Page 97 of One Forbidden Moment

But it wasn't hard to bond with someone who'd traveled through a tear in reality, fallen in love with a man old enough to be someone's grandpa, and had no support back home.They had a lot in common, and a need to support another woman.

"I'm glad you did," Jillian said.

Moe glanced over, gave Kallie a nod, then went back to stocking.Jillian knew that look.He was glad Kallie was here, but he was also on alert.Vaughn had come in once and stared too long.Rex had tried to linger near the counter without buying anything.Lately, she spent more time avoiding the other men than she did marking the book when someone took groceries home.

Kallie leaned on the counter."How's your headspace lately?I know the last several weeks have been hard for you."

It was crushing to accept that she might never get back to her mom.The only thing that kept her from losing her mind was the fact that time stood still on the other side.Her mom wasn't getting worse, and she didn't know her daughter was gone.She held onto the belief that her mom was still alive.

"Better."Jillian hesitated."Some days."

Kallie didn't push.That was one of the things Jillian liked about her.Their understanding of each other made empathy effortless, no explanations required.Kallie knew Jillian's mom was in a nursing home, knew she had been trying to get back to her, knew the storm had failed them.

"I never thought I'd be thankful for being alone," Kallie said softly."No family to go back to.So...wherever Finn is, I'm okay."She paused, then added, "But you've got more to lose.That hits different."

Jillian swallowed, eyes stinging."I keep thinking about her.Sitting in that chair at the nursing home.Waiting."

Kallie reached across the counter and squeezed her hand."Moe's right.No time is passing for her while you're here.She's still exactly how she was the last time you saw her.For her, it's like you haven't been missing."

Jillian nodded, but the grief still pressed against her ribs."It feels selfish.Being here.Loving him.When Mom's alone."

"Or," Kallie said gently, "you being here is the only way your mom doesn't get worse.There are benefits to being in Everstill."

Jillian looked up.

"There's no cure for what she has, right?"Kallie continued."If time's frozen for her...then she's not slipping away from you.She's still your mom.Still there.Still waiting.And you're here, building something that might actually matter."

Jillian let out a shaky breath."You really believe that?"

"I believe Finn loves me."Kallie smiled."I believe Moe loves you.And I believe Everstill is changing because we love them.That's enough for me."

Boone walked into the store, gave a quick nod toward the girls at the counter, and headed straight for the back shelves.Moe approached, placing himself between Jillian and the aisle, his body language making it clear Boone wasn't welcome near her.He spent a lot of time in jail for fighting lately.

Kallie watched Moe, then smirked."Your guy's intense."

Jillian couldn't help but smile."He's...protective."

"Yeah," Kallie said."That's one word for it."

Moe turned and patted Jillian's ass."You doing okay?"

Jillian glanced at Kallie, then back at him."Yeah.I think I am."

He searched her face for a moment, then nodded, satisfied."Good.We'll keep it that way."

Kallie straightened."You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?"

Moe snorted, overhearing the conversation.Jillian laughed.The sound surprised her with how easy it was to be happy.

For the next couple of hours, the store gave her comfort.Kallie perched on a stool, talking about Finn and the way he'd started fixing up one of the old houses.Moe moved through the aisles, always within sight.Jillian rang up a few customers, wrote down inventory notes, and let herself imagine this as a life instead of a sentence.

Missing her mom would never change.She still wished she could see her, hold her hand, tell her she loved her.But the crushing panic about being away had eased into a quieter grief that coexisted with hope that one day she'd return and it would be like no time had passed.

When Kallie finally stood to leave, she gave Jillian a quick hug."I'd better go stand by the door and see if Finn has wandered this way again."

"Don't go out alone."Jillian leaned closer."Do you want Moe to get Finn for you?"

Both men had a rule that the girls couldn't be alone outside.The other men weren't to be trusted.