Page 97 of Come Back to Me

She clucks her tongue. “His words could heal this pain you’re in.”

“I want to hurt.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“It isn’t.” I sniff. “I’m entitled to feel this way.”

“Did I say you weren’t? I’m saying it’s ridiculous to suffer when the cure is within reach. People make mistakes,piccola, and nothing is ever as cut and dry as we’d like it to be. He seemed to be a good man, and I remember him as a boy. He was always polite when he worked at The General Store.”

God, I forgot about that—the whole town was abuzz when a Korhonen began working in a menial position for one of the local stores.

But... that’s him, isn’t it?

You’d never know he had a padded bank account—special edition trucks aside.

“Was the disastrous date you went on... with him?”

“No,” I grumble.

I should never have told her about that date, but it’s a habit.

Needing to change the subject, I dip into my pocket and hold out a stone for her. She lifts it to her eye.

“Smoky tourmaline,” I inform her. “For your joints. It arrived today.”

“What’s the other one?”

“Huh?”

“I saw you toying with it earlier. The blue one.”

My throat bobs.

Blue chalcedony.

The tear-shaped crystal had appeared in front of my door this morning.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“That means it does. What is it?”

“Blue chalcedony.”

She sighs then snags a hold of my fingers and knots her gnarled ones with mine. “Why hurt when he could alleviate your pain,amore mia? Your pretty crystals won’t fix this type of pain. Even if he gives them to you as an apology. That’s what blue chalcedony promotes, no?”

“I want to punish him.” The words are raw. Troubled.

“Then spank him!”

“I’m not spanking him! That might be your kink, but it isn’t mine.”

“Even if he deserves it?”

I try to imagine that scenario and burst out laughing. Then, grouchily, I grumble, “Don’t make me laugh.”

“Why not?” She winks. “You’re much prettier with happiness in your eyes, Christymia.” When I tut, she squeezes my fingers. “What do you need from him?”

“Time.”

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