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“Mitch said Blair is going to see John tomorrow, probably to talk about his will. He said you should go to the meeting with him, and put forward that you want to buy it, and find out how much he wants for it.”

My heart is racing. It’s all becoming very real.

“And I was thinking…” he continues, “the bank will want things like the last few years of the shop’s accounts and a business plan with cash-flow projections. So how about I make an appointment for you with Evangeline Lockwood at Evermore Business & Accounting?” She’s an old friend of Mum’s. “She’ll guide you through what you need, and then you can make an appointment with the bank for later in the week.”

Panic rises inside me. “I don’t know if I should put all my eggs into one basket, I mean, I know I can stay here, but I need to find somewhere else to live, so I can’t spend all my savings…”

“Well, the shop comes with a flat, so…”

The place was in such a mess that I’d forgotten it was a proper apartment. “Oh, of course.”

“Mitch told me that if you go ahead, he’d do his best to make it nice for you.” He smiles. “He’s a good guy. He’s convinced you’d be great at it.”

“He’s very supportive.”

“More than some other people,” Dad says.

I drop my gaze. We both know that Jayden would never have supported something like this.

Dad clears his throat. “You’ve got a year’s accounts proving you already run the business. You’ve got steady employment. And I’m guessing John would be willing to sell below market value because he wants the business preserved.”

“Maybe… You really think I could do it?”

“Of course you could. And your passion for books knows no bounds. You know the book club only exists because of you, right? The girls are caught up in your enthusiasm. You hold it together, Vix. And you bring that passion to the bookshop, too. People who go there love it because you talk about the books and you understand that reading and learning something new is essential to keeping the brain active. Imagine what you could do if you owned the store. The connections you could make, with the schools, with 35 South, with Wisteria Villas. Book festivals, inviting local authors, running other book clubs and reading programs.”

“Oh God, stop, I’m so excited I think I’ll explode.”

He chuckles. “It’s been worth it just to see you light up like this.”

“I’m terrified.”

“I know. But having courage isn’t about not being scared. It’s what you get when you face your fears. You’d have lots of support, love. John, Mitch, me, Emma, Carter, all your friends. Everyone would chip in if you needed anything. You’re loved in this community. That’s not nothing. Your mother would have been very proud of you, as am I.” He stops and swallows hard.

Tears well in my eyes. I walk forward and slide my arms around his waist, and we have a big hug.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers.

I draw back. “What for?”

He hesitates. “I want to tell you something, but it might upset you. I just want you to know that I meant well.”

I frown. “Okay…”

He looks away for a moment, out of the window. Then his gaze comes back to me. “On your wedding day, Mitch was going to tell you he had feelings for you.”

My jaw drops. “What?”

“I don’t know if you remember, but when you walked up to the church, he was waiting on the step. He should have been inside with Jayden. I could see immediately by his expression that he was going to say something.”

Words fail me. Holy shit.

“I’d known for a while that he liked you,” he continues. “You should have seen the look on his face when he first met you. And then when Jayden walked in and kissed you. Mitch looked devastated.”

My head spins. “Seriously?”

“It’s why he left, Vix. After Millie was born. He’s just admitted to me that he couldn’t bear to see you with another man’s child.”

“Oh my God…”