She most likely felt about the city, the way I felt about Frazier Falls.
She breathed deeply several times. “You’re the most important person in the world to me. Who else would I make a decision like that for? Sometimes, you have to make the big decisions for love.”
"I moved to the city because you weren’t going to get the opportunities I knew you deserved back in Ardmore. You needed a fresh start way more than I did. Once I knew you’d be all right, I thought of me. Frazier Falls is exactly where I want to stay.”
My eyes stung with the threat of tears. I didn’t look at her. Instead, I focused on setting the table for lunch. “I understand.”
She made a sound of discontent. “Do you?”
“What do you mean?” My insides twisted with tension.
“Sometimes you have to look further ahead, beyond the next paycheck. What about other opportunities? What about love?”
A quick glance told me she was dreaming of white dresses and buttercream frosted cakes.
“I have love. I love you … and shoes.”
“Shoes, don’t rub your feet at night.”
I turned my back and rolled my eyes. Ma was still spry enough to chuck me upside the head for being disrespectful.
“You haven’t broken in a pair of Jimmy Choos. Those will rub your feet raw night or day.”
She let out a growl that turned into a coughing fit.
I got her a glass of water, and as soon as she took a drink, she blurted out the name, “Eli.”
My heart raced. “What about him?”
“I’d say that’s a pretty great opportunity.”
“I’m not following you,” I lied.
“Yes, you are. You’re just being stubborn.”
“Wonder who I got that from?”
“Emily.”
I gave my mom a level stare. “He’s a guy, Ma. Another guy who lives in a town that doesn’t offer what I need. What you need.”
Her hazel eyes dimmed as if I’d flipped the switch to her internal light off. “I feel sorry for you if you genuinely think that, honey. Not every man struggles through a snowstorm to make sure you’re doing okay.”
“One good deed doesn’t make him the right man for me. It just means he was nice that one time.”
She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Emily, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look at a man the way you looked at Eli the other night when he came around. When he was outside picking you up for coffee, you absolutely glowed. You like him. You’d do well to admit that to yourself.”
I stared at the floor. “Don’t make things harder for me than they already are.”
“If it’s making your decision to leave Frazier Falls harder, then that’s only because you have feelings for him and know that I’m speaking the truth. Otherwise, there would be nothing to debate. You’d be able to head back to Los Angeles with a clear head.”
“Ma—”
She held up a hand. “There’s no point in discussing this any further. The casserole must be ready by now.” She stared past me to the oven.
Mom’s tone said it all. She’d made her point, and my defense had been weak and futile.
What was all this angst over a sarcastic construction worker who lived in a tiny town?
While that barely scratched the surface of who or what Eli Cooper was, at his core, it was true. I was a city girl who went out for cocktails on a Wednesday evening and likely knew more people by name than there were people in Frazier Falls.
And regardless of what made Eli who he was, he was the reason I was faltering. The reason I was happy and excited to be stuck here longer. The reason going back to Los Angeles might be painful, although necessary.
So much for the headstrong woman I was. Right now, I felt like a chew toy for two dogs. On one side was a loyal lab who loved me unconditionally, and wanted the best for me, it didn’t hurt that in my head he had Eli’s eyes and his strength of presence. On the other side, tugging in equal measure was my job, which snarled and snapped, making sure it got its fair share of flesh.
Yes, I was torn, but given the situation, there was only one option. Fall for Eli today, and leave him when I had too. Who said a girl couldn’t have everything? I might not be able to keep it, but wasn’t a taste better than none at all?
Chapter Thirteen
Eli
I was out of milk again. By that, I meant out of everything. I had to stop waiting until my kitchen was barren before buying food.
Considering the weather, I suppose I could forgive myself. Nobody in their right mind would go outside in a blizzard for milk but leave it to me to wait until things were dire.
Owen and Rich were still in New York. I was beginning to worry about my older brother. It was fine feeling claustrophobic from being inside all day in Frazier Falls; it was another thing entirely for Owen to feel trapped in New York where his panic attacks began.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I laced up my boots and threw on my jacket, grateful that the Cooper Construction truck was in my driveway. With Owen gone, and the weather still miserable, it was all but impossible to fulfill the orders we were supposed to start in February.
Thankfully, our clients were all affected by the weather, and understanding when it came to the delay.
I was getting restless and impatient, and I wanted to get back to work simply to keep busy. With a low laugh, I thought of Emily, who’d been desperately trying to get back to work for weeks.
A sudden flash of empathy overtook me for a moment. Here I was going crazy, and my job was practically on my doorstep, while hers was a thousand miles away.
I shivered as I ran out to the truck, brushing snow off my shoulders when I opened the door and sat down. Even though the journey would only take me a couple of minutes, I cranked up the heat, intending to keep the engine running when I went into Wilkes Corner Store. I thought longingly of the large supermarket in Idaho Springs, or the one in Indian Springs. If I’d been able to drive there to buy my groceries, then I wouldn’t keep running out of everything week after week. Sadly, it would take too long to get out there, with no guarantee the roads were safe enough to do so.
When I entered, I was surprised to see Rachel behind the register, hovering close to a space heater as she read a magazine.
She smiled when she saw me.
“Hello there, Eli. Another horrible evening, it seems.”
“Definitely. I thought my brother might have been helping you out, given the weather.” I returned her smile.
“I’m right over here,” Pax called out from the far aisle, startling me. “I’m helping Lucy with her grocery shopping; then I’m going to take Rachel home.”
“You came by to shop just in time,” Rachel said. “I’m about to close up for the night.”
“Perfect timing.” I moved down the aisle, pushing a small cart in front of me. “Evening, Lucy,” I murmured when I spied her behind Pax.
Lucy was in her fifties, with a full face of makeup and peroxide-blond hair that was always kept tied back in an immaculate up-do, even when she wasn’t going anywhere. Her winter jacket seemed more fashionable than practical with its white fur collar.
Her husband had passed away a few years ago, and ever since then, Pax had helped her with all the chores Burt used to do.