Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Ciarán
It’s been a week since I left Starlight Bay and the love of my life. We agreed to keep seeing each other even though I had to leave. Being away from Emilia is hard and I just want to be back with her. We video chat everyday and she’s already met my Lake Renegade family. We’re making plans for her to come here before we leave so that she can meet everyone in person.
The drive to Lake Renegade took us two days. And again, Aisling insisted we make snacks to take with us. She asked Frank if she could use his kitchen to make us sandwiches and pizza puffs. Frank laughed and took the time to teach her how to make the best pizza puffs. He shared his family’s recipe for the dough and even used his homemade sausage in it.
Meeting my da’s sister, Caitríona and her family has been a dream. They’ve welcomed us into their extended family, and it’s a big family. The family is made up of three other families, the Mancinis, the Athanasious and the Nikolaidises. They all live on one big property and I’ve never seen anything like it. But I love it. I love how they’re all around to help each other.
I’ve been watching my da since we’ve been here and it’s like he’s a whole new person. He’s smiling more than he ever has, even my mam has commented on how happy he is.
Lake Renegade is the perfect small town. It has everything you could need or want. The one thing I see it’s missing is a dentist. We’re talking about opening one. My sisters think I should be the one to stay and run it. I agree, mostly because then I get to be with my Emilia. My next step will be to get her to move here with me and be my wife.
When I was talking to Emilia yesterday, it felt like something was wrong. I asked her about it, but she said everything was okay. I know she’s sad because Courtney went home today. But Kali is staying for another couple of weeks. So at least she’s not alone.
I have a bad feeling about John. Someone like him who put so much effort into deceiving both women doesn’t just give them up and walk away. I hope I’m wrong.
Emilia
I can’t believe how much I miss Ciarán, we only got to spend a couple of days together. But it felt like a lifetime and now I hate being away from him. Two days ago, I started to feel like I was being followed. Kali said she thought that too when she went to the store. But we haven’t seen anyone.
Unknown: You should pay more attention when you’re walking around. You never know what could happen
Emilia: I think you have the wrong number
Unknown: Nope. I’m watching you. EMILIA
My first thought is that it’s John. But I don’t know how to trace an unknown number. And I don’t want Ciarán to worry. And why would John be threatening me? There’s no reason for him to come after me.
“Did you get a weird text from an unknown number?” Kali asks as she walks into the kitchen.
“I did.” I show her my text.
Kali got the same text that I did.
“Do you think it’s John?” I ask her.
“If you had asked me that before, I would’ve said no way. John could never threaten anyone. But now? I don’t know. I don’t want to think it’s him. Because what would he get out of threatening us?”
“Has he been texting or calling you?” I ask.
She nods. “He has been texting me. In fact, I get a few texts from him everyday. Always the same, I love you, I’m sorry, give me another chance.”
“You know, it wouldn’t make you look bad if you wanted to talk to him. You were with him for so long. It can’t be easy to walk away.”
“None of this is easy. There’s a part of me that wants to go to him and say it’s okay. That we can try to work things out. But what he did? I don’t think I can ever really forgive him. I trusted him to be faithful to me and he wasn’t. I don’t think I can ever fully trust him again. And I don’t want to pretend I can.”
I walk over and hug Kali. I wish I had something I could say that would help her. What I felt for John is nothing compared to what she did.
“I don’t think I ever thanked you for not blaming me. If I could go back and change what happened, I would.”
“I believe that if it wasn’t you, he would’ve found someone else. I wish I knew if he really ever loved me. And I know the distance didn’t help. But we had a plan and I trusted that plan. Did he ever talk about the future with you?”
“No. We never talked about the future. Just the now. So maybe he never intended to spend a lot of time with me. He just wanted to pass the time when he didn’t have you. I know that doesn’t make it better, but it could be what it was.”
“Yeah. But that makes him weak, so how could I trust him if we had to spend time apart again?”
She’s right and I can see it in her eyes that she knows he’ll do it again. And that makes me sad. I’m worried about things with Ciarán, but for some reason, I don’t worry about him finding someone else. I worry that the distance will get to be too much.
We head out to the Little Red Hen to have brunch.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do now?” I ask Kali.
“Not really. I know I’ll finish school, and then…I don’t know. I guess I need to sit and really think about what I want to do with my life.”
I look at my phone as it goes off.
Unknown: I hope you didn’t forget about me. Cause I sure as hell haven’t forgotten about you. I’ve noticed your Irish boy toy isn’t around anymore. Did you scare him off?
I frown as I read the text.
“Are you okay?” Kali asks.
“I got another text from that unknown?—”
I look up and see John walking over to us. He’s looking at his phone, then looks at us. Could it really be him doing this?
“Hey, it’s a nice day to be eating outside,” he says to us.
I just stare at him as Kali frowns.
“Come on. I really am sorry for what I did to you both. Can’t we start over and at least be friends?”
Kali looks at me as she’s frowning still.
“I don’t think so, John. What you did isn’t something we can just let go and forgive,” Kali says to him.
“But you know I love you and the only reason I was with Mia was because I was lonely.”
Wow. What the fuck. I’m sitting right here and he’s saying this in front of my face?
“You’re an even bigger asshole for saying that in front of Mia. Go away. Please. And stop texting us from some weird number. It’s not funny.”
“What are you talking about? I’m only texting you from my number.”
Kali and I look at each other. Could he be lying?