Free Always You (A Magnolia Falls Novel) by Ruth Roberts

left me a message saying my services were no longer needed.”
    “Your services are very much needed. Will you please keep our appointment tomorrow? Unfortunately, my sister is still in denial about her problem.”
    “Most are at this stage, which is why I called you instead of her. I will be there tomorrow as planned.”
    “Thank you,” she said before they disconnected the call. What was Liz thinking? Of course, she still needed the eating disorder coach. While she was doing slightly better, Diana was still concerned Liz didn’t eat nearly enough. Looks like another serious talk with her sister was needed.
    ***
    She waited until the last guest had left to speak to Liz. They were in the front parlor. Liz had just picked up her volume of Shakespeare and sat down to start reading. Diana shook her head. She didn’t get why Liz always played the dumb blonde, yet she’d read all of Shakespeare’s works multiple times over. She quoted from Shakespeare regularly. Liz was a lot smarter than the impression she gave the world. Diana sat across from her in a blue armchair resting her feet on the matching ottoman between them. “O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? That’s about the only one I know,” Diana said.
    Liz marked her place in her book and set it down. “Speaking of Romeo, you and Zack looked pretty close tonight.”
    “It was a trick of the sunlight. That ship has sailed.”
    “It looked securely anchored to me. He’s never gotten over you.”
    “Of course he did. He was married.”
    “Listen, there is something I’ve needed to say to you for ten years—”
    Diana cut her off with a wave of her hand. “It’s in the past. Water under the bridge. Let’s leave it there.”
    “No, I have to explain. It was all me. I threw myself at him. I kissed him. He did not kiss me back. He pushed me away. I was jealous of you and wanted what you had, the love, and affection of everyone in this town. What I did was wrong. I hurt you, and I am so sorry. You don’t know how many times over the last ten years I have wished I could go back to that night and do things differently.”
    “Let it go. I did things that night I’m not so proud of either, we were kids. But since we are apologizing, I’m sorry I ruined your scrapbooks. I know they meant a lot to you. It was childish of me.”
    Liz waved that off. “I deserved it and more. Besides, like you said, we were little more than children. Eighteen is on the cusp of adulthood, not quite there, yet thinking we know it all. I was such a brat back then.”
    “Back then?” Diana lifted a brow. “I hate to tell you this, but bratty Liz reared her head again today.”
    “What are you talking about?” She asked, warily.
    “You called Logan Collier to cancel.”
    “Ah, that.” Liz sat back and crossed her arms. “I don’t need him. I’m doing fine. I’ve already gained five pounds.”
    “That’s great. I’m happy to see you eating more, but you still need him.”
    Liz’s eyes flared. “I do not need some ridiculous life coach psychoanalyzing me every minute of the day.”
    “He is not a life coach. He’s an eating disorder coach.” Diana tried to keep calm.
    “Same difference.”
    “No, it isn’t. He is a certified therapist and dietician. Your doctor in New York highly recommended him. But you already know this. You read all the research.”
    “Do you really want some strange man staying in the house? What if he hurts Jessica? He could be a pedophile, or an axe murderer who will kill us all in our sleep.”
    Diana looked at her incredulously. “I’ve done an intensive background check on him. You know this, too. Looks like ten years didn’t do you much good in the growing up department because you are acting childish.” Diana stood to leave, when she reached the door she stopped and turned. Liz was still sitting on the loveseat, arms crossed, with a mutinous expression on her face. “He will be here at ten tomorrow morning. I expect you to be