Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Merritt
T he sun shone through the windows of Muffin Top, the coffee shop in town that served the best pastries and coffee, hands down.
Whether you were looking from something sweet or savory, flaky or dense, Muffin Top would have a pastry for you, and it was guaranteed to be one of the best things you’d ever tasted. It had been one of my favorite places since first moving to Hope Valley years ago, but early into my relationship with Warren, he started making little comments about how maybe I’d want to lay off the sugar and carbs because my clothes were starting to look a little tight.
Of course, he’d framed it in a way where he’d been looking out for my best interest. That care and concern started to get a little crueler the longer it took for him to get what he wanted, but instead of seeing the insults for what they were, he gaslit me into believing he was right to be upset with me for not listening to him, because he wanted me to be healthy so we could live a long, happy life together.
Muffin Top was one of the many things I lost in the years I was stuck in that marriage, and as I sat at the little bistro table by the window, drinking a perfectly sweetened cup of coffee and splitting a cranberry-orange scone and lemon-poppyseed muffin, I felt like I was taking back yet another piece of myself he had stripped away.
“You know, it’s actually kind of kismet that you called when you did,” Blythe said after taking a drink of her coffee. “I was actually about to reach out. I still have a few bins of clothes that Avett’s outgrown. What I kept is still in great condition. Some of them still have tags on them. Tristan mentioned Levi could use some new duds, so I was going to call and see if you guys wanted to go through them and pick out anything he might want.”
That warm feeling in my chest returned, only this time, it bloomed and began to spread, spanning out and traveling down my arms until the tips of my fingers began to tingle with it. And once again, I had to fight against the burn in the backs of my eyes. The sad fact was that I wasn’t used to people being nice, and the Fanning siblings’ kindness was like a one-two punch.
I still wasn’t used to it. Each time I thought I might grow accustomed to Tristan’s thoughtful gestures, he did something that floored me all over again. Even the jaded part of me that wanted to question whether or not all of his goodness was real was having trouble holding onto my doubts.
“Wow, Blythe. That’s—” A knot formed in my throat that I had to fight to speak past. “That’s so nice of you. I really appreciate it.” Being able to afford new clothes that actually fit Levi was one of the things I’d been stressing about, and why I was so excited to get this new job. And, once again, thanks to Tristan, that was another item I was able to check off my list.
She waved me off like it was nothing. “Please, that’s what friends do. They help each other out. I put the bins in the back of my car. We can move them to yours when we finish here.” She popped a bite of muffin into her mouth, and a second later her eyes rolled back and she let out a groan. “Oh, my God. This muffin is the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
I let out a giggle and reached out to tear off my own bite. My eyes widened as the tangy-sweet flavor burst on my tongue. “Mm. That is good.”
I took another bite, savoring the sugar and carbs in a silent FU to Warren.
A few seconds of silence passed between us as I enjoyed a piece of the scone. It wasn’t as good as the muffin, but it was still delicious. While Blythe enjoyed her muffin, I took the opportunity to check my phone for messages. I’d texted Tristan to let him know how the interview went, wanting to share the good news with him, but so far, he hadn’t responded. I knew he was probably busy, but I would have been lying if I claimed I wasn’t eager to see what he had to say.
A tiny grin pulled at my mouth when I saw his reply was waiting for me, and it grew even bigger when I clicked on it and read.
Tristan : I told you. In case you haven’t noticed yet, I’m usually right. Pizza’s on me. Text me a list of toppings you and Levi like.
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as a bubbly, giddy feeling swooshed over me. Suddenly remembering that I wasn’t alone, I exited out of the app and put my phone away. When I looked back up, Blythe was studying me closely from across the table.
“What is it?” I asked, reaching up to brush at my nose and cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”
Her expression gentled as she shook her head. “No. It’s not that. You just look happy,” she said softly as her mouth curled into a smile. And I could have sworn her eyes took on a glassy sheen. “It’s really good to see you like this. To see you excited and optimistic. It’s a great look on you, babe.”
Crap, if she didn’t stop soon I was going to start blubbering right here in the middle of my favorite coffee shop. “Please stop before you make me cry,” I said on a laugh. “Because if that happens, I’ll probably be too embarrassed to ever come back here. Then I’d have to make you suffer.”
Her head fell back on a laugh. “All right, I’ll stop.” She reached across the table and placed her hand on top of mine. “I just wanted to say I’m happy for you. You deserve this.”
“Thank you. I’ll admit, it feels really good. I only hope it stays that way,” I admitted, voicing the concern in the back of my mind since I’d returned.
Blythe’s brows pinched in concern. “Have you seen him since you got back?” She didn’t need to say his name for me to know who she meant.
I shook my head, staring down at the paper coffee cup in front of me and picking at the printed label stuck to the side with my nail. “No. But I know it’s going to happen sooner or later in a town this size. I keep telling myself I’m prepared for it, but I’m not sure if that’s true. I mean, I haven’t seen him since—” The words died on my tongue as I remembered back to that last beating. I still remembered how hopeless it all seemed, how he’d stripped me down until I felt like little more than a broken shell.
When I finally got away from him I wasn’t sure I’d be able to put myself back together, but each day, I managed to slide a few of the jagged pieces back into place. I was terrified that one encounter and I’d be right back there again. I didn’t quite trust myself yet to stand on my own two feet when it came to him.
Her fingers tightened around my hand in a silent show of support. “Well, first off, you don’t have to face him alone. You have people who care about you, Merritt. You have a support system. Second, we need to see about getting you a divorce.”
I heaved out a heavy sigh. “Believe me, I’ve thought about that. Filing without a lawyer is out of the question, because there’s no way he’ll agree to this. I’ve looked into hiring a divorce attorney, but the only ones I can afford are ones with lousy records. Warren’s the one with all the money. If I can’t come at him with someone who knows what they’re doing, he’ll drag this out as long as humanly possible. He’s going to make the process difficult enough as it is, but if I go at him with a minnow instead of a shark, he’ll do everything in his power to make my life miserable all over again.”
Blythe’s eyes sparked with fury on my behalf. It had been so long since I had a friend... a true friend who would have my back in any way... that I forgot what it felt like.
“Then we’ll just have to find you a shark, won’t we?”
I shook my head. “Blythe, I can’t afford?—”
She held up her hand to silence me. “Friends. Help. Friends,” she stressed. And I’ll keep saying this until it finally sinks in. Merritt, you are not alone. Okay?”
I sniffled, dangerously close to tears again. “Okay,” I agreed on a husky whisper.
“We’re going to do whatever needs to be done to sever every last tie to that son of a bitch.”
We shifted the conversation to lighter things after that. She asked about how Levi was doing and shared about the changes that had taken place in her life in the time I’d been gone. She’d quit her job as a receptionist at the doctor’s office where we first met, and started a small catering company, taking what she referred to as her stress cooking and using it for something productive. She was having a great time being her own boss and making a career out of something she loved.
She told me about how Rhodes proposed to her and shared some of the plans they’d made for the wedding so far. It was going to be small and intimate, just close friends and family, but from what she described, it was also going to be beautiful, and I’d been honored when she insisted I attend.
The conversation flowed so easily that it continued as we left the coffee shop and slowly strolled down the sidewalk toward where we parked. Downtown Hope Valley had always been a favorite of mine. It was full of charm and character. The buildings were a mixture of historic and new, all of them well-maintained. There was even a clock tower and a gazebo in the middle of town square where the town hosted things like outdoor movie nights and festivals.
As we passed by a small custom-furniture store, Blythe stopped to admire the dresser in the window display.
“Oh, look at that,” she said in awe, moving closer to the glass. “That dresser is so pretty. I have to have that.”
The piece she was looking at was pretty, but from where I stood, I could see the price tag attached, and it was enough to make my jaw drop. “It’s nice, but it’s crazy expensive. I could find you something beautiful at an estate sale for next to nothing and restore it for you way cheaper.”
She swung her gaze my way. “You know how to do that?”
It was something I’d learned from my mother. When I was a kid, we’d hit up estate and garage sales on the weekends, hunting for treasures we could restore to their original glory or better. Some of my favorite memories of my mother were of us working for hours on pieces that others saw as junk. After she passed, it had been a sort of therapy for me, a way to feel close to her.
“I do. It used to be a hobby of mine.” Warren wasn’t a fan of anything that took my time and attention away from him. It was a wonder he’d even let me get the job at the doctor’s office. “I’m a bit out of practice, but I could still make you something you’ll love.”
She let out a little squeak and bounced in place. “Deal! You let me know when you’re free and we’ll hit up some estate sales. It’ll be fun.”
A bud of excitement sprouted to life inside my chest and began to bloom. The thought of getting back to something that used to bring me so much joy took one of those jagged pieces and slid it back into place. “You’re on.”
“There you are!” a deep, familiar voice called out behind me, smothering the warmth that had been building inside me and turning my blood to ice. Warren was moving toward me at a fast clip, his expression a combination of concern and relief. A voice in my head was screaming to run, but every muscle in my body seized with fear at the sight of him, making it impossible to move. “God, baby, I’ve been going out of my mind. I haven’t been able to think straight since I heard about your brother. I’ve been so worried about you. Thank God you’re finally home.”