Chapter 10

“Oh, for the love of it. You have a problem, you know that?”

Regan looked up from the cocoon she had made herself on the sofa and glared at her mother. “Why are you still here? Don’t you have someplace else to be? Who’s running the spa today?”

“That should be you,” Caroline gently reminded her. “But you don’t seem to be able to stop playing Solitaire on your tablet while listening to music to slash your wrists by.”

“That’s a good one, Mom. Ve-ry funny.”

“Regan, it’s been almost a month now. You rarely leave the house, and we really need you at the spa. Now, enough is enough. I know your heart is broken, but you need to move on. I mean, look at me! I lost Max. I waited ten years to give my heart to someone, and he turned out to be a big jerk.”

Regan put the tablet down and looked at her mother, her expression bored. “Max wasn’t a jerk, Mom. He was defending his son, which was no different from what you were doing for me. Either way, it wasn’t a fight for the two of you to have.”

“Well, we did and now it’s over and so…there.”

“Do you feel better now?” Regan asked sarcastically.

Caroline sighed and shoved her daughter’s legs off the sofa so she could sit down. “The pity party is officially over. You have a business to run and a life to live. I can’t keep covering for you. I’ll be out of town for ten days, so it’s your turn now.”

“Wait. What? What do you mean you’re going out of town for ten days? Where are you going?”

“On a cruise.” Caroline shrugged. “I’ve never been on one and a couple of girlfriends invited me. It’s a seniors cruise, so maybe I’ll meet a nice man.”

“You’re hardly a senior, Mom. Sheesh.”

“It’s for those of us who are fifty and older, and I am definitely in that category. So, I’m cruising the Caribbean. I leave on Monday.”

“But…that’s in, like, three days! Why didn’t you say anything until now?”

“Would it have mattered? Regan, I have to move on with my life. I fell in love with Max Bennett and it didn’t work out. Am I sad? Yes. Do I miss him? Yes. Am I going to stop living because of it? No. You need to do the same. I’m not saying you need to go on a singles cruise—”

“I’m not fifty and over,” Regan deadpanned and pulled back at the look on her mother’s face.

“As I was saying, you don’t have to go on a cruise, but you do need to leave this house. Now, I brought over some groceries to restock your kitchen with something other than junk food, but tomorrow, you need to open the spa. I’m done covering for you.” She leaned down and kissed her daughter on the head. “And it wouldn’t kill you to do a little something with yourself. Let one of the girls give you a mani-pedi at least. And maybe do something with your hair.” She took in the rumpled flannel pajamas and quilt covering Regan, the empty bags of assorted snacks surrounding her. “And maybe eat a vegetable or two.”

Regan sighed with relief when the front door closed. “I’ll eat a vegetable when I damn well want to,” she said to the now-empty room. “I don’t need my mother telling me what to do. I’m a grown woman.” It would have felt a lot more freeing if she wasn’t saying it to herself.

Deep down, Regan knew her mother was right. It was enough. She needed to move on from the whole Sawyer thing and go back to living her life. She had been fine before she met him, happy and successful and enjoying her life, and she would be again.

Right after she finished watching the thirty-six episodes of The Bennett Project that she had recorded on her DVR. Hearing it helped her go to sleep at night. The sound of Sawyer’s voice suggested he was in the room with her and that made Regan feel better.

* * *

Monday morning, Regan opened the spa. She’d finished her last episode of Sawyer’s show the night before, then erased them all off the DVR with a promise to herself that she was over him.

Maybe.

Well, almost.

Caroline was leaving for her big trip today and promised to stop by A Touch of Heaven on her way out of town. Although Regan did not want to go on a seniors cruise, she envied the fact that her mom was going out and taking a vacation. The closest thing Regan would have to a vacation was her weekend at the beach with Sawyer and, well…

Nope, not going to go there.

Not today.

Well, maybe a little.

The beach would have been glorious. She still had no idea what beach he had booked for them or what they were going to do, but Regan was sure it would have been pure bliss. She could only hope that her mother had a good time on her trip, good enough for both of them.

The bell over the front door jingled and Regan turned to find Caroline walking in wearing turquoise capris, a white cami, and big, dangly turquoise earrings. There was a white straw hat in her hand, and she looked like she was definitely ready for her vacation.

“You look almost tropical, Mom,” she said when Caroline kissed her hello.

“I’m feeling pretty tropical. Oh, I cannot wait to have that first drink out at sea. I’m going to have something big and fruity that comes with an umbrella in it.”

“You’re a rebel, Mom. Remember, baby steps.”

“Oh, stop.” Caroline looked around the spa and waved to the clients who were in the midst of their pedicures. “So, are you going to be okay? Because if you really need me, I’ll cancel the trip and stay and help you.”

“Mom! Are you crazy? I would never ask you to do that!”

“Whew! Thank goodness! I really didn’t want to cancel my trip!”

“Then why did you say you would?”

“Because you’re my daughter and I love you and I worry.”

The bell above the front door jingled again and Regan almost fainted when Max Bennett walked in. “Caroline? If we don’t get going, we’ll miss our flight.”

“Mom?” Regan prompted. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”

“What? Oh, yes… Max called. We talked and, um…he’s coming on the cruise with me. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind? How could I mind? The two of you never should have broken up in the first place. I’m glad things are working out for you, Mom.”

Max walked over and kissed Caroline, then leaned in and kissed Regan on the cheek. “How are you, Regan?”

“I’m doing well, Max, thank you. Better now that I see you and Mom back together and looking so happy. I hope you have a wonderful time on the cruise.”

“I have to admit,” Max began, “I’ve never been on a cruise ship. I’ve gone out on fishing boats, but never on something like a luxury liner. But that’s where Caroline was going and so that’s where I wanted to be.” He smiled down at the woman who had stolen his heart and kissed her once again. “I missed you so much.”

“Me too,” Caroline said and then reached up to bring his lips back to hers for a more intimate kiss.

Regan felt a little ill. “Okay, you two. You need to get going so you don’t miss your flight.” She was gently nudging them toward the door and was relieved when the kissing stopped.

“I’m going to bring you back something tropical,” Caroline promised.

“I’m looking forward to it. Is there anything else you need from me? Everything squared away with the house?”

The house sold practically before Caroline had a chance to put it on the market, with an offer the day she put the sign out. She had packed up all her belongings and put them in storage and spent the last couple of nights at Regan’s. “Everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. I did leave your name and number with both the Realtor and the lawyer just in case. The new owners are moving in this week.”

“I can’t believe it happened so fast,” Regan said with just a hint of sadness.

“It was better this way, sweetheart. There wasn’t time to linger over old pictures or knickknacks, and really, I think it’s time for a new beginning for all of us.”

Regan wanted to cry, but didn’t want that to be the way her mother saw her as she was leaving to take a dream vacation with the man she loved. Forcing a smile and some cheer into her voice, she wished them both “bon voyage” and sent them off with a hug. She stood at the front window and watched them drive away, but couldn’t help the pang of envy. Life certainly could be cruel sometimes.

Her mother had Max.

Some new family had her house.

And she had a week’s worth of TV dinners to look forward to.

Something had to give.

* * *

The week had flown by and Regan had made the schedule so she could have the weekend off. It wasn’t that she had anything in particular to do, but it was time to sit down and think about what she was going to do with her life. Once her mother got back from the cruise, she would most likely move to Wilmington to be with Max. That would leave a huge gap in Regan’s life. She and Caroline were more than mother and daughter—they were friends and business partners. Regan knew she’d be okay running the business alone; she had a great staff and already had someone in mind to promote to assistant manager. No, the problem would be going about her everyday life without seeing Caroline. Wilmington was only three hours away, but it was too far to make a trip there on a whim.

So this weekend Regan decided she was going to truly be done with the pity party and erase that one last episode of Sawyer’s show where he walked around without a shirt for most of it that she accidentally forgot to erase, then make some calls and set up plans with friends.

If only she could work up some genuine enthusiasm for any of it.

Sitting at her desk in the office, Regan was finishing entering in all their banking information for the week when her cell phone rang. The screen showed that it was Caroline’s Realtor, Jackie, calling.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Regan, it’s Jackie from GFN Realty. How are you?”

“Fine, Jackie. What can I do for you?”

“Well, I know your mom is out cruising the Caribbean—and I am so jealous of her—but I got a call from the new owners. They found some boxes in the attic and there’s some mail that came in before the post office processed the change of address.”

“Oh, okay. Do you have the stuff at the office? I can stop by on my way home tonight and pick it up.”

“No, no, it’s all at the house. They don’t mind holding it until Caroline gets back, but I just thought you might want to go get it. It’s a box of photographs and a couple of boxes of Christmas decorations. Do you want me to tell them you’ll swing by or do you want to let your mom do it?”

Caroline had hired movers to pack up the house to spare her and Regan the emotional task. In her current state of mind, Regan welcomed going to the house for their belongings. “Tell them I’ll be by tonight after six, if that’s okay. They can leave the boxes on the front porch if they’re not going to be home. There’s no rain in the forecast, so they should be fine.”

“Sounds good, Regan. Thank you for taking care of this. I was glad the sale went so quickly and you were spared having to show the house repeatedly.”

“Thanks. I have to admit I was shocked that it happened the way it did. It seemed as though the sign hadn’t been up in the yard for more than an hour and the house was sold.”

“The buyer said they had friends in the neighborhood. So when the house went on the market, they called them and let them know. It worked out perfectly for everyone.”

“I’ll say,” Regan said and truly meant it. “I’m sure they’ll love it, especially with all the renovations.”

“They plan on doing a lot of work to it. I was kind of surprised.”

That made Regan mad. “Seriously? That house was like a show home after the Bennetts were through. What more could these people possibly do to it?”

“Honestly, I didn’t ask. When we closed on the house, they mentioned they had a lot of ideas on how they wanted to add to it, so who knows what they’ll do.”

“Some people don’t recognize a great home when they see it,” she muttered. “Okay, either way, not my problem and I promise to keep my opinions to myself when I stop by later.”

“Good girl,” Jackie said. “I really appreciate you going by there, Regan. I’m sure you’re anxious to get your family’s things back, as well.”

“Absolutely. I can’t believe Mom missed this stuff.”

“They said it was tucked away in the back of the attic so I’m sure it was just an oversight.”

They hung up and Regan rethought her plan for the night. There was a great Chinese takeout place near the house, and the thought of some of Lin’s famous dumplings made her tummy smile. “I’ll get the boxes, pick up the food, then go home and eat and go through some pictures. Not an altogether pathetic Friday night. Close, but not completely.”

At six o’clock, Regan said good night to her staff and wished them all a good weekend. “I’ll be around if you need me,” she assured them, “so don’t hesitate to call.”

“Go, relax,” Todd said. “And for goodness’ sake, do something that makes you smile. We miss seeing you smile around here.”

Unable to help herself, Regan walked over and hugged him. “People like you make me smile. I’m sorry I’ve been such a mess lately. I promise to do better.”

Todd took both her hands in his. “You don’t have to promise anything. We all love you, Rae, and we just want to see you be happy again.”

Emotion threatened to overwhelm her. “I want that too.” She gave him another quick hug and headed for the door. “I’ll see you all on Monday!”

The drive to the house didn’t take long. When she pulled into the driveway, she had to calm herself. The house already looked different: the landscaping in the front had been manicured and the front door and garage door had been painted.

“Certainly didn’t waste any time, did they?” she muttered as she exited the car. Regan had to remind herself to be polite no matter what they were doing to her beautiful and perfect family home. It wasn’t her place to point out if they were ruining everything. There were no cars in the driveway, but when she reached the front door, the boxes weren’t there and the door was ajar. She knocked on the screen door and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“Hello?” she called out and heard the sound of a power saw off in the distance. “Great, now I have to witness the work.” Lord knew she’d had enough of renovations and power tools to last a lifetime.

She called out one more time and then cautiously opened the screen door to let herself in. “Hello? Um, it’s Regan Amerson. Jackie from GFN called and told me you had some boxes for me.” As she walked further into the house, Regan saw the boxes on the dining room table along with a small pile of mail. She contemplated simply grabbing the stuff and going, but that didn’t seem right.

For the most part, the interior looked exactly the same. There wasn’t a lot of furniture to be found, but she supposed they were still in the process of moving in and getting settled. With a huff of frustration, she headed to the French doors leading out to the yard. The saw was still buzzing but the person working it was well out of sight. “For real?” she muttered.

Pushing open the door with more force than she intended, Regan stepped out onto the deck and went in search of the homeowner. “Like I have nothing else better to do than chase these people around. There are dumplings waiting to be ordered.”

Looking around, Regan immediately noticed the new stainless-steel grill and the nice table and chairs set up under a big adjustable umbrella. “At least they didn’t ruin the deck area,” she said under her breath as she walked toward the steps that led down to the yard. “Hello?” she called out again.

“Around the side,” a male voice called out, and as Regan made her way over, she noticed some new plants and flowers lining one side of the tall wooden fence. She shrugged, refusing to be impressed with their selection of colors or how neat and perfect it all looked.

The man had his back to her—he was shirtless.

She knew that back.

She’d run her hands over it dozens of times.

She’d even bitten it a time or two.

What the hell is Sawyer doing here?