Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller (hot novels to read .txt) 📕

she would have known Erma’s real motives too. The perils of having best friends.

“I know that,” Erma snapped. Then she reached for Bea’s hand. “I’m sorry.” Tears welled in her eyes. Bother, she didn’t wantto break down here in a crowded restaurant. As it was, half of Maple Falls seemed to have the same idea she and her friendsdid, and the last thing she wanted to get around town was that she’d been seen crying at the brunch buffet. “I miss her somuch. I don’t know if I can bear it if she leaves again.”

“Oh, honey.” Bea squeezed her hand. “I know you’re worried. But we’re here for you. Just like we have been all these years.We BBs don’t let each other go through hard times alone.”

Erma nodded, swallowing her tears. She released Bea’s hand. “Thank you. I just wish it didn’t have to be this way. I alwaysprayed things would be different.”

“Keep up that faith, Erma. Just don’t try to force anything, especially something as important as a romantic relationship.If the good Lord wants Riley and Hayden to be together, he’ll make it happen. He doesn’t need your help.”

That was for sure. Erma adjusted the napkin in her lap as Peg rejoined them, then handed a small plate of bacon to Bea. Thewoman did enjoy her pork products. Erma sat back and watched her friends discuss Jared’s sermon. A feeling of calm came overher. She would enjoy Riley’s company as long as her granddaughter was here, and she wouldn’t ruin their time together by tryingto press her into doing something she didn’t want to do—and that included taking over Knots and Tangles and coaching the churchsoftball team. She’d already given silent agreement to Riley last night, and when she returned home she would call Haydenand let him off the hook too.

A pain creased her heart. She’d lived on hope for too long. Her dream of handing over Knots and Tangles to Riley needed todie. Just because her granddaughter, who had always possessed gumption, had been working in the store to get it organizedand cleaned up, didn’t mean she was interested in running the business. In fact, she’d made it clear she didn’t want to. Earlierin the week, Riley had even mentioned that maybe Erma and Myrtle could move in together. Erma pretended to chew on the idea,but it was preposterous. She adored Myrtle, but being roommates would certainly fray their relationship. They were too independentto share a residence.

There was also another thing Erma needed to face. Knots and Tangles wasn’t much of a business anymore, and not just becauseshe hadn’t been giving it her full attention over the past few years. All the businesses on Main Street were in various statesof decline, including Price’s Hardware and the Sunshine Diner. Why would she want to saddle Riley with a losing proposition?That wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t respectful of what Riley really wanted to do—be an artist. She was an excellent one with atrue gift. Erma had to accept that her granddaughter’s home was in New York.

Somehow she would have to deal with the loneliness that had been encroaching over the past several years, although she hadn’tadmitted it to anyone. If the Bosom Buddies thought for a minute that Erma was lonely, they’d never leave her alone. She wasn’tlonely for friends; she was blessed with the best. The empty hole in her heart could only be filled by family, and her onlyfamily was Riley. That was too much of a burden to put on her grandchild, who had already been burdened with so much in herlife.

“Do you want some fresh pancakes?” Bea asked, breaking into Erma’s thoughts. “Those have grown cold by now.”

Erma nodded. She hated to waste food, but she couldn’t choke down cold buckwheat pancakes. “Just two,” she said. She wouldeat those at least. If she went home from the buffet hungry, Riley might think something was wrong.

At least she had settled a few things in her mind. She’d butt out of Riley’s life, both professional and romantic. That wasthe right thing to do. She’d failed so many times with Tracey and partly blamed herself for her daughter’s mess of a life.She couldn’t bear it if she messed up Riley’s.

*  *  *

“What’s it like being a famous artist?” Olivia asked, scooping a small bite of hummus with a pita triangle.

“Glamorous, I’m sure.” Anita sighed.

“Erma is really proud of you.” Harper smiled and looked at Riley. “She said one day she would like to display your artworkin the yarn shop.”

“She did?” Riley wondered why Mimi hadn’t mentioned it to her before. She also wondered why she hadn’t offered to send Mimisome pieces.

“I was always amazed that you could draw and paint so well,” Anita said before taking a sip of iced tea. “I can barely drawa stick figure.”

Olivia nodded. “Same here. What do you paint now?”

“I don’t paint anymore.” Riley explained about her mixed media projects, and she was pleased to see the girls were interestedand had a lot of questions. As long as the topic stayed on art or New York life, Riley was fine. More than fine, actually.Not only was she enjoying the food, but she was also enjoying the conversation. Still, she kept up her guard in case the subjectshifted to something more personal.

To her surprise, it never did. She saved a plate of food for Erma to heat up later and told the women she didn’t need helpcleaning up the kitchen. Then she walked them to the door, Olivia and Anita saying goodbye and heading for Harper’s Mercedes.

Harper lingered on the front porch and turned to Riley. “I was serious about getting together for coffee,” she said. BeforeRiley could answer, she added, “I know what it’s like.”

“What do you mean?” Riley asked, confused.

Harper tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear, revealing a single twinkling diamond stud in her ear. “Coming back homeand trying to find your place again. I left for college right after graduation, and then I worked in Dallas for four years.When I decided