Page 115 of Accidental Blind Date

“I know you do. But you don’t need to. I love them and I provide for them, and I am doing my best.”

“I know. And I see that now. I think we just need to communicate better.”

“Whatever it takes,” I tell her, meaning it.

“I think it would benefit them more if we got along better and worked together.”

“I agree. A hundred percent,” I tell her. Relief is slowly flooding back into me. “Jenna…why the change of heart?” I dare to ask.

She sighs, a sigh I know well. Tess used to sigh the same way before admitting something she didn’t want to admit. “Because I can see how much the girls care about Libby. Miss Libby, I should say.”

“They do,” I say through a tight throat.

“I also talked to Libby.”

“You…when?” I stutter.

“We went to the shop, and we had a talk.”

“Jesus…” I let out. They’ve joined forces. I am outnumbered. I am…toast. I stand up, feeling the need to pace. The bartender and the couple at the booth in the corner must think I’m nuts, but I don’t really care.

“You know how much I loved my sister,” she says.

“I know. And you know how much I loved my wife. I still love her.”

“And you know that no one could ever replace her.”

“I know.”

“And you should also know that anyone who comes into your life and reminds you what it feels like to be happy, and makes the girls happy, and cares about all of you like you belong to her…is someone you shouldn’t let walk away.”

And I sit back down. Hard.

“She cares about you, Dax.”

“She hates me.”

“I don’t know what happened between you, but I can guarantee she doesn’t hate you. She might be a little pissed off but she doesn’t hate you. And whatever is going on, you need to fix it. The girls are staying with you so you can put your energyinto that. And I promise I won’t hold it over your head if you need me to keep them for the night.”

“Thank you, Jenna,” I say, throwing a twenty on the table and rushing out the door.

She’s right. This is my second chance. My life doesn’t have a lot of second chances, so I’d be stupid not to take it. I head straight to the shop and a second wave of relief floods me when I see her car there.

I yank the door open, bells clanging, people staring. I swear Summer’s mouth hits the floor. Tom’s eyebrows tick in a momentary arch, which for him is the equivalent of doing a cartwheel. And Libby is standing at the register, smiling at a customer who is buying two bags worth of hardcover best sellers.

The woman makes her way out and I hold the door open for her, then I look back at Libby who hasn’t noticed me.

“And who says we won’t stay in business?” she asks Summer. “That was three hundred dollars’ worth of books. All that come in a discounted paperback, mind you. Hemingway can stick it where the sun don’t–” Libby stops when Summer non-casually juts her head in my direction and clears her voice. Libby’s eyes meet mine. “...shine.”

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey,” she says back.

“Awe, it’s going so well!” Summer squeals under her breath. Meanwhile, Tom yanks her to the back of the store.

“Can we talk?” I ask. “Please.”

“Sure,” Libby hugs herself and I don’t like it. I don’t want her to feel like she has to protect herself from me. Then, she perks up anxiously. “Wasn’t the court case today?”