Chapter 3
Secrets
Saying the words out loud to her best friend clobbered Amy with two completely opposite emotions: relief and abject sorrow.
This time, she couldn’t hold back the tears, and Hailey probably recognized she was about to spring a leak because she opened her arms and wordlessly beckoned Amy to her.
Amy didn’t hesitate to run into her friend’s embrace and break down.
She had no idea how much time passed before the well finally ran dry. Recovering herself, she pulled back and brushed at Hailey’s shoulder where she’d sogged out her shirt. “I can’t believe I went and cried all over my best friend! I’ll get you a new shirt.”
Hailey glanced at the wet spot and let out a humorous snort.
“It’s just my Miners work tee, Amy, and I’d rather have your tears on it than the beer that typically winds up there.
” When Hailey wasn’t running her bookstore, she was usually working beside Noah at the Miners Tavern.
Today, she sported sage green with the tavern’s logo and a very large wet spot.
“But I—”
“‘But I’ nothing. What are besties for if not to lend a shoulder? Mine is at your disposal anytime you need it. You’ve done the same for me. Besides, it’s not like you go around crying every day.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever cried in front of anyone in this town,” Amy sniffed. “Then again, I’m not leaving my boyfriend every day either.”
“Does he know?”
Amy shook her head. “No, and I’ve got to tell him before he hears about it from Winona at the Vogue Vault. I owe him that much at least.”
Hailey’s light brown brows crunched together. “How would she know?”
“Because I signed a lease for the apartment above her shop today. I dealt with her niece, but that niece is Germaine.”
“Ohhhh.”
“She promised not to say a word until I could tell Micky, but I’m not sure how soon I’ll get the chance.”
“Hmm … Yeah, with Germaine in the mix, you’re definitely living on borrowed time. That news is too hot, and she’s going to blow her lid and spill.”
Amy groaned. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Hail. I only made up my mind today when I saw the place.”
“It’s okay. I get why you wanted to keep it to yourself. I gotta say I had a feeling something was up, though.”
Amy swiped a paper towel and blew her nose. “Can you stay for a bit?”
“Absolutely, as long as you pour me some of that coffee you made for Shane. It smells wonderful.”
“Because it’s French press, and yes, I can do that. He only had one cup.” Amy got a clean mug out of her cupboard.
“Wow, you went all out for our deputy, didn’t you?” Hailey teased.
Amy sent her a glare over her shoulder. “Would you stop? It was easier than firing up the machines.”
“Right. So much easier,” Hailey scoffed.
Pretending she hadn’t registered Hailey’s sarcasm, Amy poured her a cup and freshened her own, then led her to a table in a back corner where anyone wandering past the shop’s window wouldn’t see them.
Hailey settled into her seat, expectation clearly etched in her features. “So what’s going on?”
Amy pulled in and let go a lungful of air.
“First off, Bruno Keating came in here and made some snarky remarks that hit me wrong.” Bruno had been after the council position Amy had won.
No doubt she’d created an enemy without intending to, but then again, Bruno made himself an enemy of pretty much everyone in town, so she was in good company.
“Keating can kiss my ass! And your ass too,” Hailey barked.
Amy couldn’t hold back a giggle. Thank goodness for besties!
“Why was he here in the first place, and what exactly did he say?”
Amy waved a dismissive hand. “The machine at his place was broken, and he wanted a cup of coffee. He walked in and looked around with this disgusted look on his face and said he hadn’t realized this was one of those ‘ethnic cafés.’ Then he asked if he needed to take off his shoes—and laughed at his own asinine joke.
After I handed him his drink, he followed that up with, ‘The last time I had coffee like this, I needed a translator.’ Then he wanted to know if I’d put curry spices in it.
Too bad I hadn’t thought to put some spice in it, all right—my spit.
” Thank goodness no one else had been in the store at the time of Bruno’s insults, or they would have had a front-row seat to that humiliation.
Storm clouds formed in Hailey’s ice-blues.
“Bruno Keating is a pompous Hulk-Hogan wannabe with a tiny dick who doesn’t deserve one minute of your time.
” Mumbling, she quickly added, “No offense to Hulk Hogan, and may he rest in peace.” She took a sip and set her cup down.
“I have to ask. Did you have a comeback for Baby Hulk?”
Amy shook her head dejectedly. She’d thought of plenty of things to say after he’d left, but wasn’t that always the way?
She wished she had her friend’s indomitable spirit, her spice.
Hailey didn’t take crap from anyone. Despite her self-criticism, Amy laughed, imagining Bruno toddling around in nothing but a diaper and his fake tan, sucking on a Binky. Then reality came back on board.
“You know how it is. One, I’m a businesswoman who needs people buying her coffee, and customer service 101 says don’t alienate the clientele, even if he only comes in one time.
Two, I was raised not to talk back. And three, it’s hard enough convincing the townies Mountain Coffee and I belong here.
If they were looking for an excuse to not support an outsider who crashed their party, giving a customer lip could be all the reason they need.
” She wasn’t “one of them”—a Fall River original—and she never would be.
One had to be born into it. And though Amy might have loved Fall River enough to choose it as her forever home, she simply didn’t have the right credentials to be part of the inner circle.
After another sip of her coffee, Hailey peeked at Amy over the rim of her cup.
“I’d like to remind you Keating is an ‘outsider,’ and no one in Fall River likes him.
Wouldn’t matter if he was an ‘insider.’ No one can stand the arrogant jerk.
Now let’s talk about you and people who do matter in this town.
I’ve watched you interact with the public.
You’re very good with your customers, even the obnoxious ones, and people love you for it.
So don’t let him rattle you.” She paused and pursed her lips.
“We both know your tears really aren’t about him, though.
Tell me what happened with Micky that finally pushed you over the edge. ”
Hailey had a way of drilling right into the core truth of the matter that sometimes felt like a dentist’s drill hitting a live nerve. But there was no point in denying it, and Amy surrendered with a sigh. “How do you do that anyway?”
“I know things.” Hailey tapped her temple. “Now hit me with it. I’m listening.”
Amy nodded miserably. “Micky’s been acting weird lately. And I know what you’re thinking, so let me rephrase. He’s acting weirder than normal. I think he’s seeing someone on the side.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He’s acting … dodgy, like he’s hiding something.
He’s been coming home late, leaving early, and he waves me off if I ask where he’s going.
Sometimes when I drive by his garage, nothing’s going on.
His truck isn’t even there. When I bring it up, he tells me I’m nuts and accuses me of spying on him.
And just now, I caught him in a lie about where he was.
Shane was at the scene of a wreck, where Micky showed up and supposedly hauled the vehicle and its passenger to Durango.
But on the phone a few minutes ago, in front of Shane, Micky told me he was in GJ and wouldn’t be home until late. ”
“Did you confront Micky about his switcheroo on the phone?”
“Not with Shane standing right there. I was embarrassed enough as it was.”
“Did Shane hear him telling you he was in GJ? Did he call him out?”
“No. I don’t think Shane heard. At least, I hope he didn’t.” Amy traced the top of her cup with the tip of her finger. “I guess Micky could have had a change of plans and turned around and gone the opposite way, though that doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Hailey drummed her fingertips on the table. “Well, either Shane or Micky is lying, and my money says Shane’s telling the truth.”
Amy reared back. “What do I do with that?”
“What do you want to do with it? Why do you always make excuses for him?”
Amy’s eyes snapped to her friend’s. “What do you mean?”
“Amy, you are loyal to a fault, and you always see the best in everyone. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but some people don’t have a ‘best’ to see. That doesn’t stop you from imagining it’s there, though. You give them too much credit and too much latitude. That includes Micky.”
Rows of defensive bricks began building inside Amy’s psyche.
Hailey reached across the table and laid her hand on Amy’s, her eyes soft.
A few of the brick layers disintegrated.
“You are one of the best people I know. You were one of the first to welcome me to Fall River. You went out of your way and treated me like a true friend, even though you didn’t know me and I was an unholy mess at the time.
I’ll aways be thankful to you. Your big heart is what makes you so special, but there’s a flip side to it.
Your kindness doesn’t discriminate, and it leaves you open to people walking all over your beautiful soul.
” She paused and pulled in a breath. Amy braced herself.
“I know you didn’t ask my opinion, but girlfriend, when it comes to Micky, I think you’ve been bendy for too long and getting nothing in return.
All of that is to say I think you’re making the right choice by moving out … for you.”
Fresh tears stung Amy’s eyes, and she blinked them back. “But I don’t want to hurt him.”