Chapter 40
Chapter forty
Anna
“T
his place is incredible, Anna. Do you really have to leave?”
Skyla and I have managed to explore every inch of the tiny town in the past couple of days, and I am completely convinced she has introduced herself to every single one of the just over a thousand people who inhabit it.
I rub my hand over my chest as the ache forms knowing I will no longer be a part of that small number.
“I just don’t see how I can make it work.
There’s no way I can continue working for Phisherman’s and in case you didn’t notice, there aren’t a whole lot of employment options around here aside from that.
Plus, things with Keaton were going so well that I didn’t even think of starting to look for a place. ”
My best friend steps over and gives me a hug I didn’t know I needed. I swear a hug from Skyla is like a beam of sunshine being transferred to your soul. “Thanks, Sky. I needed that.”
When she steps away from me, I see the sparkling gleam of a dream in her eyes. “You know,” she draws out, “this bed and breakfast has a for sale sign on it.”
I raise my eyebrows at her.
“Can’t you just imagine?” She squeals. “We’d be like Lorelei and Sookie with our own inn.
The two of us would make this place so stinking cute and you could capture photos of it that will have everyone wanting to visit.
Incredible breakfast spreads just like Walter does of French toast, fruit, sausage, and bacon would be available on the weekends, but throughout the week it would be more of a grab and go option.
We’d greet people the way Hazel does like we’ve known them all of our lives. What do you think?”
I want to give Skyla the answer she’s looking for. I want to tell her that her dreams sound like possibilities. I want to know that there’s still a place for me here in Cheatham.
“I think neither one of us knows how to cook, so those incredible breakfast spreads aren’t going to happen.
And I think that there’s no place for me here in this town without Keaton.
” I sink onto the mattress and Skyla comes to sit beside me, a sad, knowing look on her face.
She wraps her arms around my shoulders, and I lean over into her, tears beginning to fall.
“I love this town, Sky. But I love him, too. Even if he doesn’t feel that way about me.
There’s no way I can be here and risk seeing him every day.
There’s no way I can be here knowing that he might move on and fall for some other girl.
There’s no way I can be here knowing it was my fault.
I’m the reason we’re over. I’m the reason he doesn’t want me anymore. ”
My words come out as sobs as she holds me tighter. I bask in the comfort of my friend for a little while longer before I pack up my life and head back to the city.
There’s pounding on my door and I glance over at my phone to check the time.
But it’s not just the time I see filling my screen.
My last message from Keaton, his damn heart shattering words, are pulled up.
I was going to say something to him last night, but the words never came.
What was going to fix this mess that I got us into?
How was I going to convince him to believe me?
Nobody ever believes me.
The never-ending knock on the other side of the door wasn’t about to allow me my pity party. I don’t know who the fuck would be here at seven in the morning, but clearly they don’t realize I’m currently residing in heartbreak hell.
I climb out of bed, but it’s apparently too slow for the person demanding my presence so early in the morning. A familiar voice calls out.
“Anna Laura, you open this damn door right now.”
Shit.
Why is my dad here?
How does my dad know I’m here?
I unlock the door and before I barely pull it open, he’s shoving himself into the small space.
“Pack your things, Anna Laura. We’re going home.”
Going home? He drove all this way to tell me to come home? My stomach sinks. Why is my mom not here with him?
“Is Mom okay?”
“She’s fine, but clearly you’ve lost your ever-loving mind.”
Shit. “Daniel told you.”
He’s been darting around the sweet but small room, picking up the dirty clothes I threw on the floor and piling them up on the bed. But he stops his movements, and when he turns to face me, I think I may crumble under his look of utter disappointment.
“Yes, Daniel told me,” his voice is sharp, tight. “Because apparently my daughter was either too ashamed or just too damn selfish to let her parents know that she married her boss the second she moved to this town.”
“Technically I was married to him before I moved here,” I say softly.
His eyes narrow in disgust.
Way to go, Anna. Just make things worse.
“What did you say?” His voice is like sandpaper, scraping against every raw part of me.
I don’t want to tell him. I really, really don’t want to.
But I’ve already stuck my foot so far in my mouth it’s gonna take a crowbar to extract it, so I might as well go ahead and take the plunge.
“Remember my trip to Las Vegas with the girls?” I wait for his response, but when he doesn’t so much as offer a head nod, I continue.
“Well, I met this man on the plane. And we hit it off. And then we went out for drinks. And then we kinda, sorta, got married a little bit.”
“How the hell do you get married a little bit?”
“Well, I guess we didn’t get married just a little bit. We got married a lot a bit. I mean, the marriage is legal and binding,” My words come out rushed.
“And that’s why you moved to Cheatham? He is why you left home?”
I shake my head. “No, I left because,” my words trail off.
I left because his best friend is a bastard who violated me.
But I’m not ready to tell him that. I may never be ready to tell him that.
“I left because there was a great job opportunity, and I’d have been crazy not to take it up.
Keaton being the owner was just a strange coincidence. ”
“Do you have any idea how insane all of this is, Anna Laura?”
I flinch at his cruel tone.
“And I’m supposed to believe that life is so great for you here? That you love your job and your husband and that everything is just so much better here in Cheatham than life was back in the city?”
I bite my lip. Until Daniel showed up, everything truly was better here. But now, I’m not sure anymore.
“So tell me, why is it that when I got to this small town and popped in and asked people about you, they told me I’d find you here at a bed and breakfast instead of at the home you were supposed to be renting? Why aren’t you with this so-called husband of yours?”
Damn. News in a small town really does travel fast.
Since I haven’t withheld the truth from him yet, I give my dad another dose of honesty. “Because he’s pretty mad at me about something right now.”
My dad snorts, “Well that makes two of us.”
“He expects me to get my things and be at their house in the morning. I’ll go over to Keaton’s place while he’s at work today.” A part of me breaks to know that the final memory between Keaton and me is our relationship breaking because of a sick man’s lies.
“I’ll go with you.” Shortly after my dad left, Skyla came to my door demanding to eat at my favorite place in town. She reaches over to grab my hand as we sit at Crumb and Get It. I’m really gonna miss this place. And their pickles.
“No, Sky. I think,” I choke back a sob. “I think I need to do this on my own. I won’t be great company.”
“Anna, I am so sorry everything sucks right now. But I came to be here for you. I’ll do whatever you need.”
“I appreciate it, Sky. I just think I need that moment to myself.” I look at my sweet friend with her red fiery curls framing her beautiful face covered in freckles.
Understanding, she nods, “But do you think maybe before you head that way you could point me in the direction of some of the single men in this town? If I’m not going to spend the day with you, I may as well spend it under someone else.”