“So we both came,” Bree said cheerfully. “You need a friend in this town, you get a twofer. Sometimes more, but we decided not to overwhelm you by dragging everyone else who cares along with us.”
Thank heaven for small favors, Liz thought. “Aidan really didn’t say anything?”
“Honestly, no,” Shanna repeated. “Whatever you said to him, he kept to himself.”
As badly as Liz wanted to hate him for forcing her to drag up old memories, she couldn’t help being impressed by his discretion and by his decision to send her friends over here in his place. “Look, if you’re worried that we’re going to share whatever you tell us with all of your friends, I promise that won’t happen,” Bree said. “We all love you and want to help, not to make things worse. You get to decide who knows what and when.”
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I really don’t want to talk about it with anyone,” Liz told them. “I’ve worked hard to put that time in my life behind me. Talking about it will only make it fresh.”
“Or maybe it will help to share the burden and get a new perspective,” Shanna told her gently. “We don’t want to pry. And if you say that’s not what you need, we’ll respect it.”
“But you need to know we’re here anytime you need us,” Bree added. “You’re not alone.”
Tears welled up in Liz’s eyes yet again. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Shanna and Bree were by her side at once, pulling her into a fierce group hug that had the tears flowing even harder.
“I swear if your husband weren’t already dead, I’d go after him myself,” Bree said.
“How do you know what happened was his fault?” Liz asked, surprised by the ardent statement. “Maybe I’m the one to blame for everything that happened.”
“Not buying that for a second,” Bree said. “We know who you are, Liz March. You’re a good person through and through. Whatever he did was all on him.”
Liz regarded her friends with wonder. “How did I get to be so lucky?”
“You came to the right town for your new life,” Shanna said simply. “I know all too well just what that means. Chesapeake Shores gave me a fresh start when I was down and desperate, too.”
Liz knew Shanna was exactly right. Chesapeake Shores—and the O’Briens—were filled with healing warmth and compassion.
* * *
Aidan thought he was handling things at the store reasonably well, despite being distracted by worries about what might be going on at Liz’s.
When Shanna finally poked her head in, he frowned. “I thought you were going to give me a heads-up when you left the house so I could take off. I need to be gone, if Liz is coming in.”
“Actually she specifically asked that you stay. She wants to thank you.”
“For what? Upsetting her?”
“Probably not that,” Shanna said, smiling. “I’ll leave it to her to tell you what’s on her mind. She was taking a shower and getting dressed when Bree and I left. She should be here soon.”
Aidan couldn’t seem to stop himself from asking, “How did it go over there? Did you get to the bottom of whatever’s going on?”
“Even if we had, I wouldn’t share her private business with you, any more than you told me what she said that got you to send me over there. I think she’s feeling better now. That’s all that matters.”
It wasn’t all that mattered, Aidan thought, but it was obviously all Shanna was prepared to say. She waved goodbye and headed on to her own business. Bree popped in two seconds later.
“You have good instincts, Aidan. Don’t give up on Liz.”
He frowned at her. “She doesn’t want me in her life, at least not as anything more than a friend. She’s been pretty clear about that.”
“And I’m telling you to stay the course,” Bree said, then winked at him. “I’m very wise about these things. Trust me.”
Aidan wasn’t sure he could do that, but he might as well see how things played out. He’d already been drawn in, and, like it or not, that kiss had pretty well sealed the deal.
He paced nervously behind the counter, regretting that it had been a slow morning so there were no customers to provide a distraction as he awaited Liz’s arrival.
When she finally came in the door, he studied her intently. He could still detect traces of her tears, but otherwise she looked far more composed than she had the last time he’d seen her.
She walked over to the counter, set down her purse and met his gaze. “I’m sorry.”
He frowned. “Why are you apologizing to me? I’m the one who inadvertently reminded you of a bad time in your life. I should be apologizing.”
A faint smile crossed her lips. “That’s the point. It was inadvertent. You couldn’t possibly know you were going to trigger an outburst like that just by suggesting that you thought we might have something special.”
“Well, it’s true that your reaction was pretty unexpected,” he said, venturing a smile of his own. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Less hostile, anyway,” she assured him. “In fact, I owe you big-time for sending Shanna to the house. She dragged Bree along. Their support was just what I needed.”
“Did you talk to them?”
“If you’re asking if I bared my soul, no. I really do want to leave my past where it belongs. I don’t see the point of dragging it out and dissecting it.”
Aidan regarded her with regret. “I’m hardly an expert in this area, but it seems the past is right here, right now, standing between us. It’s not allowing you to move forward.”
For an instant, she looked startled, but then she slowly nodded. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re probably right. I am allowing it to affect the choices I’m making. That’s probably not fair to you.”
Aidan shook his head. “No, the person it’s most unfair to is you,” he corrected. “I know a thing or two
