Two weeks passed and Greer grew more miserable by the minute. Interested buyer, David Charvet had called the next day after Nova, and made an offer on Greer's property in Atlanta. One she couldn't refuse without serious thought, so he'd given her time.

Since Ava's death, Greer had grown tired of making decisions. Worn out from the constant uncertainty, she caved and sold the store front. Nova was correct. Greer had not missed the shop and if she intended to be active in school parties and events, working from home was the right fit. In Atlanta or Fairhope, she'd be there for Emma, and during holidays, it'd be nice to have time off together. Maybe take a cruise during Christmas vacation or book a ski trip. Things Greer always dreamed of doing, but never took the time.

When the Collins' called, Greer wanted to give them a piece of her mind, but abided by Harold's instructions. She'd also found it difficult to keep a civil tongue when discussing them with Emma. If the child knew what her grandparents had planned, she would not be happy.

With a court date a few days away, Greer's insides jittered and jumped. Even though the mean S.O.B. assured her they had the upper hand, she wasn't so sure. Age worked in her favor, and Ava's and Evan's wishes. But that might not be enough, as her age was still considered a child.

Another problem was Jackson. She'd not seen or talked to him since the night he'd left her naked and alone, so she assumed he'd move on. Trouble was, she hadn't. The more she tried not to think about him, the more she did. Then there were the cards. She'd not responded to the client, but time had run out. Her site stated to expect results within ten to fourteen days. So today was the day.

If it turned out to be Jackson posing as a random client, then the minute he got the results, he'd call. Or not. If he realized regardless of what the tarot said, Greer was a bad choice, she'd never hear from him. Is that what she wanted? No. He was the last thing on her mind before sleep and the first thing when she woke. Every time she passed the church, she remembered the day she met him. Watching Emma play in the backyard, reminded Greer what good father material he was. Each time she baked something, she thought of the night they'd made chocolate chip cookies. She went back to the laptop, pulled up the reading, and hit send. In the deepest part of her heart, she wanted it to be Jackson's request.

She glanced at her watch. Nearly time for Mr. Mooney's visit. Today, she wouldn't wait, she'd deliver his bourbon. Taking the almost empty bottle from the cabinet, she jotted Maker's 46 on her shopping list. Didn't want the old man to run out. That daily dose might be all that kept him going.

Whiskey in hand, she made her way across the yard to his front door. Before she rang the bell, he opened it. "What's this? You bootlegging now?"

"I believe I'd have to charge you if that were true. You borrow from me. I bring a gift. Saves you a trip."

He chuckled. "I like you, Greer. If I was forty years younger, I'd give that boyfriend of yours a run for his money."

"I don't have a boyfriend, Mr. Mooney."

He cocked a brow. "Knew I hadn't seen him lately, but thought I just missed his visits."

Now she chuckled. "You don't miss anything."

"You're right. So what's going on?"

She glanced around the room. Quaint. Neat. Not what she expected. She thought the place would be a cluttered mess given the fact Mr. Mooney rarely combed his hair and never wore a shirt that looked ironed.

An overstuffed beige sectional anchored the living room. A dark red velvet chair sat to one side with floor to ceiling bookcases behind it. Greer moved to the shelves and ran her finger along the volumes. "Your wife must have loved Nella Harper. I think every book she ever wrote is here."

"She read them over and over. And when she got sick, I read them to her. She was her biggest fan."

"My mom loves her books, too"

"How about you? Ever read them?"

"A couple. Never believed the happily-ever-after stuff too much. But she writes it better than most authors. Well, you know that since you read them to your wife."

"Yeah, but they're a little too girlie for me. All that mushy stuff."

"Exactly."

"So, back to your fellow. You two split the sheet?"

"More like never got between them. He came to his senses. I'm not the marrying kind."

Mr. Mooney opened the bottle and filled a glass already sitting on the counter, then held it up as if to ask Greer to join him.

"No, thanks. It won't be long until I carpool kids from school."

"From what I've seen of you and Emma, you're perfect wife and mother material. Seems to come natural. So what's the crap about not believing in happy endings? You can't be faithful to one man?"

Her face pinched. "I have you know I've never been unfaithful in a relationship. I've already had a try at marriage and struck out. Not interested in another turn at bat."

"But your boyfriend was."

"What makes you say that?"

"Like you said. I don't miss much. He was sure good with Emma."

"Not meant to be."

"You would have thought the same thing about Charlotte and me, but we were perfect together."

His lips trembled when he spoke her name and Greer thought he might cry, but instead he sipped then smiled with a faraway look. "Serendipity. That what it was."

Greer followed him to the sofa and sat next to him because she was sure he was just beginning the story.

He took another sip and continued. "It was the first week in December and pouring down rain. I was late for an appointment at the university. I parked as close as I could, but still had a distance to walk before getting inside."

He closed his eyes as if recalling the scene, then opened them and drained his glass. "I was already late, but it was raining so hard, waited in my car to see if it'd slack up long enough to not get soaked. It didn't. So after about fifteen minutes, I made a run for it. Head bowed, coat pulled up, I skidded to the door and ran smack dab into someone.

"When I looked at her, I couldn't speak." He chuckled. " I know. Hard to imagine me at a loss for words, but she was so beautiful, I lost my voice. She was out of my league, but I was relentless. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. Convinced her it was fate. If the rain had not delayed me, and I'd not waited in the car, our paths would have never crossed. And I wouldn't have met the love of my life."

"That's a beautiful story, but I don't see how it pertains to Jackson and me."

"I remember you telling me how you met. Church parking lot, right?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Think about it. Spur of the moment you walk to the church and get there at the same time he's leaving. Five minutes earlier or later, you would have missed each other. Serendipity. Don't fight it. The universe won't like it."

"You know Mr. Mooney, reading all those romance novels to Charlotte turned you into a romantic at heart."

He rose from his seat and strolled to the bookshelf and removed a novel, then turned to face Greer. "Take this one. It was my Charlotte's favorite. Maybe reading it will change your mind about lasting love."

She took a deep breath. "If that sweet story you shared can't do it, I doubt this book can." In spite of what she said, she accepted the hardback, then rose and walked to the door. "See you tomorrow."

While Greer waited in line for the school bell to sound, she stared at the novel cover and read the title. Serendipity. She couldn't help but laugh. Her neighbor was driving his point home. She turned to the first page.

Allen had plans. He knew where he was going and how to get there. The last thing he needed or wanted was a complication, but that's what he'd run into. Literally. A gorgeous, blue-eyed, dark-haired, soaking wet complication.

Greer smiled. Had he been telling a true story or the one from this novel? He was eighty, and the memory goes long before that. He could have fact and fiction confused.

As she tried to right herself, Allen reached out to help her. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."

"That's okay. It was just as much my fault as yours. We were both in a hurry because of the weather."

She shivered when she said it and even though the temperature hovered in the upper thirties, Allen was warm all over. He held the door open, and she went inside, then turned back to him.

"I'm Charlotte." She stuck out her hand.

He slid his palm into hers. So soft and warm. He imagined she was the same all over. "Allen. Nice to meet you. Would you like to get a coffee? I mean if you aren't busy. I mean when I'm done with my appointment. I mean if you want to."

She giggled. A sound so sweet, it rivaled songbirds. "I'd like that. I mean, I'm not busy. I mean, I'll wait until you're done with your meeting. I mean, I want to."

Greer closed the paperback and pressed it to her chest. Allen and Charlotte. The characters had the same story as next door neighbor Mr. Mooney and his wife. Talk about serendipity.

After homework, bath, and Emma's favorite bedtime story, Greer tucked her in for the night. "Aunt Greer. Are we moving away?"

Her heart stopped. "Why would you ask that?"

"Grammy Collins said you were. I don't want to leave my friends."

Greer walked back to the bed and sat on the edge. "In a new place you could make new friends."

The child burst into tears. "I don't want to move. I like it here. This is my house. If you make me go, I'll hate you forever."

Greer's stomach lurched. Grammy Bitch was ruining her life. She shook the thought away and wrapped Emma in her arms. "Please don't cry. I won't make that decision until we talk about it. Okay?"

"You pinkie swear?"

Greer hooked her finger in Emma's. "I swear. Now go to sleep."

Even though she'd made up her mind to sell the shop, she'd not changed her plans. But hearing Emma say she'd hate her caused Greer's heart to break. She couldn't bear that.

Then there was Jackson. As hard as she tried, she couldn't get the earlier conversation out of her mind. Mr. Mooney made sense. The chance meeting with Jackson reeked of fate. But by now, the reading she'd sent had reached the client, and Jackson had not called. So it really was coincidence and belonged to some random twenty-six year old. Or maybe the question was from Jackson and it wasn't about her, but reconnecting with his former fiancée. He'd said she was back in town, and he'd never revealed the identity of the woman he'd spoken with at the pizza place.

Could have been her. Especially with the way she looked at him. Crap. Jackson was right. Greer didn't know what she wanted. But didn't want to risk losing her heart and have it broken. Again.

If only the reading had been his, then she couldn't deny Karma was showing her the way. Serendipity for sure.

----------------------------------------------

Finaaaaally, does it seem like Greer's FIIIIINNNAAALLY on board?

Serendipity for sure.

One more chapter left!

Til next time,

x zuz