“What’re your plans now you’re here then?”
“Finding somewhere to live is my first priority. Then, I want to bake. I’m thinking maybe cakes to start with. I don’t really know; I need to check out what kind of competition there might be around here. I don’t have a huge amount of money to get started because most of it is tied up in investment accounts that Edward organised.”
Aunt Addy tells me about the local bakery I loved as a kid shutting down a while ago, as well as Nora on the other side of town who does wedding cakes—but she thinks mine would be much better as hers are a little old fashioned. I’m not sure I agree; I haven’t made anything detailed in years. I’m probably well out of practice.
We chat for hours about this and that as we slowly get tipsier. It the best night I’ve had in a long time, reminiscing on the old days as well as catching up on what we’ve been up to more recently.
When Aunt Addy leaves the room, I run my eyes over the ornaments and photos. My focus stops on one of her, her daughter, and her granddaughter. The lump that set me off earlier reappears the longer I stare at the three of them.
“I’m so sorry,” I say when Aunt Addy comes back into the room a few minutes later.
“Wha—” she starts but cuts herself off when she sees what I’m looking at.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t come to her funeral.”
“You were on your honeymoon, sweetheart. I understand.”
“I know.” And I do know that Aunt Addy is okay about it, but that doesn’t mean I am. Edward and I were in the Bahamas when Kayleigh suddenly died three years ago. I desperately wanted to be there but he convinced me it was too much to get flights. I couldn’t see his selfishness at the time but it’s something about him I’ve grown to really dislike over the years. Since her death, I’ve only seen Aunt Addy once, and that was for a quick two day visit when Edward went away on a work trip two years ago. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been too wrapped up in work to make the time. I know I should have, and I feel awful. I wasn’t there for her when her daughter died, or her parents last year. “I should have been here for you.”
“You were living your life, Addison. No one can blame you for that.”
“I got so wrapped up in that world that I kind of lost sight of what’s really important. That’s going to change, though.”
Not long later, Aunt Addy helps me make up the sofa bed and we settle down for the night. I’m pretty drunk by the time my head hits the pillow; the room’s spinning a little but the excitement still bubbles up in my stomach.
Tomorrow, I’m starting my new life.
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About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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Also by Tracy Lorraine
Angel Series
Molly - part one #1
Molly - part two #1
Abbi #1.5
Beth #1.6
Emma #2
Connie #2.5
Lilly #3
Taylor #3.5
Nicole #4 coming soon
Chasing Series
Chasing Logan
Ruined Series
Ruined Plans #1
Ruined by Lies #2
Ruined Promises #3
Never Forget Series
Never Forget Him #1
Never Forget Us #2
Everywhere & Nowhere #3
The Cocktail Girls
His Manhattan
Never Forget Us Page 14