It had always been just the two of them. Of course, Tara had constantly made sure to surround herself with a few trustworthy sitters and acquaintances, but she’d never really befriended any of them.
It was like looking at her younger self as Frankie opened up and submerged herself in this big, loving family. Frankie soaked all the attention up like she would save it up for later, for when it would be just the two of them again.
The recognition of history repeating itself despite all her effort of doing things differently with her daughter was the wake-up call she desperately needed.
She turned around on the path leading up to Mills B&B. After a few minutes of walking in solitude, Owen’s truck drove up to meet her.
He lowered his window. “Hop in. I’ve got something to show you and Frankie.”
She passed the windshield and opened the passenger door. She hopped inside and checked on Frankie in the backseat. “You had fun, sweetie?”
Frankie’s golden brown curls jumped up and down as she said, “It’s so cool, Mom! Did you see that kitchen? Grandma Lauren cooks in there for thirty people!”
Tara’s heart stilled at hearing her daughter call Lauren grandma for the first time. It was the first time ever that Frankie had interacted with one of her grandmas. Tara quickly swallowed back the sob that tried to escape her lips as realization dawned on her that Frankie would never be able to meet her other grandmother.
Tara shot up in her seat when Owen’s hand touched her knee. “You okay?”
She briskly swept one of the few pesky tears away that did escape her eyelids. “I’m okay. I guess it’s all just a bit much. I’ll be all right.”
“I wanted to ask you about Gloria, but I guess now isn’t exactly the right time,” he said while nudging his head to the backseat, indicating it was better Frankie didn’t hear about them talking about Tara’s mother.
“Gloria is my grandmother in Heaven.”
Owen’s truck came to a full stop on the side of the small winding mountain road leading down to the town center of Winter Peaks.
He turned towards her, his sad eyes taking in her tears. “I’m sorry, Tara. I had no idea. When the P.I., my cousin Donovan, found you he didn’t say anything about your mother’s passing.”
Tara nodded. “I-It’s a long story. Maybe we can talk about this later?”
“Sure. I’m here for you.” Owen brushed another tear from her cheek with his thumb, his touch warming her from the inside out.
It felt weird to cry about her mother’s death for the first time in years.
Tara had been bottling everything up inside, never revealing her hurt to Frankie, as she had to keep going and stay in survival mode. Owen comforting her made her shed a tear over her murdered mother for the first time in years.
She held his eyes and said, “Thank you, O. It means a lot that I can still talk to you.”
“I meant what I said before, Tara. I’m here.”
She nodded before returning her focus on the magnificent views of the valley of Winter Peaks as Owen turned into a direction she hadn’t anticipated.
“Where are you taking us again?”
His cheeky grin in response made her cheeks warm. Why did he have to be so damn cute all the time? Owen Mills was after all this years still her go-to guy whenever she had a rare moment for herself in the bathroom with the showerhead.
He waggled his eyebrows and said, “It’s a surprise…”
“I love surprises!” Frankie shouted from the backseat.
Tara’s upper lip pulled at her daughter’s enthusiasm.
Owen smiled at Frankie through the rearview mirror. “Me, too, Fluff.”
Tara shifted uncomfortably in her seat when Owen parked his truck in front of Mrs. Bear’s house. What in the world did he think in bringing them here? If there had been anyone who had treated Tara and her mother poorly, it was Mrs. Bear.
“What are we doing here?”
Owen knew that Mrs. Bear had spread rumors about Gloria stealing toiletry and pocket chance during her work as a chambermaid. If it weren’t for Mrs. Bear, her mother hadn’t got arrested on some bogus charges and maybe her father would have never found them here.