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His jaw tensed.

“You told me that Gibsons don’t quit. We might not be the best at something. We might not be the most popular or the most attractive, but we’re going to show up, for each other, for our commitments, every goddamned day, because that’s who we are, and that’s what we do.”

He looked down at his lap.

“I know you weren’t lying then, and I’m reminding you now. So get out of the chair, take a shower, and put on this hat.” I put it against his chest. “It’s time to show up.”

Tears fell down his cheeks. “I messed up everything.”

I shook my head at him, feeling so sorry to see him this low. “Stand up, Dad.”

He got up, looking at me. He held his hands out, then dropped them by his sides. “I’m up.”

My lips quivered into half a smile, then fell. “Dad, the house is yours.”

His eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I paid the bill. You’re not in foreclosure anymore.”

His mouth opened in shock. “Maggie, I told you not to do that.”

I blinked quickly, on the verge of tears. “Remember who we are? We show up for each other, Dad, always.” He hugged me, and I held on too, because I needed all the strength he could give me. “Now I need you to show up for yourself,” I said into his shoulder. “I know there’s a solution here; you just need to find it.”

“I promise, I will.”

We said a tearful goodbye before I had to leave for the salon.

And as I drove to Rhonda’s, I tried to remind myself: there’s a solution here. I just needed to find it.

64

MAGNOLIA

I went to work,determined to talk with Rhonda about my options now that my financial situation had changed, but we were slammed with appointments all day. The hours seemed to drag by, and each time I saw her take an ibuprofen for her hip or cringe after bending to get something, my heart hurt even more.

I wasn’t just hurting my dream; I was affecting her life too, and it had a weight the size of Texas settling on my heart.

Even though I usually closed up, I asked her to stay behind in this shop we both loved so much so we could talk.

With the sign turned to “Sorry, we’re closed” and the doors locked up, Rhonda asked me, “What would you like to talk about, darling?”

I wrung my hands in front of me, already feeling on the verge of tears. Rhonda was more than a boss—she was family. She gave me my first job in high school, helped me through alopecia, and had given me my first big break.

I didn’t want to disappoint her any more than I wanted to leave this town.

“Is everything okay?” Rhonda asked.

I blinked quickly. I had to get through this without crying. “Rhonda, I was wondering if you’d be willing to postpone the sale until I’ve been here a year.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “Oh, honey, you don’t need more time to impress me. I’ve been so amazed by how you’ve embraced your role here. I was actually going to ask you if you wanted to move the sale up to next month. I truly believe this place will flourish under your care.”

Tears stung my eyes. “That’s not it.”

“What do you mean?”

I glanced around the salon, wishing with all my heart this wasn’t the case. “My dad needed my help, financially, and it set me back quite a bit. I won’t have the down payment until at least June of next year.”

“Oh, Maggie...” she said softly, bringing her fingertips to her chin.