23. Thea
23
THEA
“Do you think the tourist crush will ever be behind us?” Sutton asked, leaning against the back counter.
“It’ll keep on coming through summer. And then we’ll have one more surge with Labor Day,” I said as I wiped down the counter around the register. “People love getting in one last hurrah.”
She twisted her neck to the side, cracking it. “I should be grateful, but I’m exhausted and ready for a break.”
I turned to study my friend. She’d been pushing so hard to make this dream a reality for the past few months. “You need to take on some more help. You’re doing too much. You need an actual eight-hour stretch of sleep.”
“Mmm. Eight hours. What’s that like?” Sutton asked dreamily.
“I’m serious. You’re going to burn yourself out or get sick.”
“I know, I know. I just don’t want to take on someone else when we’ll be heading into our quieter months before long.”
“What about taking on a baker so you don’t have to get up at three in the morning?” I pressed.
She shook her head. “The baking’s the best part. When it’s just me and the quiet. It’s like the whole world drops away.”
“I’m glad you love it, but maybe you could love it only a couple of days a week?”
Sutton laughed. “Eventually. But for now, it needs to be me.”
I nodded, even though I didn’t like it. But the truth was, I didn’t know what Sutton’s financial situation was like. I’d gotten the sense that things were tight and she went without so Luca could have everything he wanted and needed. But the bakery was doing amazingly well, so hopefully that would change soon.
“Sooooo,” she began, running a towel through her fingers. “How is having Shep help out at your house?”
Just the sound of his name had my entire body waking up. That alone should’ve been one giant red flag. But I couldn’t seem to get myself to go there.
I swallowed, trying to clear the dryness in my throat. “It’s…good.”
Sutton raised a brow in question, no words with it. The ultimate mom move.
“I think we’re…friends.”
She sighed, disappointment lacing her tone. “Thea, one does not remain friends with a man who looks like that.”
It was my turn to arch a brow at her. “You did.”
Sutton shook her head. “That’s different. I’m closed for business.”
I’d never pushed to know more about Sutton. Why she moved to Sparrow Falls or if Luca had a father in his life. I hadn’t pushed because I didn’t want Sutton to do the same with me. And maybe that made me a crappy friend. But I was breaking all my rules lately, so what was one more?
“Why? You’re smart, funny, and ridiculously gorgeous. I know more than a couple of guys have asked you out.”
Shadows passed over Sutton’s eyes. “I had a relationship turn. Someone who became a person I couldn’t even recognize. It’ll take a while before I’m ready to dip my toe back in that pool. ”
I studied her for a long moment before pulling on all the bravery I could. “I know what that’s like. Makes you feel crazy.”
Empathy swept through Sutton’s expression. “Makes you look back on every moment you shared with new eyes. And everything becomes a lie or a stab of grief.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
Sutton straightened. “I’m not. It changed me, but I like who I am now more. I found my strength. I stand on my own two feet. Take care of myself and my son. That feels damn good.”
A smile tugged at my lips. She was right. I’d never be glad I went through what I did, but it made me realize what was important. And it made me a more empathetic person, someone sensitive to others’ struggles.
“You are a bakery badass and a supermom,” I said.
Sutton grinned back at me. “Yes, I am. Does that make you my trusty sidekick?”
I choked on a laugh. “At least give me a cool cape.”
“Deal,” she agreed.
The bell over the door jingled, and I turned, scanning the mostly empty bakery until my gaze landed on a familiar face. I couldn’t help but look for any signs of bruising. There were none. On her arms either.
I smiled warmly. “Hi, Raina. It’s good to see you.”
Her lips tipped tentatively. “You, too.”
“What are you after today?” Normally, she came in during the morning rush, but it had been weeks.
“Can I get a chicken salad and an egg salad sandwich to go, please?”
“Of course.” I punched the order into the tablet and read her the total.
“I’ll tell Walter,” Sutton said, slipping into the kitchen.
“How have you been?” I asked Raina as she tapped her credit card to the reader.
Her gaze jerked up, surprise there. We didn’t chitchat a lot. She’d always been shy, and I wasn’t exactly a chatterbox. But today, I was being brave. Sutton had reminded me of all the ways my ordeal had changed me for the better, and I wasn’t going to let those gifts go to waste. And no matter what was going on with Russ, Raina needed a friend.
She swallowed as she carefully put the card back into her wallet. “Good. Pretty busy.” Her eyes flicked to me. “I’m sorry about that day in the office. Sometimes Russ…he just…he isn’t real patient. And he doesn’t like Shep all that much.”
I wanted to scoff but swallowed it down. Russ was more than impatient, and his dislike of Shep seemed to border on hatred. But I didn’t share any of that. Instead, I chose my words carefully. “It’s hard sometimes when a partner’s behavior is extreme. We can feel like it’s our fault. But I promise you, it’s not.”
Raina’s eyes widened again. Her mouth opened and closed, and she repeated the action a few times but never actually got any words out.
“I’ve been there,” I whispered. “If you ever need someone to talk to or a safe place to go, I’m always here.”
Unshed tears glistened in Raina’s eyes. “I?—”
“Raina,” a voice snapped from the doorway. “What the hell’s takin’ so long?”
“I, uh,” she mumbled.
Sutton appeared then, bag in hand but a scowl on her face. “I’ve got your order right here, Mr. Wheeler. Tossed in a couple of cookies on the house.”
He just sneered. “Told ya we should’ve gone to The Pop. Service here has always been crap.”
Raina took the bag and ducked her head. “Sorry,” she whispered so only I could hear, and then she took off for the front of the shop.
I stared at the door for a long moment after it had closed behind them.
“I think I hate that man, and I don’t like to use that word,” Sutton said behind me.
“You and me both,” I muttered.
But more than anything, I wanted Raina free of him.