Page 45 of Carly's Heart

“Well then, it’s a good thing I offered, isn’t it?”

♥ Chapter Twenty-One ♥

After a ton of carbs and sweets, and two pizzas, they finally went to bed. Carly’s head ached from the tears she’d shed for her friend’s loss. She hoped to sleep, but after hours of tossing and turning, she got up to make herself some sleepy tea. Without it, sleep would be impossible.

Tanya’s situation ran over and over in her head. Funny how all her money, and all of George’s didn’t buy happiness. Heck, it didn’t even buy a week of fake marital bliss.

She started thinking about ideas she’d held her whole life. At university, she’d encountered more than one trust fund kid who squandered their opportunity to get a good education. It made her biased against the wealthy. Tanya’s situation reaffirmed that stereotype. But it also brought home the fact that Tanya and her family were the exact opposite. They gave generously to local charities. They were always around for town events, pitching in where needed.

Just look at how much they’d done for her over the past three years. They’d been her primary support network. Day in and day out. Never asking for payment or return favors. They were just there for her.

Maybe she’d been hasty in freaking out over bucket lists and finances. Discarding Birch after their lovely dinner had been hasty. After all, she’d liked him, maybe loved him, for years now. He didn’t use his money to get his way. If she were honest with herself, it didn’t seem like he was rich at all. He acted like any other guy and didn’t throw his money around. He was kind and considerate. Intelligent. Sweet and good with Layla.

She sighed and poured a bit of honey into her teacup. Maybe she’d made a mistake.

Did it matter that his bucket list was longer than hers? Maybe she could share his. Or they could live a simple life on his ranch. She was still sitting at the kitchen table when the alarm on her phone went off.

Tanya stumbled, bleary eyed, into the kitchen. “Ugh. I’ve got a carb hangover. How do those runners do that carb loading thing? I need coffee.”

“Go back to bed. I’ll cover at work for you. We’ve managed for two weeks without you. What’s one more day?”

“I can’t. Just let me have coffee and shower. I’ll survive.” She slid into a chair. “Did you mean what you said last night?”

“That I’d kick him in the junk? Yes. I’ll run him over with my car if you want.” She laughed, trying to take the tension from the room. “But if you meant, will I have a baby for you? Absolutely. One thousand percent. When do we start? You’re my best friend. Your happiness is important to me. If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’m your gal.”

Tanya’s sobs were silent, and she was smiling a joyful, but sad smile. Not happiness, not sadness, not even melancholy. Just weirdly peacefully and sadly happy. Carly hadn’t ever seen an expression like it.

The doorbell rang.

“Who is that?” she asked. “Stay here. I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”

Tanya sniffed and nodded. Carly crept across the main floor and peered out the peephole. “Birch?”

Tanya hissed, “Get rid of him.” She slipped out of sight.

Carly opened the door. “Birch? Good morning. Why are you here this early?” Glory be. He looked amazing. Neatly trimmed beard. His hair had been cut. His jeans were pressed, and he sported a tidy grey dress shirt. Her heart soared and crashed in on itself. He wasn’t her man. He never really had been, no matter how much she wanted him. Her earlier thoughts that they could make a relationship work vanished like smoke in the wind.

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