Chapter 36
Victor
I’ve been back in Granite Falls for two days after my meeting with Matt’s guy. Luckily, I got the information I needed and was able to pull my guy out.
The debt Serenity thought she had paid off isn’t done.
It’s been years since Paul took out the loan, so they tacked on about another five hundred grand in interest. I’ve tried to tell Serenity countless times, but she’s avoided me.
It’s almost like while I was gone, we went back to square one all over again.
But now, we’re surrounded by a bunch of people. And this isn’t the kind of conversation to have with listening ears.
“Do you know what float you’re driving today?” Lana asks, pulling me from my thoughts halfway down Main Street. “I bet it’s the big cowboy hat one with a hot dog on top.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Cowboy hat with a hot dog on top?”
She nods. “The founder wore a cowboy hat on the day Granite Falls became its own town, and legend has it he celebrated by eating a hot dog.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She gives me a look. “No. I’m serious. Becky’s good-for-nothing husband was supposed to drive that float.”
Well, shit.
“It’s okay, Bubba,” Summer says from my back. “That’s my favorite one.”
“It is?”
She nods, her hair tickling my neck. Her legs swing back and forth as we make our way through the crowd.
Lana gives us a strange look. “Summer, dear, you haven’t even been to the parade before. So, how is it your favorite?”
Summer is four and only now going to this festival everyone in town deems important. If I have my way, Summer won’t miss anything ever again.
“You said it has a big hot dog!”
I laugh, and Lana joins in, but Serenity stays silent. Her lips are tipped down in a frown much like when she first met me. She can avoid her feelings all she wants, but I’ve seen the shift in her. We aren’t just bound by a contract anymore.
But now, she hasn’t looked at me, touched, or kissed me since I came back from my meeting. I itch to pull her aside and ask what’s going on. Not to mention the guilt gnawing at me for the fact I haven’t been able to fill her in on her accrued interest.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I mean, she has a point.”
We get closer to where I’m assuming the festival will be.
Hundreds of people are crammed onto the street.
The police have this section of the road closed off so people can wander around to each of the pop-up vendors.
The scent of popcorn snakes into my nostrils, and my mouth waters.
Now that I’ve tried it, I want it again.
I reach out to grab Serenity’s hand, and she stiffens, but she doesn’t pull away. When she looks up at me, I nod in the direction of the popcorn stall, and I swear I see the tiniest smile grace her lips before they tip downward again.
The crowd thickens so much we can barely push our way through.
Once I’m sure we’ve hit a wall, a small opening reveals the first float of the parade.
Men and women mill around the trucks, waiting for the cue to start, but not nearly as many as were in the crowd.
We continue past a butterfly float and a soccer ball float with a team of kids, maybe eight-years-old.
After a few more trucks, I find the cowboy hat with the hot dog. No one is inside the truck or standing around it. I’m sure they’re right, and this one is mine.
A guy in a black cap lingers nearby, and a chill shoots down my spine. I instinctively move to shield Serenity and Summer.
Not everyone wearing a baseball cap is related to the man who went to Serenity’s house.
No, I can’t think that way. Anyone could be a threat.
“Mr. Barlowe!” an excited voice says from behind us, and I jump. “How did you know this one is yours?”
I turn around, and Mrs. Milte walks over with a big smile.
I guess frail, old ladies scare me now. “A little birdy told me this was the one Becky’s ex was supposed to drive.”
Her eyes move to Lana, and she grins. “Guilty as charged.”
“You’re right on time. We’re about to start.
” Clutching her cane, Mrs. Milte moves to the driver’s side of the truck, and I follow her.
“The keys are already inside. Just keep about twenty feet between you and the driver ahead of you. You’ll know when it’s done because the rest of the floats will stop, too. ”
I set Summer down. “Understood.”
Serenity and I open both back doors. I heave a sigh of relief when I spot the car seat.
I don’t have a ton of practice buckling kids in, but now is the time to learn.
Once Summer is in the seat, I fiddle with the straps until they’re buckled and properly over her shoulders and chest—just like I saw when I looked it up on YouTube.
Serenity looks at me inquisitively but says nothing. Her eyes appear more tired than I’ve ever seen.
“I’ll get in back with Summer,” Lana says.
But as she’s about to open the back door, Serenity says, “No, I’ll sit with her.”
Lana eyes her but doesn’t argue, hopping into the front seat.
Once we’re all inside and buckled, the other vehicles’ engines start, so I turn on my ignition. The townsfolk all stop shopping and turn to watch as each of the floats start to move. I’m thankful I’m not driving all those kids. I’d be too afraid they’d fall off.
As we start moving, Summer shrieks in the back seat. “This is the coolest thing ever!”
All of us laugh, even Serenity, and I meet her gaze in the mirror.
Something like hurt flashes across her face before her neutral expression returns.
Once this is over, I can’t hold back any longer.
She has to tell me what’s going on. I may not be the most experienced with relationships, but communication is key.
We follow along, and I scan the crowd. People of all ages line the street, watching the parade. I’ve never been to a festival like this, never mind taking part in such a way.
I can’t believe out of everyone, I was trusted with this job.
Most people probably look at us and think about how much I changed Serenity’s and Summer’s lives, but they changed mine a million times more.
I know how a real family should be because of them.
Serenity has shown Summer more love and affection in our short time together than my mother ever showed me.
And probably one of the most important lessons is not saying something in front of a child if I’m not one hundred percent serious.
That last one almost got me in a truckload of trouble.
Movement catches my eye in the rearview mirror. Summer’s waving to the crowd through the open window like the princess she is. A few kids wave back, and Summer beams at them. Serenity’s watching her daughter with a soft smile.
“Hey, Serenity!” a voice says from the crowd.
She looks around until her gaze lands on Abigail. The blonde is waving frantically as if she knows a famous person. Beside her are Harmony and Elias. Harmony is smiling while Elias stands still, holding his woman’s hand.
We finally reach the end, and the floats pull into a gravel parking lot.
When I put the truck into park, Summer says, “That was the most fun thing ever!”
“I agree,” Lana says, opening her door. “How about we go find Auntie Harmony while your mother and Victor find the person to turn the keys in to.”
“I’m sure we can—”
“No, you two stay here,” Lana says, cutting off her friend. “If you can’t find us, you can always call.”
Lana climbs out and unbuckles Summer. The two disappear into the crowd. She’s as subtle as a bullhorn. But I appreciate this time alone with Serenity.
“Let’s go find them,” Serenity says, opening her door.
I turn around to face her. She has never been the type to beat around the bush—another reason I’m squirming—so I just spit out the question, “Have I done something wrong?”
She sighs. “Actually, yes, now that you mention it.”
Every fear I had came true with that one sentence.
Her eyes that have been dull for days finally flare to life when she meets my gaze. “I didn’t want to do this here, but since you’re asking me, I found the files about Paul and me in your room.”
My heart plummets to the floor. I never planned on hiding it, but I never found an opportunity to bring it up. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I wanted to figure out if Paul was hiding anything else.”
Serenity looks down, breaking our eye contact. “You’ve been looking into my background without my knowledge. Don’t you see how that crosses so many lines?”
“Well, I haven’t been hiding it from you per se. I left the paper out on my desk even though I knew you could’ve gone in there at any—”
I let my words fall off when her head whips up, and she narrows her watery eyes at me. “Yeah, and Paul wasn’t hiding anything from me either.” Her voice wobbles as she speaks. “He just didn’t find the opportunity to tell me about all his debts and whores apparently.”
I can feel her slipping through my fingertips—all because her late husband shattered her trust into a million pieces.
I’ve been trying my hardest to show her she can trust me while simultaneously hiding something from her.
I should’ve told her right away, but that’s not the easiest thing to bring up.
“Please, let me explain.”
She laughs, but it sounds more like defeat than happiness. “You, a businessman who can get anyone to buy his products, wants to talk your way out of this. No, absolutely not.”
Serenity reaches for the handle, but I say, “Wait. There’s something I do need to tell you.”
She stares at me, waiting.
When she doesn’t say anything, I take it as permission to continue. “I haven’t been able to tell you yet since you’ve been avoiding me.” She narrows her gaze, but I forge forward. “Because it took you so long to pay off the loans, interest piled up.”
“How much?” she asks through gritted teeth.
“Another five hundred thousand.”
Her eyes slam shut, and she pinches the bridge of her nose. I get the urge to reach out and comfort her but resist. Right now, she wouldn’t want me to touch her, and I’ll never do anything to make her feel uncomfortable. No matter how much that pains me.
“That’s why they won’t leave me alone?” Her voice is barely above a whisper. “I should’ve known.”
I interlock my fingers to keep them from tapping my leg. But I don’t say anything. It sounds more like she’s talking to herself rather than to me.
“I’ll use the extra money from the contract,” Serenity says in the most defeated tone.
No matter how much I try to do for her, it isn’t enough. No more cushion for Serenity in case she decides not to be with me. No more college fund for Summer, an innocent girl who did nothing wrong.
Paul keeps bringing Serenity more misery, and it undoes everything I do.
She looks up at me, and I nod. She’d probably punch me if I offered her more money.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she shakes out her arms, and says, “Let’s go try to enjoy the festival so we don’t ruin it for Summer.”
She opens her door and hops out. I follow, praying my single mistake didn’t screw everything up. But with her trust issues, I’m scared I have.