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The hope in her tone and in her eyes is inspiring. Even in the shadow of what will be the ultimate end of their love story, she is happier than she’s been in years.

She places her glass on the counter before turning to face me directly. “I know that whatever was ailing your heart still is, Opal, but if it’s because of William, talk to him. Don’t stay silent if things need to be said.”

Now is not the time for me to tell my great aunt that I was falling in love with a cheat, so I don’t say a word.

“I know you have a lot to do since the bar opens very soon.” She smiles softly. “You should run along and tend to that.”

That’s her polite way of telling me she needs space and time to herself, so I reach forward to take her in for an embrace. “I’m a phone call away if you need anything.”

She steps back to look at my face. “I know. That works both ways. Don’t you forget that.”

* * *

As soon asI walk into Turquoise Crown, my breath catches. The vase I had emptied earlier is right back on the top of the bar with at least twenty fresh roses in it.

“Those are courtesy of William,” Myra says as she catches my eye.

I can’t bear to look at them, so I turn to face her. “I have a lot to do. You can take off if you need to.”

Her hands drop to her hips as she tilts her head slightly. “Aren’t you going to ask me if William had those flowers delivered or if he dropped them off?”

“No.”

“No?” She laughs. “Why aren’t you excited that a gorgeous man brought you flowers?”

That answers the question I didn’t ask about how the flowers got here.

“I have a lot to do,” I repeat in an effort to change the subject. “Our grand opening is soon.”

She steps closer to me. “You also have a man who cares about you.”

Shaking my head, I laugh lightly. “Where did you get that idea from?”

“William said it,” she says in an even tone. “He said it when he was explaining to Chuck that the woman he was with last night is his co-worker, and the kids they were with are her kids. They’re not William’s kids.”

I stare at her, trying to comprehend all of that.

She rubs her forehead. “William was here when Chuck stopped by to deliver the rest of the order from that auction in Cincinnati.”

My gaze follows hers to three board games sitting on a table nearby.

“You don’t need every little detail of their conversation, but suffice it to say that William is crazy about you. His exact words were that he cares deeply about you, Opal.”

I look down at the floor to try and regain my composure. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t matter?” she repeats. “How can you say that?”

I don’t want to have this conversation with her. I’m glad William isn’t cheating on the woman I saw him with. I’m grateful that he doesn’t have children he didn’t tell me about, but the fact of the matter is that William lives in that building in Tribeca.

We made love in an apartment in Brooklyn where I believed he lived. He never corrected me the entire time we were there.

I lived through too many lies with TJ to do it again. I won’t. I can’t.

“Can we drop it?” I ask Myra. “Please.”

Her gaze jumps over my face. “Of course. I can take off if you want some time to yourself.”

“I think some alone time would be good for me,” I whisper.