“Oh, yeah. He came into the salon looking for someone named—” she took it and checked the back, where she’d written the name “—Bailey North. I said I’d ask around and get back to him. Apparently, she’ll get some sort of inheritance if he can find her. But after I stuck his card in my purse, I forgot about it.”

  Autumn ran her thumb over the raised lettering. “Bailey North. Who do you think she is?”

  “No clue.”

  “Whoever hired him must really want to find her. He spread his business cards all over town. What makes him think she might be here?”

  “Didn’t say.”

  Autumn remembered that her mother was going to ask Laurie about Bailey North but then she never heard any more about it. “Do you think he’s still around? Or that he’ll come back?”

  “Who knows? I haven’t seen him since he gave me his card.”

  “I wonder if anyone has gotten back to him...”

  Melissa shrugged. “This might sound bad, but what does it matter to us?”

  “I understand what it’s like to search for someone you can’t find. It’s frustrating and exhausting and...” She let her words fall away as she held up his card. “Mind if I keep this?”

  “Not if you’ll tell me the truth,” she said, her voice playful.

  For the first time since the fireworks show, Autumn was caught up thinking about Nick. All those years with him felt like another lifetime. Even the months of fruitless searching seemed distant. “What truth?”

  “About Quinn. Are you two sleeping together?”

  Autumn slipped Mr. Owens’s card into her pocket. “I’ll tell you this—he was the first boy I ever slept with. We had sex in his tree house back in high school.”

  “Seriously?” she gasped. “When he was with Sarah?”

  “They were broken up, and it happened only once.” She shook her head as she remembered. “I cried so hard when he got back with her.”

  “Well, she should’ve taken better care of what she had because he’s yours now,” she said.

  25

  Mary purposely chose a time when Laurie and Autumn would both be in the store to start a conversation she hoped would pave the way for her to disappear for a day without Autumn knowing she was going so far from home. She’d told Tammy she’d send some old pictures, ones that weren’t digitized from when Autumn was younger, and Tammy had readily provided her address. But Mary didn’t plan to mail anything. If she could overcome her fear of travel, she was going to fly to Nashville and surprise the Skinners’ daughter. She’d been enjoying getting to know Tammy so much via text—they’d also had two recent phone calls that had gone very well—that she had to put her final qualms to rest. She couldn’t continue to invest in this person until she met the adult Tammy, face-to-face, and felt reasonably assured that it was safe to fully embrace her. At this point, that was the only thing holding her back, just that little bit of hesitation, and she was eager to let go of it and relax at last, to tell Autumn, Taylor and Caden the truth and introduce them.

  “I heard from that woman who owns the bookstore in Richmond,” she said to Laurie as she dusted near the register, where Laurie was making a list so they could submit their latest orders to the various publishers.

  Laurie had been primed beforehand and knew to play along. “The one you met with before?” she said. “Eve Dallas?”

  Autumn, who was building a new display, peered around a tower of books. “The bookstore owner in Richmond has the same name as the protagonist in the J.D. Robb series? How funny.”

  Once Autumn had disappeared back behind her stack of books, Mary shot Laurie a look that said, “Why the heck did you throw out that name?” No doubt it had popped into her head because she was familiar with it—they sold a lot of those books—but it was a dumb mistake. Autumn read as much as they did; of course she’d recognized it. “Yeah, funny coincidence,” she said in an attempt to cover for the gaffe. “Dallas is her married name.”

  Fortunately, Autumn didn’t seem to think it was too odd, because she didn’t follow up on that comment. “What’d she have to say?”

  “She bought a new software system that helps her run everything. Wants me to come back and see it.”

  Getting to her feet, Autumn dusted off her knees. “When? I’ll take you.”

  Mary’s breath caught in her throat, but given her past reluctance to leave town, especially on her own, she’d been anticipating the offer. “That’s nice, honey, but I was thinking, if I went on a Monday when the store’s closed, Laurie could come with me. We should both take a look at it, don’t you think?”

  “That makes sense,” she said at the same time Laurie indicated she’d like to see it. “Are you shooting for this Monday?”

  “No, I’ve got too much going on. But the following Monday should work.”

  “Okay,” Laurie said. “Let’s do it.”

  Autumn didn’t bother to comment—a sign that this conversation had come across as casually as Mary hoped it would. Relieved, she hurried to change the subject before Autumn could think too much about the bookstore owner in Richmond having the same name as a popular J.D. Robb character. “So...what are you thinking about Quinn these days?”

  “I enjoy spending time with him,” Autumn replied, suddenly fiddling with the display again, even though she’d finished it.

  Mary hid a smile. She knew her daughter’s attachment to Quinn was much stronger than she made it sound. He’d been spending most nights in the garage apartment—if not all. Mary had seen him come or go a time or two, not that she’d mentioned that to anyone except Laurie. “He was so sweet with me and the kids when he took us all to the fireworks show.”

  “Your mother told me he had the whole thing set up so that you’d have food and treats and a great view,” Laurie chimed in.

  Bless her heart, she was always there to help, Mary thought.

  “What a sweetheart,” Laurie added.

  The smile that curved her daughter’s lips made her look smitten indeed. “He seems to get along really well with Caden,” Autumn said as she came toward the register.

  “Caden likes him, too,” Mary pointed out.

  Laurie shifted on her stool. “How’s Taylor taking you getting involved with another man?”

  Autumn’s smile disappeared. “She’s a bit more...remote, a little harder for him to reach than Caden. I know he’s worried about it.”

  Mary knew Autumn was worried about it, too.

  “She’ll warm up,” Laurie predicted.

  “She seemed to be friendlier toward him at the end of the evening, after the fireworks were over,” Mary said. “Didn’t you notice?”

  Autumn shoved her hands in her pockets as she leaned up against the counter. “Sort of. Everything will be all right, I hope.”

  Mary touched her daughter’s arm. “Of course it will. Who can resist him?”

  “Certainly not her,” Laurie said, indicating Autumn with a laugh.

  Autumn made a face, but she laughed, too.

  Seeing her daughter happy and excited about love again helped ease some of the nagging worry Mary had been wrestling with since Tammy came back into her life. She’d figure out this thing with her past, she told herself. She just had to get to Nashville and back without Autumn discovering she didn’t really go to Richmond.

  * * *

  “You don’t like me very much, do you?”

  Taylor froze the second Sierra’s father pinned her with that question. He’d come home early from work carrying a bag of groceries in one tattoo-covered arm, a six-pack of beer in the other, and said he was going to grill some burgers, including a veggie burger for Sierra.

  Typically, Taylor tried to scoot out of the house if he appeared, but today he’d invited her to stay and eat with them, and Sierra had seemed so glad that her father was in a good mood that Taylor hadn’t had the heart to leave.

  “W-what do you mean?” she stammered.

  His belly, which was as big and round as hers would be in several months, jiggled as he put down the groceries and laughed at her response. “Just what I said.”

  “Of course I like you,” she argued, but she didn’t sound convincing, even to herself, and that made him laugh even louder.

  “You’d better get used to me. This old bastard could become your father-in-law one day.” She could smell alcohol on his breath as he leaned closer. “Ever thought of that?”

  “Dad!” Sierra said, obviously embarrassed.

  He grabbed a can of beer from the six-pack and popped the top. “What? You telling me you two little lesbians aren’t a couple?” This time he got right in Sierra’s face. “Have you found the balls to kiss her yet?”

  Sierra surprised Taylor by shoving her father away. “You just said we were going to have a barbecue. And now you’re trying to ruin it?”

  Afraid this was about to turn into another fight, Taylor edged toward the door. “Actually, I don’t think I can stay,” she said. “I just remembered that my mother asked me to...to help with something.”

  Instead of continuing to argue with Sierra, as Taylor expected him to, Dennis scowled at her. “Oh, stop. Don’t be such a little pussy. I’m just messing with you.”

  Taylor didn’t know what to do. She wanted to leave, but she’d already said she’d stay, and she hated to disappoint Sierra.

  “He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Sierra said. “Stay.”

  Sierra had been so good to her throughout all her drama that Taylor decided she could hang out with Sierra’s old man for one evening. “Okay,” she said. “Why don’t I start cutting the lettuce, tomatoes and onions?”

  He downed several more beers while grilling the burgers, but they managed to eat with only a few uncomfortable moments. As Taylor helped Sierra carry everything inside from the screened-in porch so they could clean up the kitchen, she thought they were in the clear. But before they could finish the dishes, Dennis came in from where he’d been sitting and drinking on the patio, and just by the way he let the screen door slam, she knew they were in trouble.

  “Wasn’t that the best burger you ever ate?” he asked, his voice overloud.

  “It was really good,” Taylor said.

  “Now what are you two going to do?”

  Noting the slur in his words and the hurt and embarrassment in Sierra’s eyes, Taylor jumped in to answer so that her friend wouldn’t say anything that might anger him. “We thought we’d go play some pool with my brother and his friends.” They hadn’t actually been invited to play pool, but she wanted to make it sound as though they had something definite.

  “Fine. You two get out of here,” he said. “But don’t stay out late.”

  “What’s late?” Sierra asked.

  “Be home at ten.”

  Assuming Sierra would resist such an early curfew on a Friday night, Taylor caught her breath.

  Fortunately, Sierra didn’t say anything. She just finished wiping the counter and tossed the rag in the sink.

  But before she could get past him, he grabbed her by the arm. “I guess I don’t have to warn you two to pick up some condoms. There’s one benefit to having a gay daughter, huh?” he said and slapped his leg as he laughed uproariously.

  “Dad, quit being a jerk,” Sierra muttered, her voice low as she yanked away from him and started for the door.

  The change in his pants pockets jingled he moved so fast to get in front of her. “You’re going to talk to me that way?”

  “I’m not going to talk to you at all. I’m leaving. Just get out of the way.”

  Taylor was beginning to sweat. She was sure this was about to explode—but then the doorbell rang.

  Grateful for the interruption, she answered immediately—even though it wasn’t her house—and there stood Quinn. “W-what are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Your mother’s been trying to reach you. We were hoping you’d like to watch a movie with us tonight, but you haven’t been answering your phone, so I said I’d swing by on my way over.”

  Taylor pulled Sierra outside with her. “Sounds fun. Can my friend come, too?”

  “Um, sure.”

  She could tell he was a little surprised that she’d ask him that. It wasn’t really up to him. But she didn’t care. She surprised him again by looping her arm through his. She wasn’t about to let him leave without her. She felt if she hung on to him, he’d get her and Sierra out of there.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” he said to Dennis.

  Dennis glowered at his daughter as though he might refuse, but three sets of eyes staring back at him seemed to make him think twice. Ultimately, he shook his meaty head and closed the door.

  “You all right?” Quinn asked, searching her face.

  She couldn’t let go of him quite yet, not until they were safely away, but she managed what she hoped was a believable smile. “Yeah. Thanks for coming.”

  “You bet.” He returned her smile as though he was grateful to be accepted, which made her glad her mother was at least dating someone who was cool.

  * * *

  “I’m telling you, she slipped her arm through mine,” Quinn said.

  He’d returned to Autumn’s—this time to the garage instead of her mother’s house—only half an hour after the movie ended and he’d left, but they’d hardly spoken in that time. He’d kissed her as soon as she let him in, which led to the removal of her robe and the discovery that she was wearing some silky white and barely there lingerie.

  As soon as he saw that, he wasn’t interested in talking; he was interested in doing other things. He had a hunger for her he’d never experienced before. Since he’d been with one person essentially since high school, other than a few random encounters with other women during the short windows of time that he and Sarah were broken up, he’d never realized what a relationship like this could be. If he and Sarah had ever loved and wanted each other equally, they’d gotten out of balance and lived that way for so long he couldn’t remember feeling the same rush of testosterone or that subtle possessiveness that made him want to commit to her—and have her commit to him.

  Shoving her hair back, Autumn leaned up on one elbow. “You’re talking about Taylor?”

  “Yeah, Taylor. So she must like me, right?”

  “People don’t typically touch someone they hate,” she said, sounding slightly surprised by her daughter’s friendliness. “Taylor doesn’t, anyway. When did she slip her arm through yours?”

  He pulled her back down next to him so he could continue to feel her soft, warm body. “When I picked her up. I was so shocked I almost asked if we could take a selfie so I could show you,” he joked.

  She chuckled as she caressed his chest.

  “She’s definitely been more remote with me than Caden. I was worried she wouldn’t accept me, and I know you were, too. But I think everything’s going to be okay.”

  She pressed her lips to his throat. “I’m glad you care whether she likes you.”

  “Thank you for giving me a chance,” he said, rolling her beneath him and resting the bulk of his weight on his elbows. “I honestly can’t remember ever being so happy.”

  “You said you were happy with Sarah once.”

  “I was at times. Our marriage got so turbulent it’s hard to remember. But this—what we have—it’s different.”

  She stared up at him for several seconds before she said, “In what way?”

  “In a lot of ways. It’s healthier, for one.” He kissed her lips. “More stable.”

  “You can say that after a week?” she joked.

  “Yeah, I can.” He remembered having a knock-down, drag-out with Sarah on their honeymoon and wished he’d bailed out then.

  “I never dreamed we’d end up together,” she said, reaching up to push his hair out of his eyes.

  “I should’ve gotten with you way back in high school.” Then he’d probably have children, too. So many things about his life would be different.

  “What’s going to happen when the summer ends?” she asked.

  “I’ve been trying not to think about that.”

  “It’s not so far away, you know. The kids start school at the end of August.”

  He rolled off her, and she settled against him. “We’ll figure out something. Because I already know I don’t want to lose you.”

  * * *

  The next week passed quickly. Taylor was able to avoid encountering Mr. Lambert through those days by making sure she left Sierra’s house well before dinnertime. She was relieved about that. But that didn’t mean she’d been having an easy time. Oliver kept calling. He was trying to talk her into getting an abortion before she returned to Tampa so that no one would have to know and they could both go on with their lives as if the pregnancy never happened.

  “I just...don’t know if I can do it,” she told Sierra on Saturday, while they were waiting at the beach for Caden and his friends to join them. They were planning to play volleyball and then start a bonfire, blast some music and roast s’mores. “I’m only seventeen. What if it’s the wrong decision? I don’t want to hate myself every time I see a baby, thinking about the one that...well, that I was once pregnant.”

  Sierra twisted around to check behind them as though she was afraid the others might already be approaching. Taylor turned, too, her face burning at the thought that she might’ve given herself away, but didn’t see anyone she recognized.

  “You don’t have to listen to him,” Sierra said.

  “It’s hard not to. He’s so desperate. You should hear him. I don’t want to be responsible for getting him kicked out of the house.”

  “I feel sorry for him, too, but that doesn’t mean he’s the only thing you have to worry about.”

  Taylor frowned as she studied her stomach, trying to determine whether she saw a slight bulge. According to what she’d found on the internet, a six-week-old fetus was only the size of a sweet pea, but she’d read that it would double in the next week. “I didn’t anticipate this part of it.” She groaned. “God, there’s so much to think about.”