“Gotcha. All this house for just two people.” The excesses never ceased to amaze her. Robyn was moderately wealthy in her own right but, for the most part, stuck to simple things. It hadn’t always been that way.
Robyn pointed and snapped her camera at a large white wall. Fresh. A new beginning is what it represented. She had dreams of living like the rich and famous when she packed up her car and left this sleepy town nine years ago. Too bad she learned the hard way . . . being rich and famous wasn’t always what it was cracked up to be.
She turned her camera toward Eva and took another picture. It would be a nice little keepsake for her memory book. Robyn hoped she could freeze this moment in time so that when Eva started to feel burned out, she could remember how excited she’d felt at the beginning.
Quick on her feet, Eva flashed a brilliant fake smile. As soon as Robyn took the picture and lowered her camera, Eva’s smile disappeared. She started to speak as if nothing had just happened. “Because I’m the Party Planner Extraordinaire, I’ve got a million and one other things to do. So, I better get going. Have I covered everything? Do you have any questions for me?”
Robyn shook her head. “No, for the most part, I’m all set. I’ll need to take a few more pictures before I leave. I should ask you the same thing. Do you have any questions?”
Eva finally cracked a real smile. The woman had been acting jittery like she’d drank two or three red bulls. “No, I’m good . . . I think. Just know I’m only a quick text away if you need me.” Before she turned to leave, Eva hugged Robyn one last time. Slowly, she pulled back. “It’s so good to have you home. Everyone missed you terribly, especially me.”
Robyn’s doe-shaped eyes, the color of chestnut, stared into Eva’s. “It is good to be back.” There really was no place like home.
Eva smirked and looked doubtful. “Riiiiight. We’re not fancy like the people of New York and all those other exotic places you’ve been. The folks of Romona are always in your business. I guess that’s part of the charm of living in a small town.”
Robyn couldn’t help but laugh. “They do tend to know every damn thing that’s going on, but it’s because the people around here actually care.”
“I’ll grant you that, but they are a nosey bunch too.”
“That’s a fact. I’m sure five minutes after I drove into my parent’s driveway, the entire town knew I had arrived.”
Eva wrinkled up her nose. “Not even five minutes because your mother called mine in less time than that. To be really honest, I knew you were coming a couple of months ago even before you called to tell me, but I was sworn to secrecy by my mother—so don’t tell her that I told you.” Eva laughed, an honest-to-goodness, hearty laugh. “Our mothers have never been able to keep a secret from one another.”
Robyn laughed too. “I should have known.”
“Anyway, I’m hoping this isn’t just a pit stop. I want you to put down some serious roots now that you’re here. Your god-daughter would like to do more than FaceTime with you.”
“I know. It feels like only yesterday that she was born, but then I blinked and the girl is three years old!”
“Since we were supposed to raise our kids together, hopefully, you’ll meet someone soon and start your own family.”
“Meet someone . . . HA! And, here? In Romona? Girl, please. I’m not holding my breath.”
Eva shrugged. “You never know. There have been a couple of nice guys who blew in and out of town since you left. If we’re really desperate, there’s always Larry Johnston. He’s still single.”
Robyn made a face. “Mmm . . . he’ll forever be single. I’ll pass.”
“Oh, come on. He’s nice and has been into you since high school. Not that you would have even glanced his way back then.”
Robyn thought back wistfully. “No. I wouldn’t have. Anyway, Larry used to eat paste.”
Eva rolled her eyes. “He’s an adult, Robyn. You can’t hold his paste eating days against him. We were in third grade. He’s grown up quite a bit since then.”
“I know. It’s not like I haven’t been back to visit in nine years. But he’s still as awkward as ever.” She snickered. “I’ve seen him grow up and out a lot during that time.” Robyn tried to hold back her laughter and then it slowly died on her lips. “Bottom line . . . I made choices.” Robyn had wondered over the past several months if she’d made the right ones. Regardless, Robyn wouldn’t get any do-overs and would have to live with the consequences. They weren’t all bad. “I’m at peace with them.” Was she? No. But she would fake it until it became her truth.
“You’re too young and attractive to believe that. A woman with your brains and curves should be able to attract a great guy. I mean c’mon, I’d kill for your dark, honey roasted skin, those full lips, and high cheekbones. Do you know what I’d have
