Forever Wilde in Aster Valley (Forever Wilde 9)

Oh.

Oh, god.

I closed my eyes as the sweet ache of her words flowed through me.

“I know you think that was selfish, Miller, and it was. I was. I don’t expect you to forgive me for it. But you need to know that it wasn’t because I didn’t care about your mother or you. It was because I loved you both so much.”

My eyes flew open, and I met Tilly’s watery gaze. “Thank you,” I croaked. “For telling me that.” I hesitated for only a second before I shared, “One of the hardest things about losing her has been this feeling that no one misses her as much as I do. That I have to carry her memory alone—”

“You don’t, sweetheart. I promise, you don’t.” Tilly’s face crumpled, and my heart suddenly almost broke for her. “I miss her every single day. And I regret the memories I could have made with her and didn’t.” She straightened in her seat and firmed her jaw stubbornly, the same way my mom used to. “Which is why I’m determined not to make the same mistake with you. You will never, ever be alone. Not as long as I am alive and not as long as anyone who ever loved me is alive to carry on my wishes. You’re the most important person on this earth to me.”

I blinked in shock. “I am? But you don’t even—”

“Know you? Please.” Tilly waved a hand. “I’m aware that I don’t know you as well as I’d like to, but I know plenty, remember? I make it my business to know all kinds of things about the people I love. For example, I know you’re not thrilled to be living in Monterey, but you don’t think you have options. I know you’ve been too damn proud to accept help from me or your grandfather, so you’ve been slaving away for a bunch of tooth-torturers—and honestly, Miller, you have to wonder what kind of shady dental professionals purposely set up shop in a strip mall between a penny candy store and a boxing school.” Her lips tipped up in a crafty smile. “I know you deserve the love of a good man… and I’m pretty sure you’ve found it.”

I shook my head. “Wait. Just… just wait a darn minute.” I scooted around the subject of Darius like it was a live wire. “How in the world do you know that Happy Teeth is located in a— Oh my god.” I clapped a hand over my eyes. “Ella Marian was wearing a Happy Teeth T-shirt today, wasn’t she?”

I’d noticed it earlier in the day but hadn’t stopped to wonder why she was wearing it. I was so used to seeing the company logo, I hadn’t realized how out of place it was here, on a child who didn’t live anywhere near a Happy Teeth location.

Tilly inclined her head. “I believe Blue and Tristan were in your area when the kids were due for checkups.”

She was lying. Blue and Tristan’s kids weren’t old enough for braces, and I remembered those shirts had only been available in the original Monterey location closest to Mom’s house. Tilly had to have stopped by the office to see me, not realizing I mostly worked from home.

I lifted an eyebrow—a move I stole directly from Tilly herself—and she snorted.

“Fine, fine. You wanna talk turkey? I’ve been all up in your grill for months,” she admitted. “I had to find ways to help you, didn’t I, since you’re stubborn as a goat?”

“I think you mean as stubborn as my grandmother.” Other pieces began falling into place. “Mom’s funeral expenses weren’t paid for by her old boss, were they?” I demanded, glaring at her. “That was you! And her…” My throat clogged. “And her wish of being buried by the lake. You made that happen. Thank you.”

Tilly scoffed. “Don’t talk to me about money. I’ve got more than I’ll ever need. If you weren’t so stubborn, I wouldn’t have had to work so hard behind your back. It makes me feel very useless when you won’t let me help my own… daughter.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and I reached out to grab her hands. “Or my grandson.”

“She didn’t want your money, and neither do I,” I said gently but firmly. “And I don’t want you going behind my back to do things. For example, telling Mikey I’m happy in Monterey so he wouldn’t offer me a job in Aster Valley—”

She sighed. “Yes, alright. I knew I was pushing my luck even while I was doing it. But I didn’t want you to move away from your family, from Harold and me, before we really got to know you. Especially if you were only moving because of your finances.” She flashed me that cunning smile again. “But you wouldn’t be moving for that reason anymore, would you? You’d be moving for lurve. Because you found yourself a man with a big, Greek—”