Page 53 of The Payback Adventure
“How would you know?”
“You haven’t been complaining about him. You haven’t really talked about Henry at all.” Theresa glanced over at her. “What’s up with that?”
“Nothing.”
“You like him.”
Likedidn’t describe how Elisabeth felt about Henry. She wasn’t sure what word did. “He works for me.”
“That’s an excuse, not a reason.” Theresa tapped the steering wheel to the beat of the music. “If you don’t like him, why are you blushing?”
“I’m…I’m hot.”
“And bothered?”
Elisabeth wasn’t about to answer that.
Theresa continued. “I don’t blame you for feeling that way. He’s perfect for you.”
“I thoughtyouliked him.”
She shrugged. “I would never stand in the way of true love.”
“True what?”
“Love.” Theresa winked. “Elisabeth plus Henry equals true love.”
If only…no, Elisabeth couldn’t think about that. “You’ll only be disappointed if you think that’s true.”
Uh-oh. She hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud.
“A girl can dream, can’t she?” Theresa turned the car onto the dirt driveway leading to the farm. “There’s nothing wrong with one friend wanting to see another friend live happily ever after.”
“Fairy-tale endings aren’t real.”
“Don’t let what happened in the past color your future.”
“No guy will want the baggage that comes with me.”
“Just wait,” Theresa said. “Your happily ever after is closer than you think.”
Theresa had lost it. Still, the idea of loving and being loved appealed to Elisabeth in a way it hadn’t in years.
Not since Toby. Yet at the same time it frightened her. “And you think Henry is a part of it?”
“You said it, not me.” Theresa parked her car next to Gabe’s truck. The hood to the Suburban was raised.
Not a good sign. Elisabeth had wanted it to be an easy fix. She couldn’t afford anything serious to be wrong. But the way her luck was running…
Elisabeth slid out of the car and prepared herself for the worst. Caitlin, Abby, and Henry greeted her. The girls jumped up and down and giggled. Elisabeth had never had a welcome home like this. Henry’s influence? Or was something wrong?
“We have a surprise for you,” Caitlin said. “Close your eyes.”
Elisabeth did as she was told. “Now what?”
Small fingers clasped her right hand.
“Don’t peek,” Abby said. “We’ll lead you there.”
