As a result of for a second, I believed that I used to be a princess. That Blake was my prince. And that in some way, we’d discovered our fortunately ever after.

As an alternative, I’m only a small-town woman who fell in love with a man she shouldn’t have.

“Why did I’ve to like him?” I whisper to nobody particularly. No less than I by no means was so silly as to admit it out loud to Blake.

I step away from the bookcase and head for the window, the place I discover a fabulous view of the yard. There’s an enormous tree rising tall and powerful there. It’s been right here so long as I can keep in mind, deep roots within the floor of Hallmark Seaside, similar to me. Wrapping my arms round myself, I press my brow to the window, really feel the waning heat of the day seep into my pores and skin.

On this second, I simply need my mama.

The belief startles me. I’ve tried actually exhausting to not want her. Mama will get overwhelmed simply by life, so I by no means wished to be a hassle, for her to remain away as a result of I’m an excessive amount of.

However yeah. Proper now, I do want her.

With trembling palms, I take my cellphone from the again pocket of my denims and decrease myself onto Scarlett’s mattress, which is roofed in a fairy princess comforter. Due to course it’s.

I blink on the cellphone and at last swipe to unlock it. Then, earlier than I can cease myself, I dial.

The cellphone rings. And rings. And rings.

And goes to voicemail.

“Hello there, darling, you’ve reached Patti Reynolds Kotula. I’m off gallivantin’, so that you simply depart a message and I’ll get again to you after I can, all proper? Hugs and kisses.” Earlier than the message cuts off, there’s a low murmur—Kevin saying one thing within the background—and a giggle from Mama.

I click on off, toss my cellphone to the tip of the mattress, and stare numbly at an image of a green-haired fairy watering a flower along with her pink wand.

“Knock, knock.”

I look as much as discover Aunt Bea standing within the doorway. Her grey hair is pulled again in a ponytail similar to mine, and he or she’s carrying denims and a T-shirt, similar to me, together with a long-sleeved flannel shirt.

“Oh, hello,” I say. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be in right here.”

“Cease it, honey.” She steps inside and closes the door behind her. “This can all the time be your room, regardless of who’s livin’ in it.”

My lip trembles.

She sits beside me on the mattress, pats my thigh. “You appeared distracted at dinner. Unhappy.”

Understatement of the 12 months. “Sorry. I didn’t imply to be.”

“By no means apologize for feeling one thing, or for expressing it.” Aunt Bea clicks her tongue at me. “You recognize, you’ve all the time been such a light-weight to us all, however that doesn’t imply it’s important to be sunny on a regular basis. Embracing the destructive feelings together with the great makes the great all the higher.”

I suppose I can see that. Utilizing the guidelines of my fingers, I swipe tears from my lashes.

“So what’s making my Lucy so unhappy tonight?”

Her Lucy. Oh, man. The tears begin up once more. Thanks rather a lot, Aunt Bea. I shrug and take a look at for a smile. “What else? Boy troubles.”

“The identical boy who made you unhappy all these years in the past, I reckon.”

My gaze kicks as much as her realizing one. I by no means talked to my aunt about Blake again then. “How did you…?”

“Please.” She faucets the aspect of her temple. “I’ve eyes, little one. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see you’re keen on him. That you simply’ve all the time beloved him.” She tilts her chin down. “However that’s not the issue, is it?”

I shake my head and begin to sob. She pulls me into her embrace and lets me cry into her shoulder, whispering, “Shh, shh, there, there” again and again. Lastly, I’m prepared to inform her, and all of it spills out. Each final element, proper up till the second earlier than she walked in after I attempted—and failed—to come up with Mama.

She sighs and wipes my tears along with her shirt sleeves, that are softer than they appear. “Lucy, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been by way of.”

I shake my head, which is fuzzy in the best way that solely crying so many tears could make it. “I’m hardly the primary individual to expertise heartbreak on the planet.”

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