Page 86 of So in Love
“Do you want to read it?I can have Kim send it to you.”
“Only if you want.”
Crystal nodded, emotion rising in her throat again.“I do.”
Alaina grinned.“Sean will be thrilled.He was so disappointed—but from a purely professional place, unlike me.Everyone is happy for you and the buzz this is getting.”
Setting her fork down, Crystal scoffed.“I’m sure noteveryone.”Certainly not Angie Westcott.Or Stella.Or probably half the damn town of Ribbon Ridge.
“No, you’re probably right.”Alaina’s gaze was sympathetic.“But I learned a long time ago that you can’t please everyone.So I don’t bother.All I care is that I love and support those who love and support me.Which is why I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“Enough already.I get it!”Crystal laughed, and Alaina joined her.
After a moment, Alaina sobered.“Have you talked to Jamie?”
Crystal shook her head.
“You should text him.Or something.He cares a lot about you.”
Crystal rested her elbow on the table.“Yeah, I think he probably does.”
“And how do you feel about him?”
Shit.She didn’t want to go there.Not right now.She still felt raw from last night, and maybe from being here with her overwhelming, but in the best possible way, family.She leaned her head down and placed her forehead on her palm, her hair cascading down around her face, and stared at the table.“Do we have to talk about this right now?”
Alaina tucked Crystal’s hair behind her ear, letting light into the little fortress she’d created.“What did you say?”
Crystal turned her head on her palm to look at Alaina.“I said, ‘do we have to talk about this right now’?”
“Not if you don’t want to.But don’t let that boy hang.He’s too good a catch.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I see the way he looks at you, and I hear the way he talks about you.You’re nuts if you walk away from that.And do not give me any excuses as to why you won’t work.I know you’re older.I can guess you probably think he’s way smarter.And don’t even start with the ‘I hate small towns’ garbage.”She’d raised her voice an octave to mimic Crystal’s voice.
Crystal pouted.“I don’t sound like that.We can talk about this tomorrow.Tonight I’m celebrating Trent’s birthday and then going back to my mom’s for an old-fashioned sleepover with my best friend.”
Alaina’s eyes lit.“Ooh, do you think she’ll make us buttermilk French toast?”
Crystal sat up and swept her hair back from her face.“With sugar bacon?You bet.Mom!”She called out, knowing she’d be delighted to relive their youth.
Yes, there’d be time tomorrow to think and talk about Jamie.The problem was going to be keeping him out of her head tonight.
Jamie walkedinto The Arch and Vine, which was jammed with most of the people who’d been at the exhibit reception the night before.The Archers had invited everyone to come for a complimentary dinner tonight in an effort to smooth any ruffled feathers and to make sure everyone knew that there would benolawsuit against Crystal.
He hadn’t planned on coming, but then he’d received a surprise package in the mail from his college friend that afternoon—a diary written by Rose Stowe.It was the single best piece of evidence they’d found regarding Dorinda Olsen, and his mother needed to see it.
As did Crystal.But she wasn’t here.Alaina had texted him last night that she’d left town but hadn’t said where she’d gone.
He’d waffled between texting her about it and doing nothing.So far doing nothing had won out, but he knew that wouldn’t last.He didn’t know what to do and hoped one of his brothers might have some advice.
As luck would have it, Luke came over to him almost immediately.“Hey, Jamie.How are you doing?”
“Fine, I guess.”
Luke’s gaze dipped to the booklet he carried.It was the diary—photocopied and bound together by his pal in San Francisco.He’d had another copy made that afternoon.“What’s that?”
“Actually, it’s a diary by Rose Stowe—Turner’s mulatto wife.”
