Page 29 of At the Edge of Surrender

I tried to clear them away before I spoke. “Hi, Raven. I’m Emery, this is my mom, Wendy, and this sweet one is my niece, Maci. That was really kind of you.”

“Very nice,” Mom added. “I think you made our Maci’s day.”

“Well, I’m a personal believer that flowers always brighten our days, no matter what the situation. A hug when we need it most and a gentle reminder that there is always beauty around us, even when it’s difficult to see it. I think it was perfect timing that I ran into you.”

Her gaze swept back to Maci. Normally, someone coming up and talking to her would set me on edge. But there was something so utterly sincere about her that I felt at ease.

No threat when it seemed like that’s the only thing this town could be.

“Perfect timing,” I whispered.

Her head tilted to the side as she looked between the three of us. “Are you new to town? I haven’t seen you around before, and not to brag or anything, but I’m excellent at remembering faces.”

“Oh, no. We’re just visiting.” I couldn’t help but plant my hands on Maci’s shoulders. As if that contact could will it into being. That I might stand the chance of keeping her with me.

Clinging to the hope that Kane Asher would be completely uninterested in what I’d come here to tell him.

Unable to imagine a man—someone like the one I’d met last night—would want to take on a child.

Right?

He wouldn’t.

And there was no way I could trust him if he did.

Disappointment flashed through Raven’s features, and she gave a little pout. “Oh, bummer. I was hoping you were staying. I have a nephew who’s almost six.” Her gaze dropped to Maci. “I bet he would have loved to meet you.”

Maci brightened, the child nothing but a beaming light. So badly she wanted to belong after she’d been ripped from everything she knew. “Is he so big? I’m only four…”

She held up four chubby fingers.

“But I really need to get a new friend because I don’t liveat my old house anymore, and I don’t got a preschool, but IfinkI need to find one because it’s gettin’ time I learned to read.”

Curiosity filtered into Raven’s expression as she glanced at me. I wondered what she saw because compassion followed it, the woman staring at me for a beat of sympathy before she cast a smile at Maci.

“He might be a big boy, but I think he would love to be your friend. So, if you happen to stick around for a while, you know where to find me.”

She hooked a thumb back at her shop.

“Wifa billion flowers.” Maci waved her flower overhead.

“That’s right. I’ll be right here with all the flowers, hoping to brighten your day.”

Shifting the bouquet around, she straightened and gave us a little wave. “It really was nice to meet you. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to pop by. It’s what I’m here for, and I’m pretty much a great time if you need someone to show you around town. I think we would really get along.”

“Youfinkmy auntie needs a new friend, too?”

Raven reached out and ran her fingers through a lock of Maci’shair, though she peered over at me when she murmured, “Yeah, it looks like she might.”

My chest stretched tight, and I couldn’t even respond, so my mother did for me. “We really appreciate that.”

“Any time. And when I say any time, I mean any time,” she peeped. “Now, I have to run these flowers to the restaurant across the street because they need their day brightened, too.”

She gave a wink before she turned and stepped up to the edge of the sidewalk. She looked both ways before she flounced across the street, her high heels clicking on the pavement as she went.

A surprise whirlwind that somehow left me with a faint smile pulling at my lips.

Mom looked back at me. “Well, she was quite…friendly.”

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