Chapter 13
Hallie
The Tea Spot smells of bergamot and orange. Liz sits at a corner table, no makeup, hair in a messy bun, looking younger and more uncertain than I’ve ever seen her.
“Thanks for meeting me.” Morning light filters through the lace curtains as she motions to the plush chair. She pours a cup of tea without asking. “Vanilla rooibos. Your favorite.”
The fact that she knows throws me. I take a sip, the vanilla and honey perfect. “How did you know?”
“I pay attention. Even when I pretended not to.” She wraps her hands around her vintage teacup, her long nails matching its delicate pink flowers.
Liz takes a hearty swallow and then slides a printed news article across the table. “Recognize this?”
I frown, shaking my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t.” I skim the text, which details the conviction of a police officer who was sentenced to five years in federal prison for wire fraud.
She runs a thumb along the photo’s edge, a pained look on her features. “Brandon was my fiancé. He helped me with my books after we got engaged.” He stares back from the mugshot, clean-cut and boyish, the kind of face you’d trust with your life.
I wait silently because I’m not sure where she’s going with this.
“Right before you opened The Kindly Crumb, my business was failing.” A small Victorian grandfather clock chimes from the wall.
“The shop was always full, but Brandon downplayed it. Nate’s restaurant was succeeding, so I asked him for help.
When he found signs of embezzlement, a secret account and forged signatures, everything made sense. ”
My stomach drops. “Liz—”
“When you opened The Kindly Crumb, within three months, you were thriving while my business had just started losing serious money.” She meets my eyes, red-rimmed and exhausted.
“So you thought I stole your customers?”
“Not exactly, but I thought your shop’s success meant people weren’t buying enough from me.
” She swipes at her eyes. “When I asked Brandon about some numbers that weren’t adding up, he redirected the conversation and said you were telling people around town that our ingredients weren’t fresh or reliable.
He made it sound like you were warning them off us.
It was easier to believe than what the evidence was telling me. ”
The bad-mouthing when I opened. The refused partnership. The constant hostility.
“I blamed you when my own fiancé was robbing me blind.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “I made you the villain because I couldn’t face that I’d been sleeping next to the real one. I am so, so sorry for what I did.”
I think about the whispered campaigns, the customers she turned away. My mom taught me that hurt people hurt people. Not to excuse people, but as a reminder that you can have a soft heart and a strong spine at the same time.
“Your ex is a bastard,” I say finally. “And what he did was awful. But what you did to me? So wrong. And none of this explains why you weaponized Colt and Gentry at the auction.”
Her face falls. “Jealousy.” She swipes at the tears now falling freely. “No matter how many times I showed up at The Bait Shop or invited Nate to lunch, he wouldn’t ask me out. It was subconscious, but if everyone else was as miserable as me, maybe I’d feel less like a failure.”
“I’m not ready to forgive just yet. But I’m willing to move past it as long as you stop all this.”
I stand, heading for the door, when she calls out to me. “Hallie? Thank you. For not being as cruel as we both know I deserved.”
“You can thank Brooke. She reminded me that holding grudges is exhausting.”
Outside, the winter air hits me sharp and clean.
I lean against the brick exterior of The Tea Spot, the rough stone catching on my jacket as I pull out my phone.
Down the street, The Kindly Crumb’s parking lot is full with the morning rush, still standing despite everything Liz tried to tear down. I text Colt.
Me: Made peace with Liz. Long story. Involves embezzlement and business deals.
Colt: That’s my girl. Dinner tonight? Need to hear it all.
Me: It’s a date, Cowboy.
Colt: Cupcake, every night with you is a date. I’m just making it official.
I’m adjusting my seatbelt when Brooke’s text comes, a grin I can’t suppress lighting me up from the inside.
Brooke: Did you survive??? Do I need to call my lawyer cousin???
Me: Survived. I’m semi-confident there will be peace.
Brooke: Peace?! With the she-devil herself?! This better be good. Bringing wine in five.
Me: Make it sweet tea. I’m having dinner with Colt later.
Brooke: Can I be the best aunt in the world to your cute little blonde babies yet?
Me: brOOKE.
Brooke: That’s not a no.