Chapter Twelve #2
“That doesn’t factor into how Callie thinks. What was once hers stays hers, in her mind. Always has.” He watched her face. “She’s coming home for Thanksgiving.”
“Are you going to see her?” Aftyn’s fingers twisted together at her waist.
“Not if I can help it.” He settled his hat back on his head.
“I just wanted you to hear it from me before someone else mentioned it.” He paused.
“Though I suppose it doesn’t matter much either way.
You won’t be here.” He reached behind him and opened the door, letting in a slash of cold air.
“Don’t forget to talk to Sam in the morning. ”
He nodded once and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him. The latch clicked into place, quiet and final as anything he’d ever heard.
****
She listened to his boots on the stairs until she couldn’t hear them anymore, then sat down on the sofa and cried.
This had been a mistake. They never should have let it go this far. She’d known from the beginning how easy he would be to fall for, and she’d done it anyway. Hard and fast and without a single parachute.
After this weekend she didn’t want to leave.
Not Clifton, and especially not Cole. She wanted him in her life.
She wasn’t Callie. She wouldn’t walk away from him if he wanted her to stay.
She belonged here, she could feel it in a way she couldn’t explain, but how could she say any of that when she’d already agreed to go the moment Avery was dealt with?
She pushed up from the sofa, walked to the bedroom, lay down on top of the covers, and let herself fall apart. Why did love have to hurt like this? It was supposed to make you happy. Right now, she couldn’t remember what happy felt like.
The diner was packed the next morning, the way it always was, and Aftyn threw herself into it. She had her apron tied before she’d fully cleared the door. Between orders she caught Connie in the kitchen and told her about Avery, and that she planned to go see Sam after the breakfast rush settled.
Connie listened, then set down the plate she was holding and looked at her. “I hate the thought of you leaving. We’ve all grown to love you around here.”
Aftyn blinked hard and hugged her.
“I’ll miss everyone. I love it here.”
“Then why go?” Connie picked the plate back up. “I need to get this out there.” She pushed through the kitchen door and left the question hanging in the air.
Owen was watching her from across the kitchen. “You’ll be missed,” he said simply.
“I’ll miss you too.” She reached for her carafe. “I’d better get out there.”
She was refilling cups at the counter when the bell above the door jingled, and Sam came in and took a stool. She made her way over, set a cup in front of him, and poured.
“Morning, Aftyn.”
“Good morning, Sam. When you have a minute, I’d like to come by your office. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
He looked up from his cup. “Something going on?”
“I saw Avery.”
He nodded slowly. “Come by anytime. I’ll be in all day.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
When the crowd finally thinned, Connie waved her off. Aftyn untied her apron, pulled on her coat, and headed out.
The weather had turned milder and she shook her head at the sky. Mother Nature couldn’t seem to make up her mind. Just like a woman, she thought, and smiled to herself.
She waited for a break in traffic, crossed the street, and jogged up the steps into the building.
The sheriff’s office was quiet when she pushed through the door, nobody at the counter, so she went straight to Sam’s office and knocked on the frame.
He looked up, pushed back from his desk, and came around to shake her hand.
“Aftyn. Come on in.”
She took one of the chairs across from his desk and he settled back into his own.
“What can I do for you?”
“Cole and I went to dinner Saturday night and Avery and Judd were there. Then we went to Dewey’s and they showed up again as we were leaving.” She met his eyes. “I want her arrested, Sam.”
“Did she see you?”
“No. We made sure of it.”
Sam’s mouth curved slightly. “I see.”
“She’s at the motel. The PI my aunt hired has been tracking her and he’s confirmed it. She’s working at the liquor store.”
“Alright. I’ll have a deputy pick her up.”
“Good.” She hesitated. “You are going to move on this soon?”
Sam cocked his head. “You are pressing charges?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then yes. All my deputies are out right now but as soon as one of them gets back into town I’ll get it moving. We need to get her before she catches wind of anything.”
“Will you let me know when it happens? I’d love to be there.”
He gave her a look. “I probably shouldn’t. But I’ll text you.” He glanced toward the door and his expression shifted into something warmer.
Aftyn turned to see Tess in the doorway.
“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Tess said with a smile. “Just stopping in to say hi.”
Sam was already on his feet. He crossed to his wife, kissed her, and took her hand, and Aftyn felt something catch in her chest watching it. That was love, plain and uncomplicated. The way Sam looked at Tess, and the way Tess looked back, left no room for doubt about how either of them felt.
“Hi, Aftyn. How are you?”
“I’m great, Tess. You?”
“Wonderful.” Tess looked at Sam. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Okay, angel. I’ll be home later.”
Tess rose onto her toes, kissed him, waved at Aftyn, and disappeared down the hallway. The door opened and closed. Sam watched after her for a moment, then came back around the desk and sat down.
“I appreciate your help, Sam.”
“It’s my job.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ll be in touch.”
“That’s all I can ask.” She stood and he rose to shake her hand. “I’d better get back. I’m sure the diner is swamped.”
Sam grinned. “It’s rarely not. Have a good day.”
Outside, the wind had picked up, and she pulled her coat tighter, muttering to herself as she waited to cross.
“It was supposed to warm up today.”
She kept her eyes moving as she crossed the street, looking for any sign of Avery or Judd, and pushed through the diner door to find it wall to wall.
Her stomach dropped. She’d left Connie and the others to handle the whole lunch rush on their own.
She hung her coat, tied her apron, and got back to work without a word, already planning to stay over and make up the time.
When the bell above the door chimed, Aftyn glanced up out of habit.
The woman who walked in was striking, blonde hair falling loose around her shoulders, wearing a short leather jacket over a red sweater, jeans tucked into ankle boots.
She stopped just inside the door and looked around the diner, and Aftyn could have sworn she saw her nose wrinkle.
She was about to head over when Connie came out of the kitchen, took one look, and planted her hands on her hips.
“Well.” Her voice was a tone Aftyn had never heard from her before, flat and unwelcoming. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
The woman’s mouth curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Connie.”
“What can I get you?”
“Cole’s usual. To go.”
Connie glanced at Aftyn, just a flicker, then turned back. “He send you to pick it up?”
“No. I want to surprise him.”
“You’ll do that alright,” Connie said, mostly to herself.
“I’m sorry?”
“Nothing.” Connie was already turning away. “I’ll put the order in. You can sit while you wait.”
“I’ll stand.”
“Suit yourself. You usually do.” She pushed through the kitchen door without looking back.
Aftyn didn’t need anyone to tell her who this was. She already knew.
The woman caught her staring. “Something I can help you with?”
“Nope.” Aftyn kept her voice even. “Not a thing. Excuse me.”
She followed Connie into the kitchen and found her standing beside Owen, arms crossed, waiting.
“That woman is up to no good.”
“That’s Callie, isn’t it?”
“Yes. But you don’t need to worry about her. Cole is not interested. Not anymore.”
“You don’t know that, Connie. What if seeing her brings everything back?”
“It won’t.” Connie’s voice was certain. “She’s here for one reason. Someone told her Cole was seeing someone and that woman cannot stand the idea of someone else having what she decided was hers. She gave up that right when she walked out on him.”
Aftyn looked through the pass at Callie standing by the door. “She’s beautiful,” she said quietly.
“So are you, and you’re a sight nicer. She’s not here to stay, she’s here to stir things up. Don’t let her.”
“There’s not much I can do if Cole wants her back. And I’m leaving anyway.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I do. Cole and I agreed going in. No strings.”
Connie laughed softly. “How’s that working out for you?”
Aftyn’s mouth curved despite herself. “Not great on my end.”
“Cole is crazy about you. Just let things find their own way.”
“I’m trying. But seeing her walk in here doesn’t help.”
“Don’t give her that much power. Cole’s too smart to go back to that.”
“Even so, I am leaving once Avery is arrested.”
Connie raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”
Aftyn opened her mouth and found she didn’t have an answer. Connie turned back to the stove without waiting for one.
Aftyn sighed. “As if Avery wasn’t enough to deal with.”