Page 215 of The Heart You Kept

“Okay.” We lift the coffee table over and Jonty goes and finds a lamp. “How’s this one?”

“Great, turn it on and see how it looks.”

He arranges it and turns it on, a beautiful glow warms up the space. “That’s perfect.” I keep looking around. “Now we need some books and magazines and things to put on the coffee table.”

“Okay.” He takes off in search of them. The best thing about owning an antique store is that we have at least ten of every item you could ever think of. He returns with stacks of books and arranges them in piles and puts a bunch of flowers down beside them. “How’s this?”

“Looks great. Thanks for helping me.” I go out the front doors onto the street and look around, I see Philippe standing to the side against a wall.

“Philippe,” I call. “Stefan.”

They push off the wall. “Yes, Miss Sorenson.”

“Come.” I wave them over. “I made you something.”

“Excuse me?”

I usher them into the store and hold my arm out to the corner. “Ta-da.”

Philippe looks around confused. “I don’t understand.”

“This is your new couch area.”

“What?”

“If you’re going to hang out with me, which Edward is insisting on, I’m not having you stand in the street. I won’t hear of it.”

Their faces fall as they look around.

“You can stay in the shop with us, you can sit here on the couch and read a book or you can go out the back to the office and hang there. Hell, you can even work and learn to serve customers if you want.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

I smile. “Jonty, meet Stefan and Philippe. They are going to hang out in the store with us from now on, and this is Helene.”

“Hello.” Jonty shakes their hands. “I guess, welcome aboard.”

“Merci.” Philippe smiles, he seems embarrassed and unsure what to do.

“I’m making coffee,” Jonty calls as he heads out the back.

“I can do it,” Philippe calls.

“Or I could,” Stefan offers.

“Yeah, okay, come and I’ll show you where everything is.”

They head out the back with Jonty. “What’s going on?” Helene mouths.

“Edward and I got back together last night. He professed undying love.”

“He did?” Her eyes widen in shock. “He actually said he loved you?”

“Uh-huh.” I beam. “I’m quietly optimistic.”

“You know I was a real bitch to him when you were away.”

I giggle. “I heard.”