Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Of course. You can send her back.” She wished she could send the woman away, but as long as Lou was in school, she pretty much had to dance to Amelia’s tune. Her only rebellion had been opening this store. Amelia and Phil had refused to help her financially. They’d explained that any money they gave her would go straight to Louisa’s education and upbringing, and if she wanted a job, they would help her get a teaching job at a proper private school.
So Amelia wasn’t her favorite person.
Besides Lou, she hadn’t had a favorite person, but now it was kind of Boomer.
Who might like her. Like romantically like her.
Was she ready for that?
“This is working nicely,” Noelle said, settling her bag over her shoulder and holding her cane. “Let me know if anything goes wrong, but I think you’re set.”
“Thank you so much.” She gave Noelle a hug. “And I’ll think about the rest of it. I promise.”
“Good afternoon, Daphne. I see you have a friend.” Amelia wore a fussy pantsuit, her silver hair in a bob and an Hermès bag on her shoulder. Anything but Hermès was déclassé in Amelia’s world. Daphne had been around for the lecture on Chanel being too new money.
“Noelle Hutchins.” Noelle introduced herself. “I was helping with the oven, but it’s time to get back to the salt mines.”
Amelia looked her up and down. “You’re a mechanic? How very modern.”
“Oh, I’m far more modern. I have a whole PhD in biochemistry, but I heard Daph needed some help, and I’m pretty handy when I want to be. I also would hate for her to not be able to bake that ridiculously good rosemary bread of hers,” Noelle replied.
Noelle was rapidly becoming one of her favorite people, too. “Thank you so much for the help. And we’ll make those macarons soon.”
Noelle waved good-bye and walked out.
“Well, it’s good to see you’re making proper friends.” Amelia turned her way. “I rather thought you never would. Where on earth did you meet a biochemist?”
“I’ve been making some friends in the new building.” She didn’t need to go into the specifics. The last thing she wanted was her mother-in-law to think she was potentially dating.
Was she thinking about dating? Did she have time to date? How would her dating Boomer affect Lou? She hadn’t dated a man since Dennis had died, hadn’t wanted to, and not because of her great love for her husband.
She was starting to understand that her marriage had been traumatic, and that trauma had affected her ability to open herself up.
She’d called it caution, but was it really fear?
“I wanted to talk to you about Louisa,” Amelia began, her lips pursing. “I’m very worried about her.”
Amelia only ever wanted to talk about Lou. “Why would you be worried?”
“Well, I understand you lost her after-school care. Is Louisa coming home alone? From what I understand, you work afternoons.” Every word felt like an accusation.
But Amelia’s accusations were always convenient. Sometimes Daphne didn’t work hard enough or pay enough attention to her business. Amelia could easily turn it around and then Daphne paid far too much attention to her bakery and Lou was being left to defend herself against a barbarian horde.
“Yes, Mrs. Callahan’s sister had a medical emergency, and she has decided to stay with her sister indefinitely.” That had actually been welcome news. It meant she didn’t have to have a conversation with the woman. Lou was fine where she was for now. She knew she would eventually have to find someplace else, but Lou seemed so happy. “Lou is enrolled in an after-school program, and it’s going great.”
Would she screw that up if it didn’t work out with Boomer?
“I would like to know where this program is if it’s not the school’s, and I know it’s not the school’s,” Amelia announced.
Because Amelia was one of the school’s largest donors, and she could get any information she wanted from them.
“It’s a licensed corporate after-school program in the area.” Irritation started to build, and she found herself crossing her arms over her chest. How long had she simply given this woman anything she wanted because she’d allowed herself to become dependent on her?
Because she was scared deep down that she wouldn’t be enough for Lou, wouldn’t be able to give her daughter what she needed.
Because she was scared of what Amelia and Phil would do if they decided she wasn’t a good mom.
“I’m afraid I’m going to need more than that. I’d like you to send me all the information on the program. Now, I’ll get to the reason I came. I’m concerned with Louisa’s education.” Amelia set her bag down and reached inside. She brought out a book. “Somehow I doubt this is on her approved reading list.”
It was a copy of I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. It was the first in a series of YA novels about a spy school. Tasha Taggart had given it to her, and Lou was on her second read through. “It’s not for school. It’s for fun. A friend suggested it to her, and she’s enjoying it. Why do you have that?”