AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Look, I know Carson has been begging you to come out to help with Yulefest. Between that event and my wedding, people will see how talented you are. The producers want to include footage of you decorating and planning.” Evie’s words rush out so fast, they barely register.
“I’d actually be on TV?” I push back on tiptoe, holding back the momentum of the swing, Charly clutched in my lap.
“If you want to be, yeah. Especially if you get here soon.” Evie talks fast and my pulse picks up speed to keep pace.
“Swing, mama, swing!” Charly cries.
Evie raises her voice over Charly’s. “Once this airs, there will be so many people wanting to book the venue and Carson. He needs you now, and he’ll need you even more afterward! But even if you decide not to stay in Paradise, you’ll have serious credentials to start your own wedding planning business.”
Evie stops. I blink, then let the swing go.
I pump my legs gently, careful not to go too high while holding Charly in my lap. Evie’s words circle my brain. I’m ready to run inside, pack my bags, and leave tonight for Paradise.
Instead, I clutch Charly tighter and slow the swing.
“I can’t leave Charly,” I say to Evie, resolute, but angry at myself for feeling as disappointed as I do.
"That’s the best part.” Evie’s voice hasn’t lost any of its brightness, but I won’t allow myself to be sucked into it. “You don’t have to. You can bring her.”
I shake my head, and cup my hand around the one Charly’s wrapped around the swing’s chain. “She can’t miss her therapy appointments. She could regress.”
“Listen, you’ve said she could do most of it at home, right? In the right environment?”
“Yeah,” I answer slowly, still not willing to let her get my hopes up.
“What if I told you there’s someone here in Paradise who has years of experience doing the kind of therapy Charly needs? And she’s willing to watch her as often as you need,” Evie sounds breathless.
Or maybe that’s me.
“Swing, Mama, swing!” Charly cries louder.
But I’m frozen.
“For how much?” I ask.
“Next to nothing. Her name’s Gia, and she has a preschool here that includes accommodations for kids with special needs. Since Charly will only be here for six weeks or so, she’ll prorate what she usually charges. It’ll cost you a couple hundred dollars, at most.” I can hear the smile in Evie’s voice.
Because how could I turn down this kind of offer? I pay more than a couple hundred dollars a month for therapy alone, and she’s basically handing me the key to all my dreams.
And I want to say yes so badly, but I learned my lesson about being impulsive when I ended up pregnant. I don’t have that luxury anymore.
“Evie, that’s such a kind offer, and I really appreciate it, but Mom’s the equivalent of an entire village, which is what I need to take care of Charly.” I press my lips to the top of Charly’s head, then reposition her on my lap.
“Hope, I can be your village. And so can Adam, and Georgia, and Zach, and all the Thomsens. We can find a way to make this work if you’ll trust us. It’s four weeks—three leading up to the wedding and then a few days afterward to finish anything the producers need for filming.”
I give into Charly’s cries, push off, and let the swing go a little higher than before. “Tell me more about this Gia person,” I say cautiously. “Her name sounds familiar, but I don’t remember meeting her.”
I hear the hesitation in Evie’s voice before she says a word, but finally she answers. “She’s Sebastian’s mom.”
“Seb?” I swallow hard, pushing back the guilt that rises every time I think about him. I should have told him about Charly. I should have said goodbye.
“Yep. This was his idea. He’s the one who convinced his mom to do it, although it didn’t take much convincing. Gia’s thrilled about it.”
Evie keeps talking, but I’m stuck on the part about Seb making the biggest obstacles to my going back to Paradise disappear.
I’m still thinking about it long after I tell Evie I’ll be there on Monday. Long after I take Charly inside. Long after I’ve told myself to stop thinking about Seb and go to sleep.
Chapter 5
