Page 81 of Moonlight Feels Right
As soon as she'd gotten home from work on Monday afternoon, she'd started coordinating the delivery of furniture to Bree's apartment. Paige had volunteered to watch the kids after school so Bree could get things organized without tripping over Olivia every other second.
Bree came out of the bedroom with Lexie, who had just delivered some of her beautiful, framed seascape photos to put up in the bedroom.
"What do you think of the table?" she asked Bree.
"It's great. Everything is wonderful." Bree looked around the group. "You are all so kind and generous. I can't quite believe it."
"Believe it. This is just the beginning," Liam told her. "Whether you want new friends or not, you've got them, Bree."
"I feel very lucky," Bree said.
"Is that it for us, Emmalyn?" Brad asked. "I need to get down to Maverick's."
"We're good. I appreciate the help."
"Oh, wait," Brad said, turning to Bree. "Are you looking for a job, Bree? Because I have some server shifts I'd like to fill at my bar."
"I do need a job, but I need to work while Olivia is in school."
"That probably won't work," Brad agreed.
"How about working at a sporting goods store?" Liam asked. "I run the Beach Shack, and I could use part-time help during the day."
"I have worked in retail. But I don't want you to make up a job for me," Bree said.
"Trust me, I'm not," Liam replied. "I only need someone from nine to two, and it's difficult to find people that only want those hours."
"Those would be perfect for me."
"Then come down to the store tomorrow, and we'll talk."
As the guys left, Lexie said, "Bree, I have an idea for some wall art for Olivia's room. Is it okay if I work on something, or do you have specific ideas for how you want to decorate?"
"I have no ideas. Decorating isn't really my thing," Bree said. "A blank wall makes me stressed. I never know where to hang anything."
"Then I'll come up with some ideas," Lexie said. "Also, Aunt Josie is checking the storage locker for anything else that might be fun to incorporate into your new space. I will be in touch," she said as she left the apartment.
Bree gave her a helpless, bemused look. "I'm overwhelmed. I don't know how to thank everyone, especially you, Emmalyn. I know you were the driver behind all of this.
"We just want you to be happy and comfortable here."
"Hunter told me this place is different. I didn't believe him, but now I do," Bree said. "It's been a long time since I felt like I belonged somewhere."
"I know it's not easy starting over after everything you've been through."
"It's not. But it's necessary." She paused. "Hunter told me how much you helped him with Olivia, how you made her feel comfortable at school. You must think I'm a horrible mother for abandoning her the way I did."
She could see the guilt in Bree's eyes. "I think you were in a horrible situation, and you did what you had to do to get yourself together. You chose the right person to leave Olivia with. I have to admit, at first, I wasn't sure, because Hunter was a recluse before Olivia arrived. None of us knew him. He rejected all our efforts to be friendly. Everyone could see he was in a lot of pain, but he wouldn't let us help. Olivia's arrival broke down all his walls, and he had to let us in. I watched him change into a completely different person. He really stepped up. He wanted to take care of Liv to the best of his ability."
"I knew he was going through a hard time because he barely spoke to me the last few months, but I just couldn't deal with his pain and mine. I was also really angry with him," Bree said.
"You blamed him for what happened?"
"Yes. He'd always told me he'd have Gary's back. He promised me that Gary would always come home, and that's not what happened. But logically, I know it wasn't Hunter's fault. And the last thing Gary would want is for me to blame his best friend for something he couldn't control. I just needed someone to put my anger on, and Hunter was it. That was wrong."
"Hunter said he blamed himself, so I think you were both on the same page."
"He talked to you about it?"
