A Place in Her Heart by Trish Milburn

Author:Trish Milburn [Milburn, Trish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-11-10T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Two days went by without her seeing Cal. Though they’d texted several times, he hadn’t come to the bakery or asked her to go anywhere else. Had he decided it was too difficult to be around her? Did she have too much baggage weighing her down? And she hadn’t even told him everything. Now she was doubly glad she hadn’t, even though she had to admit divulging part of what she’d endured had given her a sense of relief she hadn’t realized she’d needed. She’d, of course, talked with people at the shelter, but that hadn’t been the same as sharing with someone who’d known her before.

Her phone rang and a quick glance to her screen revealed it was Cal, as if her thinking about him had prompted him to call.

“Hello,” she said as she held the phone with one hand and slid some lemon cupcakes into the display case with the other.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

“Fine.” Did this conversation feel awkward or what?

“Listen, I wanted to invite you over to our house for Thanksgiving. Everyone would love to see you.”

Having some pizza with Cal was one thing, but being pulled back into the midst of his family? That was quite another. She could manage questions when they were from one person, but she feared she’d crack if they came from all directions, no matter how well-intentioned they were.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve already got plans.” Which was the truth. She just wasn’t going to share that they included serving a Thanksgiving meal to the women at the shelter, something she’d done every year since she’d gotten herself back on her feet and out of that same shelter.

“Oh, okay.”

Did he sound disappointed? Wishful thinking fluttered inside her before she tamped it down. She couldn’t go down that road.

“How about we catch a movie tomorrow night?”

“I don’t know. I’m really busy.”

“Ah, come on. Take some pity on me. Mom and Dad have card night with some friends, and Sean and his family are doing something with Beth’s parents. They’ve all abandoned me.”

She imagined the woeful face he was no doubt making and laughed. How was she supposed to resist that? She could do it, like she had countless times before, when they’d been classmates. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d sat beside him for two hours in the dark wishing they were sharing more than a tub of buttery popcorn.

“Fine, as long as it’s not a horror movie.”

“Deal.”

She couldn’t help the giddy feeling that had her buzzing around the kitchen like a bee in springtime after she got off the phone. That changed, however, when Stephanie came in and she saw the look on her face.

Stephanie leaned against the prep table. “I’ve been hoping I wouldn’t have to do this, especially now that you’re so busy for the holidays, but I’ve got to give my notice. Mom has been really ill and she’s not getting better. I’m going to be moving to New York to take care of her.”

“I’m sorry to see you go, especially for that reason, but don’t feel badly about it.

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