Chapter 14 #2
“I shouldn’t have been so wrapped up in my life. It was just… It was easier than dealing with Dad being gone.” She looked directly at her mother. “I promise I won’t hide behind my work again.”
“I’m just so proud of you getting the promotion to editor.” Her mother smiled proudly. “My daughter is a big shot in New York City.”
Felicity shook her head as more guilt settled on her slumped shoulders. “I’m not.”
Her mother continued to smile. “And I love that you still have modesty.”
Felicity inwardly groaned. Her mother would be so disappointed in her if she were to learn the truth—that she’d neglected their relationship for work and still not gotten the promotion.
She should tell her the truth, but she couldn’t form the words.
She hadn’t spoken them to anyone. Her friend Melissa only knew because they worked in the same office.
But to say the words—to admit that she not only didn’t get the promotion but also lost her job…
No. She would wait until she landed her next job.
Yes. Then she’d tell her mother, and maybe she wouldn’t be so disappointed in her.
Her mother stepped toward her and gave her a hug. Apparently, Sunny wanted in on the hug because she put her paws on Felicity’s leg. When they parted, Felicity bent over and picked up the excited little ball of fur. Whoever adopted her was going to be one very lucky person.
As her mother added milk and sugar to her coffee, she said, “After losing your dad, I really struggled. Everything in that house reminded me of him…and you. I went back to work but that wasn’t enough.
I just…I needed to start over somewhere where the memories didn’t suffocate me.
Besides, it was too much house for just me.
When I put the house on the market, I didn’t expect to get any offers for a long time.
” Her mother’s voice drew her from her thoughts.
“Then in the first few days, I had four offers. Four. And they were willing to pay the asking price. So, there was a bidding war… Can you believe that?” Her mother’s eyes were wide open, and dismay shone in them. “I was shocked but relieved.”
“Relieved?” How could her mother say such a thing about selling their home.
Her mother nodded. “It’s a big house. It took a lot to keep it up.
Your father was always busy with mowing the grass, cleaning the gutters, painting the porches.
There was always something that needed done.
It was just too much for me on my own. As much as I loved the place, it needed a family who could take good care of it. ”
Felicity didn’t know how she felt about this information. There was still a part of her that was angry that her mother got rid of her childhood home. She struggled to accept what her mother had told her.
The last time she’d walked through the doorway of her childhood home—after the house had been sold—she hadn’t felt her father’s presence. It felt different. It was no longer her home. And that tore at her tattered heart.
Her mother stirred her coffee. “A friend at the hospital noticed that I was struggling without your father, so she suggested a support group. I have to admit that I wasn’t so sure about it at first, but the more I went, the more comfortable I got.
It’s good to be around people that understand what I’m going through. ”
“I’m glad it’s working for you.” She didn’t want her mother to struggle.
And her mother did seem happy here in her little apartment. Felicity wanted to be happy for her. She really did. But she was still struggling with the loss of her father and the house.
This line of conversation hurt too much. It was time to change the subject. “Is it possible to use your sewing machine?”
Her mother nodded. She opened a kitchen drawer. A quick glance let Felicity see that it was a junk drawer. Not everything had changed. Her mother did like her junk drawers.
Her mother held out a key with a yellow ducky at the end. “Here. It’s the key to the unit at Turner’s Storage.”
“There are storage units in Kringle Falls?”
“No. It’s just outside of Clover Springs.”
Felicity nodded. Clover Springs was the next town over. So, not far. But when you don’t have a car, it might as well be across the country. Still, she wasn’t giving up.
He was late.
Justin yawned as he stepped into the maintenance building. He really could have used that coffee Felicity had offered him. But he had already been late for work. Sixteen minutes late to be exact. Maybe if he was lucky Michael would be out in a plow and not notice his tardiness.
He strode over and clocked in. He yawned again as he glanced over at the office. He didn’t see his brother/boss inside. It looked like the coast was clear.
“Justin?” Michael’s voice came from behind him.
He smothered a groan as he turned around. “Hey. I’m just about to work on the white pickup. I should have the plow on it working by lunch.” He rushed on, hoping his brother wouldn’t notice he was late. “Heard we were supposed to get light snow all day.”
“A little late, huh?”
Justin shrugged. What was he supposed to say?
That he had a tiny dog with a lot of attitude and fast legs.
The exact same dog that had slept on his pillow and around his head when she wasn’t fussing to go outside.
He yawned yet again. Tonight, he would cut off her water before bedtime. He needed more sleep.
Of course, it wasn’t all Sunny’s fault that he hadn’t slept well. Felicity had been on his mind. Even after all of these years, she could still get to him. It would be so easy to let his guard down and fall for her again. But what good would that do him?
The gossip around town was that she’d just landed a big promotion.
There was no way she would give that up to move back to her small hometown.
And he wasn’t so sure he would fit into big city life.
Maybe if he had gone to college with her when they graduated from high school.
He was young then, and the change wouldn’t have been so jarring—not that he was old now at twenty-nine.
“I heard you had an eventful morning.” Michael’s voice drew him from his thoughts.
Justin swallowed hard before turning to face him. “What do you mean?”
Michael arched a brow. “You and Felicity were running around together.”
“How did you hear about that?”
“When I called Dad this morning, Mom picked up. She told me all about you losing a puppy.” Michael paused and sent him a puzzled look. “When did you get a dog?”
“I didn’t. Merry asked me to take care of Sunny until she found a family for her.”
“And you fell right into her trap.”
When Michael started laughing, Justin grumped, “It’s not funny.”
Michael sobered up. “I have to give it to Merry. She’s good. That’s one of the puppies that Candi brought back from Ohio. You have to keep an eye on her. Sunny is smart and fast.”
“So I’m learning.” A frown pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“She didn’t get hurt, did she? I know Candi will be worried when she hears.”
Justin shook his head. “She’s fine. Felicity has her, and they’ll be at the bookshop today.”
“The bookshop? You mean Jingle Bell Books?” When Justin nodded, Michael said, “Seems like you and Felicity are getting close again.”
“No. We’re not. We’re just helping Merry. That’s all.”
Disbelief shone in Michael’s eyes. “Whatever. Just get to work on that truck. With all of this snow, we need every piece of equipment up and running.”