Page 72 of Starting Back
“Coming along. My cousin is down this weekend and is staying with them. We take turns so they aren’t alone, but he’s too far to visit during the week.”
“I bet they’re happy to have you around.”
I shrugged. “I’m happy tobearound. I should be with the people I care about, and since I made the decision to come here, I’m not so restless anymore. A little, but not my usual distant and detached.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” A smile broke out on those perfect lips. “Why are you still a little restless?”
“You tell me.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and lifted a brow. I spied her chest rise and fall, her eyes barely blinking as they held mine.
“Can we go visit the booths now? Would Mary let me buy a cinnamon roll before they open?”
Kristina blinked as if she were coming out of a trance. Both of us still seemed to be under a spell when we were close, but whereas I was ready to give in to it, she was still trying to escape.
But I was trying to turn things around, and Emma had given me an unintentional glimmer of hope.
“If not, we can find something since you hardly ate any breakfast today.” Kristina peered down at Emma with her lips pursed.
“Because you tooksolong to get ready. I told Leo you kept changing lipsticks and doing your hair and almost made us late.”
Kristina dropped her head back, shaking her head as she exhaled a long breath.
Emma was my new favorite little person.
“She told me about your extra effort, but it wasn’t needed. You’re always beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, a blush tingeing her cheeks as a shy smile danced across her lips. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll be here. Avoiding the booth with the cinnamon rolls.”
A smile tore across my mouth at her wide grin. I stood and watched them climb off the truck and head toward the booths cluttered on both sides of the street.
Maybe I wasn’t exactly where I needed to be, but I was getting there.
TWENTY-SEVEN
KRISTINA
“God, I love the country.”
I laughed at Claudia’s audible sigh.
Peyton’s best friend lived in Brooklyn, where they were both from, but she loved making the long drive to visit, both to see Peyton and to people-watch in a small town.
Since Claudia had been a city girl her entire life, Kelly Lakes fascinated her. I’d lived here since I was born, so I didn’t see the nuance or novelty she seemed to get such a kick out of.
I loved raising my children in a place with the same strong sense of community I’d always known. But I had to admit, the anonymity of a big city that Peyton and Claudia would talk about sounded nice at times.
Neighbors who didn’t care when you were coming or going had an enticing appeal.
“I keep telling you, this isn’t the country,” Peyton scoffed as we walked past all the different booths from the businesses in town.
“No, it’s a Hallmark movie set.” Claudia snickered, tucking a lock of black hair behind her ear and adjusting her gray knit hat. “It’s not even Thanksgiving, and there are lights and tinsel all over the damn place.”
She clasped her hands under her chin and breathed out another sigh.
“One of these days, I’ll probably end up living here because I’ve seen the error of my jaded big-city ways, right after I fall in love with a hot local.”
Peyton rolled her eyes when Claudia elbowed her side.
