Page 50 of The Fiancé Hoax

“I wish we could make real clothes,” Eva said.

Felicity paused. “You know, I could take you to my shop sometime and teach you how to sew.”

Eva and Lily looked at her, their faces lit up. “Really?”

“Sure! If your dad agrees, of course.”

“Please, Daddy.” Eva clasped her hands together. “Please!”

“I think it’s a great idea,” I said.

“Yay!” Lily and Eva cheered and high-fived Felicity.

“I want to make some cool-looking shorts,” Eva said. “Something to wear to the park so I can climb on the jungle gym but not look like a dork. And I want pockets like the boys get!”

“And I want to make a princess dress,” Lily said.

Felicity giggled. “Well, we’ll start with something simple like a tank top. I’ll have to teach you the basics first. But then we can move on to princess dresses and shorts with pockets.”

“Ooh, this is gonna be sweet!” Eva said. She turned the page in her notebook and began to draw the shorts she wanted, coloring them blue and purple.

Lily moved closer to Felicity and rested her hand on her shoulder as Felicity added some details to Lily’s dress.

I smiled. It had been a long time since I’d seen the girls like this, cozying up to anyone other than me or Inga.

They’re getting too close to her. This will end in disaster.

But I told that nagging voice to shut up. My daughters loved this time with Felicity, and I did, too.

It would hurt like hell when it ended.

All I could do was enjoy it while it lasted.

14

FELICITY

The next afternoon, I smiled to myself as I hemmed a pair of wide-leg pants.

Eva and Lily were such a hoot. My heart felt lighter remembering the fun we had the evening before.

We were starting to feel like a family. And I couldn’t help but love it.

The bell on the door chimed, and I looked up.

My heart jumped into my throat. I rose to my feet so quickly my chair fell behind me.

It was the last person I ever expected to see in Moonstone Boutique.

“Dad?”

My father’s imposing frame paused in the door, as if he was having second thoughts.

Finally, he stepped inside the space and looked around. Silently, he approached a rack of blouses near the entrance. He grasped the price tag and shook his head.

“This is priced too low,” he announced gruffly.

My words seemed to escape me as I stared at him. It took me a moment to speak.

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