Page 46 of Misadventures And Ms. Demeanor

Before I could cry—I never cried—I turned and walked away. When he called out to me, I just held up my hand then kept on going.

13

It had been a week since I flew back from Fargo. I'd had Aunt Velma's house to myself for the first few days as the Three Musketeers drove the RV back to Bozeman, leaving the broken bike at Bob's repair shop to be fixed when he returned from Sturgis. I spent the time sleeping and thinking, trying to figure out the mess of my life. It took me two days to realize my life wasn't a mess at all. It was just empty. I was filling it with writing assignments around the world to make it seem exciting, but I had no one to share it with, no one to come home to. I had Aunt Velma, she was always there, but her home wasn't my home anymore.

For two crazy days, I'd been on an adventure of a lifetime. I'd not only experienced it with Aunt Velma, but Esther Millhouse and Goldie as well. But they'd only been secondary to the excursion. It had been JT whom I'd travelled with. It had been JT to laugh at. Laugh with. It was a trip I would never forget.

Hewas a man I'd never forget.

"Are you sure you want to go?" Aunt Velma asked as I packed my bag. The sloping ceiling in my upstairs bedroom was too low for her to stand upright, so she sat on the bed.

"Yes. I want to."

"Why, Daphne? Why are you going?"

"It's something I need to do."

"You mean it's a way to steer clear of JT." She gave me the one eyebrow up eagle eye.

"You want me to watch JT settle down with Sarah?"

"As far as I know, he hasn't even met this woman. You're writing off what's between the two of you."

"How do you know Sarah isn't here in town right now?"

"Goldie told me."

Then it had to be true. She knew everything.

"He thought I was Silky Tangles! I was just a fantasy for him."

Aunt Velma pursed her lips. "He's not an idiot. He knows you're not Silky Tangles."

"Of course, he doesn't. Now. He met the real deal in Fargo."

She picked up my pillow and fluffed it, tossed it back in place. "Look, he's got issues of his own, of course, but not everyone's going to leave you."

I dropped the socks I'd been holding. "What?"

"Sit down." She waited until I did so, the open suitcase between us. "Your parents. I wanted to kill them for leaving you. But instead I thanked them daily for leaving you. I gotyoubecause they were so selfish. I know you think I'm crazy, but I never left you. Never."

My throat hurt with tears. "I know, but you're larger than life, Aunt Velma. I can't compete."

"Oh, honey, you never have to compete with me. Everyone loves you for being you. Even JT."

My head whipped up at his name. "He doesn't love me. He doesn't really even know me."

"That's not his fault, it's yours. If you like him, then stay. Let him get to know you. Don't run away because he just might stick."

I wiped at my eye. "I've been back a week and he hasn't been by. It's over."

Aunt Velma sighed, then stood up, at least as far as she could. "What time's your flight?"

"Two."

"I'll say goodbye now then since I have to meet Esther. Her car's broken and she needs to take Tigger to the vet to get spayed. Then we're meeting Goldie for lunch. She's taking George the Gnome back to Zach this morning."

The thought of the gnome had me smiling. I would never forget how it flew into the windshield. I would never forget the kiss that followed.