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Skylar.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of her. Her skin gleamed with health. Her bright bubblegum-pink hair fell in elegant waves that gleamed in the shop lights. She wore a navy dress covered in little teacups that skimmed her tanned legs.
She picked up a book and turned it over in her hands. “You’re an author now, huh?”
A bemused smile twisted her lips. I swallowed, trying to come back to my senses. Every time her gaze met mine, my heart lurched. She hugged the book to her chest and smiled. I’d have to say something, even though words wedged in my throat.
“How have you been?”
“Good.” She swooped a tendril of hair behind her ear. “Great, actually.”
The chatter of the bookshop filled the space between us. She straightened with dignity and beamed. It wasn’t just the tan and the hair color, she carried herself differently—with a new air of calm and self-confidence.
I cleared my throat. “Thank you for the seeds. I assume it was you…”
“Did you plant them?”
“Yes. All of them.”
Another silence fell. She could have met someone. Perhaps she’d realized that she didn’t like me that much after all. What did it matter? Mum’s words echoed in my head.
Once a patient, always a patient.
“I went back to therapy.” Her gaze fell on one of the neat piles of books on the table between us. “We did a lot of work. We talked about Sean.” Her bright eyes softened. “About you…”
“Are you angry with me? You’d have every right to be.”
“No. We were both in pain. I understand it.” The warmth of her gentle smile echoed in her voice. “It’s okay. It’s really okay. I understand why things went the way they did between us. We were two hurt people looking for comfort in each other.”
I’d been back to therapy, too. I’d told Laurel everything. We’d worked through it and I’d processed it as best I could. I’d almost managed to forgive myself.
“How long are you here for?”
“A week.”
My throat closed up. Only a week. “Oh.”
“Skylar?” Miri’s voice broke the spell that had wound around us.
My sister held her arms out and the two women embraced.
A broad smile lit Miri’s face. “You should have called. I would have picked you up. We’re going out to celebrate Reece’s big book launch. Are you coming?”
Skylar hugged my book to her chest and her eyes slipped away. “I can’t, sorry. I have plans tonight.”
“But I’ll see you before you fly back?” Miri asked.
Skylar nodded and hitched her bag higher on her shoulder. “For sure. We need a catch-up.”
Miri darted a curious look between us before she made her excuses and drifted away. My family had been more understanding than I could have hoped. They’d even managed to resist teasing me about it.
Only a week.
A dull ache speared my chest. I straightened the neat pile of books in front of me so that they were aligned. “It's good to see you. I’m glad you dropped by.”
She chewed her lip. “Maybe I’ll see you around?”
I pasted a smile onto my face despite my aching heart. “Maybe.”
