Chapter 15 #2
Ashlynn frowned after her before returning her attention to MacKenzie. “So…yeah…we did it all wrong and it felt like a bummer. We decided to try it again and send you off feeling happy and cheery instead of sad with chocolate icing all over your face.”
“It would have been nice if someone could have pointed that out before I walked out the door,” she murmured.
“Coffee’s ready!” Jade called out before walking over with a tray. “My mom’s manning the counter, but she said to wish you good luck.”
“Thanks.” Everyone took a cup and then began helping themselves to the cakes and pastries, but no one looked overly thrilled. “I really hate that you’ve all gone through this much trouble. I was totally fine with how everything went yesterday. I know you all have busy lives…”
“Never too busy for a friend,” Ashlynn said with a smile, looking a little more relaxed. “I wish you had more time. I would have loved to get you in at the salon. We could have done your hair before you went to meet your new family!”
Self-consciously, she ran a hand over her hair. “Oh, do you think it looks bad?”
“What? No! Sorry! That’s not what I meant. I just thought…you know…new life, new hair!”
“Okay, whew! I’m so relieved.”
“How’s the car running?” Chloe asked. “Are you sure it’s okay to drive?”
“Devin and Will both took it for test drives yesterday and then I took it out last night and drove around for over an hour with Devin. I don’t think it’s ever run that good!
” Pausing, she took a sip of her coffee.
“I’m confident it’s going to not only get me to Oregon, but wherever else I go for a long time. ”
“That’s great!”
“I feel like we’ve been doing nothing but talking about me,” MacKenzie said, mainly because she was tired of hearing herself talk. “What about all of you? What’s coming up in all your lives?”
“Leo and I are officially in the countdown to our wedding,” Avery said. “Three more months! We’re so excited! It’s going to be beautiful. The leaves will be changing and the pictures are going to be gorgeous!”
“That’s for sure,” Jade said. “Levi and I are the week before them, so we’re hoping to get the same spectacular pictures.
” She took a sip of her own coffee. “We were able to reserve the banquet room up at the ski resort, so it was great that we got a preview of everything during the festival. With it just opening up and all…”
“It’s going to be great,” Billie assured her. “And I am thrilled to be making the cake! It’s kind of cool to be doing that for my little brother.”
“And sucks that Chloe and I can’t compete with that,” Ashlynn teased. “Seriously, what can we possibly do that’s going to be better than making the damn cake?”
“It’s not a competition,” Jade reminded her.
“Easy for you to say…”
“I’m gearing up for back to school,” Chloe chimed in. “I know it’s barely the end of June, but I’m already thinking of fun ideas for my classroom. I’m thinking of going with an under the sea theme!”
“I’m sure you have a costume somewhere for that,” Ashlynn murmured before saying, “Ouch!”
“I guess since we’re twins, I must have that twitchy leg thing too,” Chloe shot at her, and MacKenzie didn’t even want to know what that was all about.
After that, they talked about business–how much Books & Beans had grown, how Ashlynn’s salon was doing better than she had projected, and all the new things still planned for Sweetbriar Ridge. In the back of her mind, MacKenzie hoped she’d be able to come back and see it all.
Looking at her phone as it dinged with an incoming text, Ashlynn nodded approvingly. When she returned her attention to MacKenzie, she was still looking pleased. “So…you’re all packed and ready?”
“Yup.” She sighed.
“Where are you parked?”
That was an odd question, MacKenzie thought. “Um…just a couple of doors down. I had to circle the block twice to find a spot. I’m going to stop back in at the garage after I leave here, and then I’ll be able to cut across by the post office and then over Teal Street to get to the highway.”
Ashlynn shook her head. “No, no, no…too many lights. If you go around the back way and go up to Fuchsia and make a left, you’ll meet up with the entrance to the highway about five miles down. No traffic that way.”
She laughed because she couldn’t believe she had forgotten the dozens of people who had corrected her on her directions already. “Oh. Thanks! I don’t know why I keep thinking of going the other way.”
“No need in frustrating yourself trying to get out of town. You’re going to be stuck driving for days as it is.”
“Yeah,” MacKenzie agreed. “Definitely not fun.”
Instead of replying, Ashlynn grabbed her and hugged her. “I’m so glad we met! Be sure to keep in touch and have a safe trip!”
“Thanks,” she replied, feeling herself getting a little emotional. She was just about to tell her how much she appreciated all of their talks and girl time, but in the blink of an eye, she was on her feet and answering her phone. “Um…bye,” she murmured, watching her walk out the door.
“Hey!” Avery. “You all set?”
“I think so.”
“That’s great. And thanks for being willing to come out with Ashlynn and I that day we sort of ambushed you at the garage. You’re an amazing person…seriously.”
“No problem. I’ve had a great time with you guys. You made a really crazy time in my life a lot of fun.”
“Well…have a safe trip! And make sure you don’t drive too long and always stop when you get tired.”
MacKenzie smiled. “I will.”
Grabbing her in for a hug, Avery wished her a safe trip again and was gone.
Chloe followed next with a hug and well wishes, and then both Billie and Jade announced that they had to get back to work.
“Can we get you something for the road? A coffee? Another muffin? Or maybe a couple of them to get you through the next few days?” Jade asked.
“No, but thanks.”
After that, they both hugged her and wished her good luck.
Guess they’re not big on emotional goodbyes here , she thought to herself as she walked out the door.
She was met with bright sunshine–the perfect day. Blue skies, perfect temperatures…the kind of day that made you want to be outside enjoying it.
Another weary sigh escaped as she made her way down the block toward her car.
Along the way, she must have had about ten people stop to wish her luck and give her helpful hints about getting out of town!
Everyone from Pastor Michaels to Margie Ferguson, the church organist, put their two cents in regarding the quickest way out of town.
If she were a suspicious person, she’d say they couldn’t wait to get rid of her!
“Stop being crazy,” she murmured as she climbed into her car. It was after eleven and she hoped Devin would be back at the garage by now and free to grab some lunch or something.
Although she had eaten a muffin and a small piece of caramel crumb cake so she wasn’t the least bit hungry, but she’d be willing to go and sit with the café with him just to have a little more time.
She drove down the block and around the corner and parked in front of the garage. She didn’t spot Devin’s truck anywhere, but knew it could be parked in the back. Grabbing her purse, she practically jogged inside and came to a halt when she saw Will standing behind the desk.
In her spot.
It was unreasonable to be annoyed with him–after all, someone had to work the desk–but she felt like she had already been replaced. When she was standing in front of Will, she wanted to smack the smile off of his face.
“Hey, MacKenzie!” he said smoothly. “Didn’t think we’d be seeing you again. I figured you’d be on the road by now.”
“Yeah, I thought so too, but I went and had breakfast with the girls.” Pausing, she looked around. “Where’s Devin?”
“Oh, we got a call about a car needing to be towed, so he went to do it.”
Her eyes went wide. “No!”
He nodded. “Yup.” Nodding, he winked at the girl who just walked in and was standing behind MacKenzie. “He said he was going to text you.”
“Text?” she repeated stupidly and then went to fish her phone out of her purse. Sure enough, she’d missed it. “Dammit.”
“I hate to be rude,” Will said, grinning. “But Missy has an appointment for me to look at her. I mean, her truck. Missy has an appointment for me to look at her truck!”
“What?” she asked distractedly. “Sorry.”
Will leaned across the counter and quickly kissed MacKenzie on the cheek. “Have a safe trip, Mac. And thanks for getting the front office so organized. Hopefully whoever Devin hires will keep it up.”
She wasn’t going to cry, dammit. “Thanks, Will,” she said and leaned in to hug him. “For everything.”
When she pulled back, she couldn’t help but wipe away a few tears. This was it. She was leaving and she wasn’t going to get to say goodbye to Devin one last time.
“Go,” Will said. “You’ll want to hit the eighty-one before any rush-hour traffic starts up. You’re going the back way, right?”
She almost rolled her eyes. “Yes. That’s the general consensus around here.
” With a small wave, she stepped aside and took one last look around the garage.
Life was going on all around her. The phone was ringing, Will was flirting, she could hear the tools humming out in the garage, and customers were pulling up.
And no doubt, all around town, everyone was doing their thing–eating at the café, getting their hair done, buying books, and living in the picturesque town and appreciating all that they had.
This was a good place.
And even if she never made it back to Sweetbriar Ridge, she’d never forget it.
With nothing left to do, she went out the door and over to the Mustang. It wasn’t until she was sitting behind the wheel that she read Devin’s text.
Devin: Hey! I’m so sorry I missed you, but maybe it’s better this way.
I don’t think I could handle saying goodbye again.
Be happy, MacKenzie. I hope you find what you need out west and maybe someday, you’ll come back to Sweetbriar Ridge.
To me. Call me tonight when you get to your hotel so I know you’re safe.
I love you.
And then she cried.
A full-blown ugly cry.
And it took several long minutes before she could even see clearly enough to begin to drive.
As much as she wanted to see Devin one more time, she knew if she did, she would cave.
She would stay. She’d beg him if she had to–for his forgiveness, for him to tell her he loved her to her face, and to let her stay.
With him.
Surely her mother would understand if she didn’t go to Oregon right now. Hadn’t she hinted at it maybe being better if they took things slower? And maybe they’d appreciate seeing one another face to face after they had some time to ease into rebuilding their relationship.
Looking down at her phone, she read the last line of his message again.
I love you.
Was it too late? Should she wait here for him or call him or…
Or was this her acting rashly again? Eventually she was going to have to stop doing impulsive things and actually deal with the fallout–or…not fallout, but following through with things even when they were hard.
Like leaving.
And even though he’d only said it in a text, those three little words grabbed her heart and squeezed until she almost couldn’t breathe.
Why did he have to take a tow call? Why today when they only had this last time to say goodbye?
MacKenzie looked around the parking lot as if expecting him to magically appear. But that wasn’t going to happen and all she could do was wipe away the tears–along with the rest of her mascara–and put the car in drive, make the left onto Fuchsia, and count down the miles until she hit Highway 81.