Better Luck Next Time

by Denise Grover Swank

  “Wait…what?” he asked, shocked. “I’ve barely mentioned her to you before today.”

  “When was the last time you ever told your father about a woman in your life?”

  He honestly couldn’t remember. Maybe never.

  “And I can see it in your eyes,” she said. An almost wistful look passed over her face as she took a sip of her drink. “You’re not the only one who’s ever been in love, although it might seem like it at the moment.”

  Another shockwave roiled through him. Was she talking about his father?

  “I had a life before your father, you know. But there are many different considerations a person should make when choosing their life partner, Finn. Love isn’t the only one that matters.”

  Ah, that sounded more like them.

  “How about this?” he said. “She makes me want to be a better person. And without her, I’m not sure I would have ever figured out what I want to do with my life. I only hope I’m lucky enough to spend it with her.”

  She studied him for a moment before nodding. “Your mind is made up. I can’t say I’m happy that you’ve decided not to come home, but I won’t try to dissuade you. Come with me.”

  She set down her drink, but he took his tumbler with him. He figured he might need a little liquid courage.

  His mother scowled a little, but if she objected, she didn’t outright say so. She led him to her room—only hers, because his parents had kept separate rooms for as long as he could remember.

  To his surprise, she led him to her jewelry box. He hadn’t even asked.

  She lifted a hand. “Your father didn’t want me to wear my grandmother’s ring, but it’s a family heirloom, and when you’re ready, it’s yours to give to Adalia.” Her mouth twitched with repressed laughter. “It sounds like it’ll be quite interesting to see her match wits with your father.”

  Wouldn’t it ever. Finn only hoped they both had a chance to see it.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Adalia’s alarm went off on her phone midway through her adjustment of a spring connecting two parts of her sculpture, and she felt the all-too-familiar grip of indecision. Should she go to meet Blue and Maisie for their girls’ night out or continue working?

  There was no denying she was a woman obsessed. When she wasn’t at Buchanan Brewery or working on the art show, she was at the studio. It was as if her soul had been starving for art all these months, and now she was gorging herself.

  Only that wasn’t the full story. Her art was helping her express and work through her emotions, just like it always had. It had brought her a rare sense of clarity about what she’d been through these last months. She’d gone through the loss of her mother, and while it had thrown her entire world off its axis, she’d reached a state of grace. She was grateful she’d had a caring, warm, loving mother, even if she’d lost her too soon. Her father would never approve of her—and while she’d always instinctively known it, now there was a peaceful acceptance. He was a bitter, narrow-minded man whose opinion no longer mattered to her. Her attitude would likely enrage him even more, which would have been the perfect revenge, but she found she no longer cared about that anymore either. Not with him anyway.

  As for Alan, his betrayal still stung—deeply. The thought of toppling him from his self-appointed throne was tantalizing, but she just wasn’t sure she could endure seeking revenge through the legal system. So she would move on instead.

  But the loss of Finn…

  She wasn’t a fool. She knew the reason she stayed so late at the studio was to fill the time she wished she were spending with him. They’d only been together a short period of time, yet she’d never before known someone who got her so completely.

  She regretted not being more open with him about Alan. If she’d allowed him to hold her hand through that ordeal, it would have made them stronger. She’d blown it.

  She’d never been big into wishing for a wedding and marriage, but when she let herself daydream in her new game of ‘What if…’, when she looked into her perfect future, she saw herself with Finn.

  But she reminded herself that her changed perspective didn’t resolve all their issues. There was still the matter of his need for change.

  One day the previous week, Dottie and Adalia had gone out to lunch to work out some logistics for the show. The conversation had somehow landed on astrology, although they’d gotten there by such a meandering path, she couldn’t quite remember how.

  “I’ve read my horoscope online from time to time,” Adalia had admitted with a laugh. “Who hasn’t?”

  “Oh no, dear,” Dottie had said with a wave of her hand. “Everyone knows those things are nonsense. I’m talking about real astrology. Have you had your star chart done?”

  Adalia quirked a brow. “Are you really asking me that, Dottie?”

  The older woman chuckled. “Fair enough, but you should consider it. I could set you up with my friend Ollie.”

  “No, thank you,” Adalia said, holding up a hand. “Not after that disastrous visit to Lola.”

  Dottie frowned. “That was serendipitous, dear, not a disaster.” She paused and leaned closer over the table. “Do you realize how rare it is for a fortune-teller to pull the same cards, in the same order, for two back-to-back clients?”

  Adalia pushed her plate away, her stomach in knots. “Dottie…”

  But Dottie forged on, not that she’d really expected her to give up. “You’re a Sagittarius, Adalia, a fire sign. Bold and brave and full of life.”

  “I don’t feel very brave,” Adalia admitted, half under her breath.

  The older woman reached across the table and covered her hand. “You are very brave. And full of happiness and light. Sagittarians don’t cotton to lies and untruths. They’re optimistic and bright, and you, my dear, are the epitome of your star sign.”

  Adalia sighed. “Dottie…”

  “Gemini is an air sign. The twin sign. They’re not called the twin sign without reason. They love to talk and sometimes they’re too busy talking to really listen. They’re change makers, partially because they’re easily distracted and often grow bored.” Dottie had given her a pointed stare then. “Do you know who’s a Gemini?”

  “Finn.” Did it make her a stalker that she’d looked up his birthday after she’d broken up with him?

  “That’s right,” Dottie said, “which is why his new career will be perfect for him. He’ll have a constant stream of new clients and new ideas to feed his need for change.”

  Was Dottie confirming what Adalia had already suspected?

  “But Adalia…” Dottie squeezed her hand tighter. “Once Geminis find the love they are destined to have, they hold on tight and don’t let go. And they’re extremely compatible with Sagittarians.”

  Adalia hadn’t confessed her fears to anyone, so how had Dottie known?

  Wait. Had she said love?

  Adalia’s eyes narrowed. “Have you been talking to Finn?”

  Dottie held her gaze. “Yes, I’ve spoken to Finn.”

  “About me?”

  “We’ve discussed you, but I’ve never once betrayed your confidence or shared anything that I think would hurt you.”

  Adalia didn’t know exactly what that meant, but she trusted Dottie, as crazy as that seemed at times.

  “Your life is your own to do with as you wish. But sometimes we shouldn’t struggle against fate. Just keep that in mind.” Dottie winked at her. Then she picked up her fork and said, “Are you sure you don’t want to make a space for the goat paintings? Stella Price could bring some of her goats to the event. We’ll already have dogs. A few more animals might make it feel like a petting zoo. Very festive.”

  “Maybe we should skip the goats,” Adalia said, grateful for the change in topic. “At least the dogs are house-trained. Do we really want goats pooping in the brewery event space? Not to mention, they might start eating the other artwork. Or the patrons’ clothes.”

  Dottie got a faraway look in her eyes. “Tha
t might be interesting. A nude art exhibit.”

  “As open-minded as I am,” Adalia said, “I think we should encourage people to wear their clothing, and to ensure it stays on, we should be safe and skip the goats.”

  Dottie made a face, then shrugged. “Perhaps you’re right, but keep it in mind, will you?”

  Adalia had promptly tried to forget the goats and their owner, but Dottie’s words about Finn had stuck with her.

  Was it a bad thing that she was thinking about going to see him?

  What if he didn’t want to see her? He’d be well within his rights. And what if he’d already met someone else? The thought made her physically sick. How could he date anyone else? Finn was her soul mate.

  And now she was running late for her girls’ night out with Blue and Maisie.

  She quickly changed into a dress and flats, then headed out to Bessie to make the short drive to the Italian restaurant Maisie had chosen. She’d gone from the brewery straight to the studio to get some work in before seeing the girls, so she hadn’t taken Tyrion with her. It felt weird to go out sans her sidekick, but Jack had assured her multiple times that he’d smother the dog with plenty of love in her absence. He’d said if she were this bad with a dog, he couldn’t imagine how protective she’d be when she had kids.

  Which had made her think of Finn, of course. Did he want kids? She was pretty sure she did.

  It took her a while to find a parking place and then walk to the restaurant, and when she got there, Maisie and Blue were already seated with drinks in front of them. Another drink was on the table between them.

  “I took the liberty of getting you a sangria,” Maisie said, lifting her own drink. “They make the best I’ve ever had.”

  “No complaints from me,” Adalia said as she took a seat between them. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “You’re not late,” Maisie said, checking her phone, then glancing up with a smirk. “You’re exactly on time. If you were one minute later, I’d feel justified in giving you a hard time over that grease smudge on your cheek. But since you’re not, I won’t say a word.”

  “What?” Adalia reached for her cheek, but Blue pulled a tissue out of her purse and began to swipe at her face.

  “Let me get it. At least I can see it.”

  “I take it that’s from your artwork,” Maisie said before taking a sip of her drink.

  “Yeah,” Adalia said with a smile. “Now that I’m sculpting again, I seem to be a woman possessed.”

  “Huh,” Maisie said. “A lot like Finn and his new consulting company. Now that he has nothing else in his life, he’s put every waking moment into setting it up.” A strange look lit her eyes. “Well, almost every moment.”

  She wanted to ask what exactly that meant, but surely Maisie wasn’t talking about another woman. She wouldn’t joke about that. Deciding to shift the conversation completely away from herself, she turned to Blue. “How was your date?” She shot a glance at Maisie. “She met a new guy just before she came here. Just coffee this time. She learned the hard way to save dinner for the ones she likes.”

  Maisie grimaced and held up her glass. “Been there, done that. So spill it, Blue. How’d it go?”

  Blue rolled her eyes. “It was a disaster. I realize this is Asheville and all, but this guy, Leo, took eccentricity to the nth level. He showed up wearing a tinfoil hat.”

  “What?” both women squealed at the same time.

  “And it wasn’t to fend off alien gamma rays, or whatever those things are supposed to do. He makes them and sells them on Etsy. As fashion.”

  “Sure, he might have them for sale,” Maisie said, “but the real question is if people buy them.”

  “Do you have a link?” Adalia asked. “I really need to see this.”

  Blue ignored her. “That’s not the worst of it. He said his underwear was made of tinfoil as well. And not just regular tinfoil. Recycled tinfoil.” She gestured to the foil-covered leftovers a couple tables down. “Just think. That could be cradling Leo’s balls in a matter of days.”

  “Yikes,” Maisie said with a look of horror. “I really could have gone without that image in my head.”

  “Remind me not to use tinfoil in any of my future projects,” Adalia said with a laugh. “I have no idea which pieces may have done the cradling.”

  All three women shuddered, then burst out laughing.

  “I gave up on online dating a year ago,” Maisie said. “I’ve decided to let it happen the old-fashioned way.” She said it flippantly, but Adalia could see resignation in her gaze instead of the fury and sorrow she’d seen before. Did that mean that Maisie had made peace with the whole River thing? She hoped so, for all of their sakes.

  “I’m about to give up,” Blue said. “It’s not like I really need a man. I’d just like to have someone to share my life with. I mean, someone besides Buford, of course.”

  Maisie didn’t respond, and Adalia’s heart ached. She didn’t need Finn. She’d survived just fine without him, but she still wanted him. He’d made her life brighter and less lonely.

  “We’re a bunch of losers,” Maisie said dryly.

  They all laughed at that, then changed the subject to the art show. The conversation meandered while they ate, but it never stopped being comfortable and fun and warm, and Adalia felt like she’d known them for years instead of only a few weeks.

  The bill came, and they were all reaching for their wallets when Maisie got a text that made her frown. “I need to head to the shelter. A new dog came in, and I’m at capacity.” She put some cash on the table. “I’ll probably end up bringing her home with me for the night, then look for a foster family in the morning.”

  “Do you have trouble finding foster families?” Blue asked.

  “Sometimes,” Maisie said absently as she refastened her wallet. “Some people end up keeping the dog, which means they’re no longer available to foster, and others find it so devastating to give up a foster animal they can’t bring themselves to take another.” She glanced over at Adalia. “Like Finn.”

  She blinked hard. “What?”

  Maisie grimaced. “I placed a corgi with him that had bladder issues, peed everywhere. He complained about her every time I saw him, so I thought he wanted out of the arrangement. I found a permanent home for Kiki. But when I told Finn…” She made a face. “I broke his heart. Sometime toward the end of his month with her, he’d fallen in love, and I hadn’t realized it. But I’d already promised the dog to another family, one with a couple of kids, so we had no choice. He told me he couldn’t foster any more. He couldn’t take the heartbreak.”

  Oh, God. Adalia knew she’d made a terrible mistake.

  She set her money on the table. “I have to go.”

  “But you paid too much,” Blue said. “Don’t you want to wait for your change?”

  “No,” she said, picking up her purse and jumping out of her seat. “I have someone I need to see.”

  Maisie gave her an incredulous look. “The dog story was what finally did it?”

  “What?” Adalia asked in confusion. “How’d you know I was going to see Finn?”

  “Please…” Disgust washed over Maisie’s face. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to show you that you’re throwing away the best thing that has probably ever happened to you without being that obnoxious friend who is always in your business. If I’d known the foster dog story would be the tipping point, I would have told you two weeks ago.” She shrugged. “In hindsight, knowing how much you love Tyrion, I should have guessed.”

  Adalia stared at her in shock for a full two seconds. “Are you in cahoots with Dottie?”

  “Is it possible to be in cahoots with Dottie?” Maisie asked. “She’s a one-woman show, and we all just orbit around her.”

  “Why are you still here?” Blue said, giving her a soft shove. “Go! At least one of us should get the man of her dreams.”

  Adalia ran out the door, ignoring the dirty looks the customers and restaurant staff
shot in her direction. She’d wasted enough time. It was time to go get Finn back.

  Chapter Forty

  It took some of the wind out of Finn’s sails to realize Adalia wasn’t home. Somehow that hadn’t figured into his plans. He’d driven to her house with purpose, but Bessie wasn’t in the driveway. He’d gotten out anyway to check, since for all he knew Bessie might have finally given up the ghost and broken down.

  Psyching himself up, he got out of the car and rang the bell, the Alan takedown file tucked under his arm. He waited a few antsy seconds. Rang it again. He heard Tyrion howl inside, as if picking up the pitch of the bell, but no one responded. It was then he heard a raised voice in the back yard. A man’s voice. It was almost certainly Jack—his car was in the drive—but he felt a tingle of worry. Especially when Tyrion’s off-pitch howl rose up again from behind the door.

  What if Tyrion was carrying on not because of the bell but because someone was back there bothering Adalia?

  Looking around for something to use as a weapon, he spotted a rain stick by the front door. He set down the file and grabbed it, something he immediately regretted when he started moving around the house with it, because it made a rushing noise that was sure to draw attention to him.

  Still, it was better than nothing.

  He rounded the edge of the yard carefully, catching sight of Jack from behind. He was standing by the bench, his posture rigid.

  “I want to talk to my sister right now,” he said. There was no mistaking the hostility in his voice, and Finn’s heart started pounding double time in his chest. Something had happened to either Georgie or Adalia. He had to find out what and offer to help.

  He ran toward Jack, the forgotten rain stick rushing in his hand, and to his shock, Jack whipped around, dropping the phone, and punched him directly in the face. He staggered back and landed directly on his butt, his hand flying up to his eye as the pain set in.