by Ashley Quinn
London rolled her eyes. “Oh, here we go,” she muttered.
Diane shot her a look. “It will be less stress on all of us if we keep this quiet and send her to Utah.”
Vince stared at her for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t believe you,” he replied incredulously. “Our daughter could have died and the only person you can think of is yourself. Let me reiterate to you, Diane, that I don’t give a damn what anybody has to say. Let them talk if it helps to fill their empty lives. My only concern is getting Tiffany help so she can live a healthy, long life.”
London bit the inside of her cheek and tried to remain quiet, but her anger at her former stepmother bubbled over. “I’m so glad Tiffany is knocked out on meds right now so she can’t hear you, Diane,” she spoke bitterly. “Though you should really hear yourself. You sound...”
“Watch it, little girl,” Diane snapped. “You may think you’re all grown up now, but you’re nothing. You...”
London closed her eyes as she tried to tune out Diane’s voice. She braced herself for her barrage of insults.
“Diane, shut your mouth,” Vince cut in sharply. “London is my daughter and I couldn’t be more proud of the woman she’s become.” He wrapped an arm around London’s shoulders as her eyes flew open in surprise.
Did Dad actually just defend me? To Diane, of all people? She wondered in amazement as Vince led her into the hallway.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he continued. “You need some rest. I’ll deal with everything else.” He shot a look back into the room.
“I don’t know what you ever saw in that woman,” London fumed. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “She’s horrible. She’s always been awful.”
Vince smiled faintly and rubbed her shoulder. “We got the very best part of her,” he replied. “We got Tiffany.”
London sagged against the wall. She was suddenly exhausted. “I’m tired, Dad,” she decided with a sigh. “Will you be all right?”
“Of course,” he replied with a nod. He fished in the pocket of his khaki Dockers and pulled out a set of keys. “Here, take the Tesla. Your rental is still at the house. I’m planning to be here all night.”
“Are you sure?” London asked. “I can come back and pick you up.”
Vince smiled. “Get some sleep,” he told her. “I’m sorry I missed Natalie earlier. Perhaps once things settle down, the three of us can go to dinner.”
London nodded tiredly and returned her father’s smile. “I’d like that,” she replied. “She rushed me here as soon as I got the call and then stayed for hours. I think you’d like her a lot.”
“If she’s been making you as happy as you’ve been, then I think I’ll like her a lot too,” he agreed. “Rest up. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
London plucked the keys from his hand. “Good night, Dad,” she said as she stepped onto her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
She was positively exhausted as she dragged herself down the long corridor. Her eyelids felt heavy and her feet ached with every step. Finally, she pushed open the exit door and felt a rush of dry, hot air hit her face.
“After today, that big guest bed at Dad’s house has never sounded so good,” she muttered to herself.
---
London blinked sleepily in the bright morning light. A high-pitched ringing sound was coming from somewhere to her left, but the sunlight streaming between the wide Venetian blinds had temporarily disoriented her.
She flopped onto her stomach and pushed her messy black hair out of her face with one hand. She located the loud, offending object and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. She blinked in shock at the time reflected back at her and quickly pressed the phone to her ear.
Oh my God, it’s 10:30. How did I sleep that late? She wondered. The entire morning is halfway gone.
“Hey, you,” she greeted Natalie. Her voice was still low and gritty with sleep.
“Baby!” Natalie replied easily, her smile evident through the phone. “I tried to call you twice earlier. I was getting worried.”
“I’m sorry,” London apologized. She swung her bare feet over the edge of the bed and glared at the bright cracks in the blinds. “I really knocked out last night. I didn’t even hear my phone.”
“You sound like you were sleeping well,” Natalie agreed. “Are you all right?”
London held a hand over her eyes. “Damn light,” she muttered. “There’s sunlight everywhere. This room is, like, bathed in heavenly rays and pure Vitamin D.”
Natalie burst out laughing and the sound immediately perked London up. “Oh, you poor thing, you!” Natalie replied through her giggles. “I’m guessing there’s not as much sunlight in Chicago.”
“Not all the time,” London replied defensively. She tried to remain stubbornly cranky, but realized it was impossible while listening to Natalie’s voice and laughter. Her face broke into a grin. “So I get to see you today, right?”
“Of course,” Natalie replied. “I know I probably sound like one of those women, but I miss you already. Why deny it?”
London smiled again as a warm feeling spread through her chest. “I miss you too.” She glanced at the bedside clock and raised an eyebrow. “So I guess breakfast is out. My fault. Lunch?”
“I’m at the bakery now,” Natalie replied. “Jane is under the weather today and headed to the doctor. According to Celia, she gets strep throat right around this time every summer and now that I think about it, she does. It must be some kind of weird seasonal thing. Anyway, we’ve been slammed here. How about a late lunch? That way, I can help Celia through Mission’s lunch rush and then sneak out for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Perfect,” London replied. “That will give me some time to head to the hospital and check on Tiffany.”
“I’ll come by Baylor then and kidnap you for a few hours,” Natalie went on. “Around 2, 2:30?”
“You can kidnap me anytime,” London confirmed with a laugh. “But yes, I’ll plan to see you then.”
“Okay,” Natalie replied and then paused for a moment. “I...I love you.”
“Love you too, beautiful,” London responded automatically. I can’t believe how easy it is to say those three words to her now she thought. And the craziest part is that I mean them, from the bottom of my heart.
As they ended their call, London scanned the bedroom and paused as her gaze settled on her iPad. She realized with a sinking feeling that she hadn’t spoken to Holly in days.
I really need to talk with her she thought in determination. After everything that’s happened, I can’t just up and leave for Chicago. She blew out her breath. I don’t know what that means for the promotion, or even for my career. But Natalie and Tiffany mean more.
London’s heart rate quickened as her mind’s eye wandered back to Natalie. She remembered the cozy bed in Haskell and the look in her warm brown eyes as she watched her awaken.
“I’ll call Holly tonight,” she decided out loud. Her voice sounded powerful in the stillness of the quiet house. It flooded her with a sense of confidence, despite the nerves she felt at knowing the conversation would most likely lead to turning her back on W.H. Young. “I can’t do it, can I? I can’t take that promotion and I can’t leave Natalie.”
She smiled as her earlier words echoed in her mind. Why deny it?
CHAPTER 24
Natalie stepped back into the narrow kitchen of the bakery, where Celia was handing a box of pastries to a customer.
“Have a great day, y’all!” She called after them with a short wave.
“That was one of the best lunch rushes we’ve had in weeks,” Natalie remarked with a smile.
Celia nodded. “Today has been a very good day for the bakery,” she replied. “I have to admit that when you mentioned the idea of getting the food truck, I wasn’t sure it would be a good investment. But you really took that idea, ran with it and knocked it out of the park. We’re developing quite a following.”
Natalie grinned. “It’s a grea
t way to be mobile, isn’t it?” She replied. “I love that we can get our brand and our products out to people, even if they may not always come all the way ‘round here. I know there’s overhead with the food truck, but it’s not nearly as much as the shop.”
She could feel Celia watching her for a moment as she wiped down their prep counter. “It was a very smart move for the business, sobrina. I’m not just proud of you, I’m impressed.”
Natalie glanced up and sensed there was more Celia wanted to say. “Thank you, tia.”
After a long moment, Celia continued. “You know, Natalia, that you’re not just my niece. You’re my daughter. I may not have given birth to you, but I’ve raised you and I love you just like I would have if I’d carried you in my belly. You’re smart and you’re kind. You have a love inside you that draws everyone.”
Natalie stilled, unsure what had caused Celia’s sudden honesty. “I’m just me,” she replied with a wave of her hand. “There’s no one else I can be. And you taught me that, tia. So thank you.”
Celia smiled. “I know you're ready to go,” she went on. “I know you can’t be expected to live with Jane and I forever. I just want you to know that, when you decide to move out of our home, you have our full support. You’re still young, sobrina. You’re only thirty years old. Surely you have other interests or professions you might want to explore. I also want you to know it’s okay if you outgrow Mission Bakery, if you want to try other careers.”
Natalie’s mouth dropped open. “But Celia, I love Mission Bakery. Why would I want to leave? This is our family’s life.”
Celia patted her arm gently. “It’s okay for it to be my life and Jane’s life, because we have each other. Our life is already settled and Mission Bakery is just another aspect of it. You’re young, Natalia. You need to have your own life too.”
Natalie felt an unexpected pressure behind her eyes as the meaning behind Celia’s words dawned on her. She wants me to ensure there’s room in my life for love - and London - too.
“I do need to give London just as much of myself as she’s given me,” Natalie spoke thoughtfully. “I don’t know what the future holds for either of us, but I do know that I’m going to be a part of hers and she will be part of mine. We’ve finally admitted to one another that we’re in love.”
Celia grinned. “I’m so happy to hear that,” she replied. “She’s a good girl. But you know that Weatherford is no place for two young girls to build a life together. You need to get out, explore and go to one of the big cities together.”
Natalie crossed her arms, even though she knew her aunt was right. “You’re kicking me out, tia?” She meant it to be a teasing jibe, but her voice came out too wobbly for her liking.
“Never, sweetheart,” Celia replied seriously. “You and London could stay at the house with Jane and I, but I know you don’t want that. You need your own space to start your relationship and grow.”
Natalie reached over and hugged her aunt silently. “It’s been tough coming to terms with knowing you’re leaving soon,” Celia continued. “I told Jane that I felt sort of like a mother hen, watching her baby go out into the world without the shelter that she’s given them. Jane told me that’s because I am. I’ve learned enough in this lifetime to know that truly loving someone is equal parts holding onto them for dear life and letting them be free. I like London. The love between you two reminds me a little of Jane and I, when we were young and our relationship was new. And it would be a damn shame to let something like that go, Natalia. You keep that love, sobrina.”
“I will,” Natalie whispered gently. She squeezed her aunt once more before taking a deep breath. “I understand.”
A quick glance at the clock let her know that there was still enough time to stop by the Foster house before picking her up at the hospital. “Can I take some of these leftover sweet breads? And maybe a couple of cream cheese brownies?” Natalie asked. “I was planning to drop them off at London’s father’s house.”
She smiled as she remembered London’s original order at the bakery during their first real meeting. Because walking in on her in a bath towel does not count as a first meeting she reminded herself.
“Of course,” Celia said with a nod. “I’m sure neither she nor her father have had any real food since her sister’s emergency. Make sure you take the ones on the far end of the tray. Those are the freshest. Take some of the homemade honey wheat bread too, so they can make sandwiches.”
Natalie carefully counted the baked goods into two white boxes. “Thank you,” she replied. “I’m going to stop by their house this afternoon and drop this food off. Both of them are at Baylor now, but at least they’ll have something homemade and fresh to eat when they get back. Then I thought I might stop at the hospital and have a quick meal with London.”
“The bakery will slow down this afternoon,” Celia responded. “Go. Tell London we say hello.”
Natalie closed the last box with a pop and smiled at her aunt. “See you later. Love you.”
With that, she rushed out the front door as the bell jangled loudly in her excited wake.
---
London was pleased to discover that Tiffany was awake as she quietly entered her hospital room. Her bed had been inclined to allow her to sit up. Her sister forced a weak smile in greeting.
London swallowed hard as a long moment of awkward silence stretched before them. She pulled a chair up to Tiffany’s bedside and took a deep breath. “I’m so glad...” she started.
“I really messed up, didn’t I?” Tiffany spoke at the same time.
They both paused and laughed. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” London finished softly. She reached over and squeezed Tiffany’s fingers. “Everything will be okay. It’s just steps up from here.”
Tiffany grimaced and rolled her eyes. “A lot of steps up.”
London tried to smile brightly and shrugged. “That’s what we’re here for. Dad and I. You have our full support and we’re going to do whatever it takes to help you.”
Tiffany slouched in the bed and stared at a point on the wall. “You know, I really thought I knew what it took to help myself,” she started. Notes of frustration were evident in her voice. “I never wanted to listen to anybody else. I definitely didn’t want to compromise my independence. Not with Dad, not with Wayne and not even with you. At the end of the day, isn’t that all any of us really have?”
Oh my God, she sounds exactly like me London realized incredulously. I guess we didn’t have to be raised together to be the same. To be family.
“I’ve learned a lot about independence lately, Tiff,” London responded slowly. “I understand where you’re coming from. But is it worth it not to let people love you? Because, honestly Tiffany, if it’s genuine then they’re going to love you anyway. I know I do. Sometimes it’s okay to drop the defenses.”
Tiffany met her eyes and smiled. “I really thought I could manage everything. I always felt like my best self either with Adderall or a few drinks in me,” she paused and held up a hand as London began to protest. “I know what you’re going to say, but it’s true. I believed I was a better person, more sociable, energetic, ready to take on the world. Hell, even lunch with my mother was tolerable. What people don’t realize is that, while you’re feeling good, it starts to affect your body. It rewires your brain so you need more and more. Or at least you think you do.”
London nodded. “You’re going to be okay though,” she murmured. “You could have died.”
Tiffany’s eyes filled with tears as she stared stubbornly at the wall. “You know, I always thought I’d die doing something amazing,” she remarked bitterly. “Cliff jumping in Hawaii, traveling through volatile corners of the world, sailing across the ocean, something. I never thought I could actually die right here in Texas.” She paused as a tear rolled from the corner of her eye. “I never thought I’d end up nearly killing myself by becoming my own worst enemy. How can I possibly recover from this?”
London squ
eezed her sister’s hand again. Think of something to say, anything she thought desperately. She took a deep breath. Or you could speak to her honestly and from the heart.
“One of the craziest things I’ve had to accept in life so far is that it doesn’t always go according to whatever plan you might think you have in mind,” London started. “I never thought I’d end up in Fort Worth, Texas, but here I am. You just have to adapt. The plan that you have at one point in your life might not work so well once you begin another chapter. You have to trust that things are happening for a reason and, even if it seems really tough at the moment, you’re being pushed in this direction for reasons you may not understand yet. Maybe I needed a reminder that I still have the ability to love and be loved. Maybe you needed a wake-up call to see how badly you’re hurting yourself. As for how you’ll recover, someone who means a great deal to me once advised me to experience things and enjoy days. And I promise you’ll start to heal.” London smiled and squeezed Tiffany’s hand.
Tiffany regarded her for a long moment and smiled back. “Whoever gave you that advice must have been wise,” she agreed wryly. “You’re right, though. For the longest time, my plan was that I had no plan. I’d go wherever the world needed me. I liked the work I did, but I also loved not having any real commitments and not knowing where I’d be in six months or a year.” She sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever lose my free spirit, but maybe it’s time to grow up a little bit too.”
“No one wants you to change, Tiff,” London reassured her. “We all love you for exactly who you are. Life is about learning and evolving into who we’re meant to be. Personally, I’d be livid if you turned into a boring, desk-sitting, paper-pushing corporate hack.”
“Like you?” Tiffany teased.
London laughed and was pleased to see a gleam back in her sister’s eyes. “Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” she replied. “I’m only beginning to realize what I’ve been missing out on.”
