Page 104 of Coffee Shop Girl
“I wasn’t a failure to my father, and I’m not responsible for his death. As crazy as it sounds, I thought his suicide was about me. But it wasn’t. It had nothing to do with me at all. I thought his disappointment in my choices was what pushed him over the edge.”
Bethany tensed for a moment, then turned. Her bright, aquamarine eyes blinked at me, and she rested her chin on my chest.
“You were afraid something terrible would happen to me, just like your father.”
“As insane as it sounds, yes.”
“It doesn’t sound insane. Grief makes you think crazy things, Mav.”
“I’m sorry, Bethany.”
She leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “There’s nothing to apologize for. We both had things to sort out.”
I held on to the small of her back. Afraid I’d lose her. Afraid this would just disappear. “And what did you sort out?”
Her expression eased into a half-smile. “The Frolicking Moose is rustic cozy, I sell the best-rated pastries in Jackson City, and I learned that my dad isn’t in a coffee shop.” She touched her heart. “He’s in here. In me. Always.”
How could any work have been more important than this woman?
“Above all that,” she murmured, her gaze on my lips, “I realized you’re the member of my team I want the most. I don’t need you, Mav. I want you. That’s infinitely more powerful, I think.”
I smiled, brushing a lock of hair out of her eyes with my fingertips. “I want to be on your team.”
“Even if there are two other people on it?”
“Even if.”
“You are my team,” she whispered. Sparkling tears filled her eyes. “Because you came back.”
I pressed my forehead to hers. “Do you know that I love you? That it terrifies me in the most frightening, wonderful way possible? That I love you more than anything I’ve ever loved in my life?” A wry expression crossed my face. “Full right leg included.”
Her lips pressed together as if suppressing a smile. “Not as much as I love you, Mav.”
The pad of my thumb rubbed her bottom lip.
A tear spilled down her cheek. “Hold me?” she whispered.
I tightened my grip until there was no space.
“Forever.”
She fell into hot, cleansing sobs on my chest until long after the sun faded. When she fell asleep, curled on top of me like a kitten, I carried her into the bedroom. I set her gently down, grabbed a blanket, and lay next to her. She burrowed into my neck with a sigh.
Finally relaxed, I fell asleep with her tucked safely in my arms. The way I planned to do for the rest of our lives, in this very house.
That was an expectation I’d never let go of.
36
Bethany
Four months later.
Christmas Eve.
Thepopof a cork exploded in the coffee shop.
Lizbeth held out a cup, hopeful eyebrows raised. “Is that champagne?” she asked. “Does Bethany officially adopting us mean you’ll finally let me try it?”
