Page 100 of Perfect Together

Come to mewhen you’re free—of everything. Then we can talk.Tyler never thought the day would come. In fact, up through last night, his father had been refusing to cooperate with the police, proclaiming his innocence and thrusting all the blame on his accountant. Only when Paul Farnsworth had refused to stand by him did Robert Stanton break down and confess. He’d truly believed that his partner, Nicole’s father, would understand the need to bolster the firm during tough economic times, no matter the means.

Tyler was still coming to terms with his father’s betrayal of everything moral and right. His mother? He didn’t think she’d ever forgive her husband, and at this moment, she was meeting with her attorneys. Not to delve into the legal status of her campaign funding, but to file for divorce. That was his mother. No second chances.

Before he could go talk to Macy, he had to do some legwork on something he hoped would prove to her that from this moment on, she came first. Whatever happened between them in the long run, Tyler knew it wouldn’t be for lack of trying.

***

Daisies. Sam sentdaisies to the store every morning for a week straight. Each day, they brightened up the area by the cash register, and when Nicole ran out of the room, they lined the windowsill overlooking the street.

“Someone’s in love,” Aunt Lulu said, turning the lock on the door and hanging theCLOSEDsign from the doorknob.

“Are you talking about me? Or Sam?” Nicole asked her partner.

Aunt Lulu waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, a little bit of both of you.”

Nicole bit down on the inside of her cheek. “Is love enough?” She asked the question that had been nagging at her day and night.

“Oh, honey. Of course it is.” Aunt Lulu placed an arm around her shoulders and led her to a small table in front. “Sit.”

Not one to argue with this woman, Nicole did as instructed. Aunt Lulu pulled up a seat beside her. “I lost my first love to cancer before we ever got married. If I could have him back, just to experience that love again, I truly believe all would be right in my world.” The woman who always seemed so together and strong looked suddenly frail and sad.

Nicole reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

Aunt Lulu shrugged. “It’s in the past. I can’t change it, so I just push forward. But I can advise you not to waste one single day.” She rose to her feet, obviously finished with sadness and reminiscing. “So aren’t you glad we hired people to help with the cleanup?”

“More than anything. I don’t know if I could handle it,” Nicole admitted, stretching her legs and wiggling her aching feet.

A knock sounded at the door. “Who could that be?” Nicole asked.

Aunt Lulu stepped closer and glanced outside. “A very distinguished-looking gentleman I’ve never seen before.”

Wary, Nicole stood and checked the visitor for herself. “Dad!”

“That’s your father?” Aunt Lulu asked. “Nice-looking man.”

“Yes.” But Nicole wondered what was inside him. “I guess I should find out what he wants.” She unlocked the door and let him inside. “You’re returning my unexpected visit,” she said. “What’s the occasion?”

“I have news,” he said.

“I see. Well, first meet my business partner, Lulu Donovan. Lulu, this is my father, Paul Farnsworth.”

They shook hands, Aunt Lulu lingering too long—more for effect—as Nicole had come to learn about her. She liked being noticed.

But she was also observant and realized that Nicole’s father had come for an important reason. “I’ll go see to the cleanup,” she said, excusing herself.

Nicole waited until Aunt Lulu was in the back room before turning to her father, only to find him wandering around, taking in her bakery with his discerning eye.

“Very nice,” he said, surprising her.

She blinked. “Thank you. I take it Mom told you where to find me?”

“Your mother told me she paid you a visit. She was... upset about the business and Robert’s arrest, and you know how your mother gets when things don’t go her way.”

“Yes. She tries to manipulate them back the way she wants them.”

“She does,” he agreed.

“You’ve done it a time or two yourself,” Nicole pointed out.