Mister Hockey (Hellions Angels #1)(48)
She dabbed the corner of her eyes. “Anyway, speaking of pathetic, I should stop having a long one-sided discussion with a piece of sexy cardboard.” She regarded the cutout for a long moment before making a decision. “This will hurt me more than it will hurt you.”
She marched to the kitchen and yanked a garbage bag from the roll beneath the sink. Back in her bedroom, she folded the cutout in half and stuck the sucker inside. The poster met the same fate as did her calendar, the Westy bobblehead and other assorted trinkets.
It wasn’t that she wanted to trash Jed, just to bid a firm farewell to the time of her life that had loved the myth more than the man.
The part that no longer existed.
Outside her window, an old Jeep Wagoneer parked. Neve’s car. Breezy drew in a ragged breath as her sister climbed out of the SUV and strode up the front yard with her purposeful gait, fear retreated.
“Hey girl.” Her sister came through the front door. “Ready to go? We have a big day.”
“First up, party,” Breezy said. She had to compartmentalize if she wanted to make it through everything they had planned.
“Then podcast,” Never concluded firmly. “Let’s go.”
Breezy was going to make an announcement at Granny Dee’s ninetieth birthday party. And later, an announcement of a different variety.
But she couldn’t think about that yet, not if she didn’t want to pass out from nerves.
When she and Neve entered Aunt Shell’s house, the party was in full swing. The living room filled with people as well as ninety purple glitter balloons, Granny Dee’s favorite color. Breezy waited until the end of dinner before hitting her wineglass with a fork.
“Everyone? Can I have your attention?”
The banter and discussions faded as all gazes swung in her direction. She wiggled her toes in her wedge sandals. Center stage had never been a place where she felt confident.
“Um.” She cleared her throat. “We’re all gathered here today to celebrate the long life of an amazing woman—”
“It’s not my funeral yet, dear,” Granny piped up from the head of the table. “Remember I intend to live to one hundred and ten. That leaves me a good twenty more years.”
“No one in the room disbelieves you, Granny. And want to know why? Because you are like a fine wine.” Breezy lifted her glass in toast. “Getting better and better with age.”
“Damn straight.” Granny glugged the rest of her glass.
“But I want you to know that you have helped influence me. As a kid, heck, even as an adult, I wasn’t known for my self-confidence. But you have always encouraged me to live my best self. Be my best truth. That’s why I wanted to share exciting news. Many of you know that after an amazing run, I was let go from the library. It could have really been a kick in the gut. In fact, it was for a time. But then I remembered a line from The Sound of Music, a movie that I used to watch every Easter with Granny.”
“You know it! That Captain von Trapp makes my hills come alive.” Granny gave a shoulder shimmy while two of the uncles covered their ears.
“In the film, Maria learns that when a door closes, somewhere a window opens. Well, I wanted to share that I found my window.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out a manila folder. Her shoulders rose and fell with the deep breath. “Okay. Here goes nothing.” She removed the logo she’d gotten designed this morning and held it aloft.
“What is it?” Granny adjusted her spectacles, leaning forward.
“It looks like a bookstore.” Her mother peered with a slight frown. “You’re going to work at a shop?”
“I’m going to own the shop,” Breezy said, her voice quiet but unwavering. “Itsy Bitsy Children’s Books. I’m signing the lease. We’re just negotiating the contract with the bank.”
“Let me have a look.” Granny reached for the plans. She perused them for a long minute before giving a nod of approval. “This looks wonderful, Bumper Butt. Really good stuff. See, being a bookworm can be good business.”
It was clear she directed the pointed comment at Breezy’s mom, who didn’t respond, merely gathered dirty dishes the rest of the room was back to talking, laughing and drinking.
Breezy watched her mom walk out and despite everything, her Granny’s beaming face, her sister’s thumbs-up, it hurt with a calculated paper cut sting.
After ten minutes her mom hadn’t returned. Her empty space in the room loomed large.
She was too old to need her mother’s approval, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want it. Her whole life she’d felt like she let her mom down. Now, here she was, a small business owner. And still nothing? The disappointment in her belly filled with another emotion, anger. She wasn’t Neve, but come on.
She drained her wineglass and with a belly full of liquid courage, walked into the kitchen. She was a princess and this wasn’t her only dragon to slay today.
But Mom wasn’t there.
Breezy looked around. Did she ghost?
There was the sound of footsteps on the steps and door creaked open. Mom emerged holding a bouquet of yellow-and-pink flowers.
“Honey,” she said, breathless. “For you. I ran down to the corner flower shop in these shoes. I can’t believe I didn’t snap a heel. It’s like I always say, better to pay for quality.”