making the people of Liberty’s lives easier rather than making mine harder.

“Hello.” She doesn’t smile back and my own grin falters. Oh, is she annoyed with me about Ayda? Did Hudson say something? Maybe the whole town hates me now.

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