Written in the Stars (24 page)

Sooner or Later

A
FTER
HAVING
DINNER
WITH
S
OPHIA
AT
R
IVER
R
OW
Pizza, Grace had decided they should walk around and do some window-­shopping to work off some of the calories. A brisk evening breeze had failed to deter two city girls from strolling past the various shops and artful window displays. “I'm so glad you talked me into coming out tonight, Sophia. I needed a break from the brewery. The last couple of weeks have been nonstop planning.”

“Yeah, I've missed hanging out with you. I have to say that having all of us together has been so wonderful,” she said with an unmistakable note of wistfulness.

Grace nodded slowly. “This past month has just flown by.”

“Oh, would you look!” Sophia said as she stopped in front of a jewelry store. “Why have I not been in here?”

“Oh, quite lovely,” Grace said as she paused to admire the jewelry glittering in the display window of Designs by Diamante. “Too bad it's closed,” Grace said. “I love that silver necklace with the moon and the stars.” She cupped her hand to her ear. “I do believe it's calling my name.”

“It's exquisite.” Sophia nodded. “Look, there're match­ing earrings. We'll have to come back here and bring Mom with us.”

“If we can pry her away from Jimmy,” Grace said. “It's so wonderful to see her so happy, don't you think? It's like she's glowing. I've never seen her quite like this, have you?”

“No,” Sophia replied. “And do you know that Jimmy's teaching her to fish? Can you picture Mom...
fishing
?”

Grace laughed. “I think it's awesome. And the idea for the fishing camp for kids that they came up with yesterday is just so cool. Mum can't stop talking about it.”

“I think so too. Oh, look at the beaded peace-­sign pendant.” Sophia pointed to the display at the back of the window. “So Bohemian. We definitely have to come back here and have a look.”

“No doubt.” Grace glanced around. “This is such a lovely strip of shops. It has a very throwback feel to it that I really like. The gas streetlamps are a nice touch. A lot of planning went into this development. And I agree with you that the fishing camp is perfect for them both, actually. Mum has always been big on giving back, and she said that this is a way for Jimmy to feel good about spending his money. Leave it to Mum to come up with a solution that makes everyone happy, including herself. Mason said that his family is on board with the project and is willing to sell the property and pitch in with help, as well.”

“The Mayfields are such good people.” Sophia nodded. “Yes, Danny Mayfield is getting involved with the fishing camp. And so is Avery. They've had a meeting this morning at the bistro.”

Grace arched an eyebrow at her sister. “You seem to talk about Avery a lot. Is something developing between you two?” Grace turned from the window and looked at Sophia. “More than friendship?”

“No...it's still too soon after his breakup. I won't be
that
girl. And besides, my time here will be up soon. Mattie is getting stronger every day and eager to come to the bistro.”

“Have you thought about moving here, Sophia?”

“To be honest, it's crossed my mind. Cricket Creek is just such an idyllic little town. I just don't know what I'd do. Working at the bistro is a fun change of pace, and I do love to cook, but it's not my true calling.”

“But there are hair salons here,” Grace pointed out.

“I know.” Sophia played with the fringe on her purse. “I've sort of looked into it. Well, I should say that Mom did. There's only one small salon on Main Street, and you know that what I love best is doing weddings and events. I don't see having enough of that here to keep me busy.”

“But you could see yourself living here?”

Pressing her lips together, Sophia nodded. “I do like it here, and I have to say that I don't miss the drama of a high-­end salon and dealing with bridezillas.”

“Something to think about.”

“I guess I've never considered living in a small town because we didn't ever have this experience, only city life. What about you, Grace? I thought you'd settled in, but I've seen that look in your eye lately.”

Grace shrugged. “The brewery is doing fine. The soft openings have been a total success and we're sold out for the grand opening. I won't be needed here much longer either.”

Sophia slanted Grace a level look that pinned her to the spot. “Oh, you're needed here, and I'm not just talking about the brewery.”

Grace sighed. “But you know me, Sophia. Like you said, would there be enough to keep me busy?”

“What about expansion? Distribution in other counties or even states?”

“Mason has the capacity to double his production, but he's hesitant to move too quickly. He seems content to keep things local, and he could make a living doing so, but his beer is so amazing that it would be a shame not to go bigger.”

“And keep you occupied?”

“Yeah,” Grace said with an edge of sadness. “Mum wants me to help with the marketing of the fishing camp, and of course I will, but that wouldn't keep me busy enough.”

“You're leaving something out.”

Grace slowed her pace. “Marco Cosmetics has been coming at me hard to develop a line of nail polish for Girl Code.”

“And that would mean going back to London.”

Grace nodded. “I'm afraid so,” she said, and started walking.

“But what about Mason? Grace, you're totally in love with him. And I know he adores you.”

Grace stopped in her tracks and took in a deep breath. “But it's not enough. Look at Mum and Rick Ruleman. And she was so miserable with Dad. I don't want to live like that.”

“You wouldn't have to.”

“Lifestyles have to blend together, Sophia. If not, no matter how much you love someone, it will eventually tear you apart.”

“Um, there's a thing called compromise,” Sophia said, and then put her hand on Grace's arm. “Oh, would you look at that?” She pointed to a bridal shop called From This Moment. “That wedding gown is stunning.”

Grace looked at the dress and felt an odd longing wash over her. “Yes...” Her breath caught and she couldn't look away.

“Do you dream of your wedding day? Fantasize? Wonder what it will feel like to see your groom standing at the altar?” Sophia asked in a dreamy voice.

“No,” Grace insisted, but a vision of Mason dressed in a tuxedo waiting for her with a smile on his face slid into her brain. “You're such a romantic. I'm a realist. Marriage and settling down just aren't for me.” And yet she still couldn't take her eyes from the dress.

“Would you look at this? We're on a street called Wedding Row.”

“Maybe there's more for you to do in this town than what you know,” Grace said. “Look at the lovely florist called Flower Power.” She walked over and peeked in the window, eager to get away from the dress. “Charming!”

“Oh right, Gabby Marino owns it. She's married to Reese Marino from the pizza parlor. They come into the bistro for breakfast from time to time. Really cute couple. Evidently, Reese was a bit of a bad boy who came back to Cricket Creek to open the restaurant with his uncle Tony.”

“Oh right, Trish is Tony's wife. She did a couple of articles in the newspaper about the brewery. I liked her a lot.”

Sophia chuckled.

“What?”

“Reese and Gabby told a funny story about how Trish gave River Row Pizza and Pasta a rather bad review in the paper when they first opened. Apparently Trish was Tony's landlord at the time and she didn't realize that the restaurant belonged to him. Talk about a rocky start to a relationship. Wow...”

“And now they're married?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, that's brilliant.”

“Seems to be the way of things here in this little town.”

“How do you know all of this?” Grace asked.

Sophia waved a hand through the air. “From the bistro. Working there provides a wealth of information. I love listening to all of the stories. Everyone here is just so...real, you know?”

“You just sounded rather forlorn.”

“Well, Mattie is back on a limited basis. Meaning my time here is limited as well, in spite of Mom's efforts.” Sophia stopped and looked out over the river. “I'll be sad when I have to leave. It's been so fun having all of us together in one place rather than scattered all over. Grace, I'm going to miss you so much.”

Grace felt a lump form in her throat. She reached over and hugged her sister. “Me too.”

“Oh, Grace, I can tell by the tone of your voice that you're leaving soon. When?”

“After the grand opening. Like I said, after that I won't be needed much. I'll become the silent partner that Mason wanted from the beginning.”

“I somehow think he's changed his mind on that one.”

“I'm best at launching a business, Sophia. If he doesn't want to expand, my work here is just about done.”

“And if Mason asks you to stay?”

“He won't. He made me promise that I would leave when I felt the need to move on.”

“And are you feeling the need?”

“Yes,” Grace said, but what she was really feeling was the odd need to cry. “The longer I stay, the harder it will be to go.”

“Perhaps that's the point.”

“You're being awfully cheeky tonight,” Grace said, trying to change the subject, but her voice wobbled.

Sophia stopped and grabbed Grace's arm. “You just decided to leave, didn't you? Like, right now. I know that faraway tone.”

Grace nodded. “I'm afraid so.”

“And miss the grand opening? How could you?”

“Everything is in place. It would just be too hard for me.”

“So what brought about this sudden decision?”

“It's not sudden, Sophia. I only meant to come here for a couple weeks at the most, and I've gone way beyond that. We're halfway though October.”

“Well, that was before you invested in the brewery and fell in love with Mason Mayfield. Both unexpected, but game changers, Grace. So what the hell just happened in the span of seconds? Oh my God...this!”

“What?” Grace asked innocently, but her sister knew her all too well.

“Wedding Row. The bridal shop. You had an attack of...something. Anxiety?” She looked at Grace. “No.” She shook her head hard. “Hope. Longing.” She pointed her finger at Grace and then back at From This Moment, before turning to face Grace again. “You were feeling it while you looked at the dress. The possibility of getting married to Mason slipped into your mind.”

“I don't want to get married or settle down!”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

“Oh, Sophia, you were sort of right. The idea did slip into my brain. Quickly followed by anxiety. The whole ball-­and-­chain thing scared the daylights out of me. Looking at that wedding gown made me want to run for the hills.”

“You are horrible at lying.”

“I'm not lying to you.”

“No, you're lying to yourself. Let me ask you something. What would you do if Mason proposed?”

Grace's heart thudded at the thought. “First of all, he isn't going to. It would be too soon for something that big.”

“That's not what I asked.”

“It's a moot point! This whole conversation is a moot point. You know me, Sophia.” She sliced her hand through the air. “I have to move on.”

“The only thing you have to do is be happy.” Sophia hugged Grace again, and then said, “I'm dropping the subject.”

“Thank you!”

“After one more question.”

Grace blew out a long sigh. “I don't suppose I can bloody well stop you.”

“When are you going to tell Mason you're leaving? You're not just going to up and go, are you?”

“Of course not!” Although that idea held some appeal. Grace's heart thudded with dread. “I'll tell him tonight.”

Sophia groaned and raised her hands skyward. “Well, here we went out for a simple dinner, and this had to go and happen. I feel responsible for suggesting eating up here.”

“I was going to bolt sooner or later.”

“Oh, Grace.” Sophia swiped at a tear. “No! At least wait for the grand opening that you've worked so hard on.”

“I think being here for that will make it even more difficult.”

“But Mason is going to be so disappointed. How can you do that to him? And won't you miss him terribly?”

“Of course! I will miss everyone. But my life will get back to normal as soon as I'm in London working on the nail polish line. And then I think I'll take a holiday to Paris or something.”

“There's nothing normal about you or your life.”

“Part of my charm, right?”

“No, it's not. I hope you go back there and then come to your senses. If I had a guy like Mason in love with me, I'd be over the moon. You should be thanking your lucky stars instead of running away.”

“Sophia, I would make us both unhappy if I tried to be someone I'm not. I'm doing us both a favor. Think about it.”

“You wouldn't be this damned afraid if you didn't really love him. Think about
that
.”

Grace looked out over the water, knowing that Sophia was right. “Why is love so frightening?”

“Because it's the most powerful emotion we possess. And in the end it's what we care about the most. Love is what we live for, Grace. Think about that when you're deciding upon nail colors.”

“Since when does sweet Sophia not pull any punches?” Grace tried to joke.

“Having us all together has tugged at my heartstrings. And holding Lily has me thinking about my future too, I guess.” Sophia glanced back at the display window and sighed.