Page 80 of Meet Me in the Valley
When she set her eyes on the lead role in a ballet performance, she’d get it. When she’d study on the weekends instead of hanging with her friends, it was because she was determined to maintain her spot on the honor roll. It doesn’t surprise me that when she chose to leave Oakwood Valley to start a new life—even if that meant the life she knew would be gone—she made that decision with her full chest. No doubts. Fear? Yes. Doubts? Not Nora. It’s something I’ve always admired about her. The tenacity to be confident in your choices. To never take no for an answer.
But with those traits come shortcomings, and unfortunately, a lot of people were hurt by her choice.
“There’s so much I want to ask. I don’t know where to start,” I admit, finally taking a sip of the lemon ginger tea Nora brewed. The warm drink is comforting as it goes down my throat and settles into my stomach with a sense of calm.
“Let’s talk over your favorite sister meal. Well, I hope it’s still your favorite,” Nora says nervously.
An olive branch. I know one when I see one.
“If it’s what I think you’re making, then yes. Grilled six cheese sandwiches are still my favorite.”
“It’s Calista’s favorite, too.”
Of course it is.
A knock at the door startles me. Nora holds up a finger to me, telling me to wait. I go to stand, watching her hustle toward the knocking.
She didn’t say she was expecting company?
I hear a woman’s voice, cheery and bright. Craning my neck down the hall, my eyes connect with the beautiful mystery woman from the picture on the wall in an embrace with Nora. Deep, warm brown eyes twinkle at me, and I’m met with a beaming, gorgeous smile. Nora takes a set of brown paper bags from her arms as they walk toward me.
I give her a genuine smile, hoping my eyes aren’t too puffy from all the crying. I wipe under my eyes in case my mascara smeared, offering my hand to hers.
“Hello. I’m Tia.”
Instead of taking my hand, she tugs me into a deep hug, and the smell of berries smacks me right in the face. Like artificial berries, ones from a cereal box. I grunt as she squeezes the daylights out of me.
“Oh, I’m a hugger. Hi, honey. I’m Hannah. But you can call me Hanny.”
She’s spirited, but undeniably beautiful. Her long, gold hair shimmers like glitter, sleek and smooth. Her skin is gold, too,like she spends many hours in the sun. I’ve only just met her, but judging by the impact she’s made on my sister and Cali, I’m guessing she’s got a heart of gold, too.
“Calista has been calling her Hanny since she was in diapers,” Nora adds with a grin, taking various groceries out of the bags and placing them on the kitchen island.
So Hannah has been in their life this entire time. I’m assuming as a nanny. Hanny, the nanny. Makes sense. Nora would’ve needed the help. But still, so many questions scramble around in my brain it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly I’d like clarity.
The thorn of envy pierces me in an unwelcome intrusion, side swiping me when I look at the smile on Nora’s face as she looks at Hannah like a savior. A friend.
“Yup. That’s me. I’ve always been Hanny. Now, where is my Cali cub?”
“Calista! Hanny is here!” Nora calls out.
Logan and Cali’s laughter flows down the hallway as the door to Cali’s room flies open. My lips immediately tip into a smile. I knew they would hit it off. It’s hard not to love the man. He’s the best. Even when he lets down half the women within the Austin city limits, not one soul can stay mad at Logan Harper. He’s too loveable, flaws and all.
“Hanny!” Cali screams, running to her like an old friend. The bond between them is evident in the way Cali clings to Hannah, wrapping their arms around each other tightly.
Logan cooly walks into the living room space, giving me a flirty wink. Instant butterflies flutter inside me with one simple gesture. My feet don’t stop until I’m within arm’s reach of him.
“Logan?” Hannah unwraps herself from Cali, her face suddenly white as a ghost. Logan turns toward her, stiffening immediately as soon as their eyes meet. The tension in the roombecomes thick, like a dense fog. Nora and I find each other, confusion marking both of our faces.
“You two know each other?” Nora asks with trepidation. Cali’s eyes flicker between Logan and Hannah, then back to her mom for some sort of resolve.
Logan’s jaw ticks, his eyes mist, and his fists coil into tight balls. I can see his chest trembling, his breaths stuttering as he breathes through his nose.
“Nora, what the hell is my mother doing in your house?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
LOGAN
