AllFreeNovel
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I’m still heartbroken over the store closing in five days, but I’ve cleared out a ton of inventory with huge close-out sales.
I visited Clara for an emotional goodbye.
And I’ve called the owner of the apothecary store in Philly to get a contact number for Mr. Price I Don’t Have A Cell Phone Milloy. But I can’t bring myself to call him despite Koen telling me Price is considered family now and, therefore, he should be at our wedding.
He has my number, so if he wanted to keep in touch, he would have called by now, right?
I lock the back door after closing and take a moment to stare at the empty trailer. I’m okay with this chapter ending because the next one will be even more amazing.
“Excuse me?”
I jump, pressing a hand to my heart.
“Sorry,” the lady says, stepping toward me. She adjusts her purse strap with one hand while the other slides into the front pocket of her white capris.
Her perfectly pressed yellow button-down shirt looks nicer than anything I’ve ever owned. And her long blonde hair is almost as smooth as her blouse. I can’t place her, but her face is familiar.
“Are you Scottie?”
“Yes.”
A tiny line forms along her forehead as if she’s thinking about my response. “I’m Amelia Milloy.”
My lips part, but I don’t know what to say. I glance over her shoulder.
“Price isn’t here.”
My gaze returns to her.
“I had to meet you.”
My throat begins to constrict. Something happened to him. That’s why she’s here alone. “Is he?—”
“He’s fine,” she smiles.
I relax.
“I uh…” she shifts her weight from one foot to the other “…I don’t know what you know about me, but I feel like I know everything about you. And that’s why I had to meet you.”
I take a step closer. “I know a little about you.” I smile. “I know you’re loved by an extraordinary man. I know you have a daughter together. And I know he spent his time here trying to get better for you and your daughter.”
She blinks back her emotions and takes a deep breath while holding out her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
I stare at it for a few seconds before taking another step and wrapping my arms around her. She stiffens for a second, then slowly wraps her arms around me.
“Want to take a walk?” I ask, releasing her.
Her head swivels, inspecting the area. “Sure.”
We stroll toward the park, where I fell into the pond with Koen and Scrot.
“What can I do for you?” I ask.
“Do for me?” She gives me a quick, sidelong glance.
“You didn’t fly to Austin to shake my hand. And I gather Price has told you everything there is to tell about me. So there must be something on your mind that you’re afraid to ask him.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” She chuckles, but the laughter quickly dies. “He told me about your summer together, the breakup, his time in Austin, and how he knew it was time to come home. He even told me about the baby you lost, and I’m very sorry that happened to you.”
