Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
DREW
Thursday morning, the doorbell at the bottom of the stairs rings three times in quick succession. It’s Mom’s way of letting me know she’s coming up to my loft. I appreciate the warning. For many years she’d just walk in, which sometimes led to embarrassing situations.
I swallow the last mouthful of coffee as she walks through my door with a reusable shopping bag in each hand.
“I’m glad you’re still here.”
She drops the bags on the counter and unpacks meals into my freezer. No matter how many times I’ve told her I can cook for myself, she still brings me leftovers.
“Marla called me this morning,” she says. “There’s been a Quinn sighting.” As soon as the words are out, she looks around. “Your kitchen looks nice. I like the picture on the wall.”
“Thanks. It’s not Quinn. She will never set foot inside Blissful again.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because she told me she wouldn’t.”
She slides the freezer closed. “Well, when you two married, she vowed to love you for her whole life and we know how well she kept that promise. Do we really believe that she won’t come to Blissful just because she said she wouldn’t?”
Mom didn’t talk to Quinn on the phone after she left. She didn’t get served divorce papers while working the register at the hardware store. When Quinn told me she was never coming back, she meant it.
“It’s not her, Mom.”
She holds up both hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. You know her better than I do. I just thought I should warn you. But since you’re so sure she isn’t the blonde that’s driving around town, my warning is that everyone else thinks it's her. You’ll be hearing about it for a while.”
I love this place, but it would be nice if everyone would mind their business and not mine.
“You’re going to the dinner in Tucson tomorrow night, right?” Mom says with an intense, motherly glare.
“Yes.” I sound like a petulant child because I’d rather not go.
Caleb and Mallory are having a dinner for their groomsmen and bridesmaids.
They have some kind of idea that we need to be best friends in order to walk down the aisle together.
At least my sister will be there, though we’re driving separately because she has a doctor’s appointment for Benji tomorrow morning and is heading down tonight to stay over with our Aunt Peggy.
Mom pats my shoulder. “I know you’re upset about how Caleb and Mallory treated Stella, but they’re still family.”
I’d say Mom was even more upset when I told her, but she’s more pragmatic than I am. She always has been, maybe from necessity after my dad left us.
“I know,” I say. “I plan to leave here early and visit GG.”
And surprise Stella with a visit to the library, though I don’t tell Mom. She’d be too happy, and until I get a feel for Stella's interest in a relationship with me, I’d rather not get Mom’s hopes up.
Mom’s expression softens. “GG will love that. Give her my love?”
“I will.”
“One more thing. Are you planning on doing the scavenger hunt this year? Brody’s interested, and he’s trying to get Roger to join him. If you’re up for it, you’ll save my husband from a late night running around town.”
Every year in October, the owner of the game store puts together a scavenger hunt. It starts after dark and takes a few hours to complete. I haven’t done it in years because Quinn hated the idea, and since she left I haven’t wanted to. I don’t feel any different this year.
“No, not this year.”
“Roger will love you if you change your mind.”
“I’ll let you know.”
The next day, after spending the morning finishing the chicken coop I started last week for Widow Moren, I pull in behind the hardware store.
On the seat next to me is a dozen eggs, our agreed upon payment.
One dozen eggs per week for the rest of time.
With the price of eggs, I might just come out on top with this deal, though this is proof being a handyman in Blissful isn’t a lucrative business.
I have time for a shower before heading to Tucson. My foot is on the bottom step up to my loft, when one of my employees calls out my name.
“Drew, someone is in your office,” he says. Before I can question why anyone but me is in my office, he grimaces and finishes with, “Sorry. We couldn’t stop her.”
I leave the eggs on the stairs, and I stride into my office. Sitting at my desk is my ex-wife. My jaw clenches. I’d planned on never seeing her again, and yet here she is.
She screeches with excitement as she stands, steps around the desk, and tumbles into me. Her arms squeeze around my middle, while my arms remain at my sides.
“Drew! I’ve missed you.”
Two years ago she went to California for what was meant to be a few weeks to take care of her father. She never came back. She divorced me with little explanation except to say she missed her city life. Now she acts as if none of that happened?
I gently push her away because she doesn’t seem to want to let go on her own. I move to the other side of the small office and cross my arms.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
She bites her bottom lip as if to suppress her smile. “I still have friends in town. I came to spend a few days with them at Apple Jamboree. It was four years ago this weekend that we met. Remember?”
She’s bright and happy, just like when we first started dating. It’s irritating. I don’t respond to her question. I’d rather forget all about her.
“You promised you’d never come back here.”
She rubs the toe of her shoe along the floor with a coyness that only irritates me more. “I miss Blissful. And you.”
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “You told me you hated it here.”
“Did you really believe me?”
“Yeah, I did.”
She shuts the office door, trapping us together, and leans against it so I can’t escape without approaching her. “You didn’t respond to any of my messages.”
“I never read them.”
“My being here wouldn’t be a surprise if you had.”
I rub my forehead. “I guess it’s a free country, and I can’t kick you out of town, but I’d like to not see you again while you’re here. Deal?”
“No, because I have some things I need to say and once I say them, I bet you’ll want to see me again.”
“I doubt it.”
She steps toward me, her eyes bright. “I was stupid to leave. Stupid to divorce you. So incredibly stupid. I’ve learned from my mistake. I want to move back to Blissful and date you.”
I can’t believe it. I must have misunderstood. “You want to try a relationship again?” I ask slowly.
She nods, her expression turning hopeful. “Drew, I still love you. I never stopped. I’m tired of pretending that my life in California is all I want it to be. It’s not. What I want is you.”
“Then why did you leave me?” I shake my head in disbelief, while the rest of me is shaking in rage.
It’s clear she has no idea how much she hurt me when she walked out.
“You don’t get to waltz in and act like what you did isn’t a big deal.
It’s a huge deal.” I close my eyes to temper my anger.
“You could at least keep the last promise you made to me and stay away.”
She straightens her shoulders. “I was young before. I’ve grown up. Give me a chance to prove to you I’m committed this time around.”
I bark a laugh at her audacity. She is just like my father. He walked out on the family when he got bored. Quinn did the same. There is no way I’d ever trust her again.
“Not happening. This is my town. I got it in the divorce. I want you to go.”
She lifts her chin and stands with her hands on her hips, like she’s a superhero facing down a villain. “I’m staying for the weekend, but I’ll be back. For good, next time.”
My stomach drops. Up until this moment, I didn’t believe anything she said. She wants to live in Blissful? No way. She still loves me? Ha! She wants to try a relationship again? What a joke. But there’s something in her voice that makes me take her seriously.
“You hate Blissful,” I reiterate. “You were bored here before. Don’t you remember? Because I do.”
“I was wrong. Like I said, I’ve learned from my mistake.”
“It doesn’t matter to you that I don't want you here?”
She moves to the desk and sits on the edge. “I stopped by the house yesterday. You haven’t done anything with it since I left.”
It’s easy enough for her to know. There are no blinds on the windows and the house is empty. I haven’t been back since she served me divorce papers.
“So?”
She bites her bottom lip again. “I want it. You’re not living there, and I’m willing to pay whatever you think is fair.”
That makes me laugh, maybe a little bitterly. “You are not getting the house.”
“You bought that house for me.”
“I bought the house for my wife, which you are not.”
She flinches, but instead of leaving, she approaches me. I force myself not to back away, even when she encroaches into my space. She runs a finger down my chest. It’s all I can do not to flinch away.
“Think about it, okay? I’m serious about staying. I’ll see you around, Drew.”
Finally, she’s leaving. I breathe a sigh of relief too soon, because she leans in to kiss my cheek. I don’t move fast enough to avoid her lips. I’ve been slimed.
She walks to the door with a swagger meant to show off her body. I don’t look as she leaves, but from the corner of my eye I see her glance over her shoulder. Before she can come back in, I slam my office door and slump against the wall.
Seeing her has tanked my mood. I’m angry at her, but also angry at myself for loving her to begin with.
To pour love and trust into Quinn only to have her walk out of my life was horrible.
Her being here today brings up the memories and emotions from when she left.
Maybe worse, I’m reminded of how I once believed we were happy together.
Once I’ve calmed from the conversation, I head upstairs to shower. As I get out, my phone buzzes with a text.
MOM: Lana swears Quinn just walked into the bakery. Are you positive she’s not in town?
DREW: It’s Quinn. She stopped by the hardware store. She’s here for the weekend. Tell everyone to be nice. Just not so nice that she wants to hang around forever.
MOM: I’m sorry she bothered you. How are you doing?
DREW: Not great, but I’ll feel better when I head out to Tucson.
MOM: You must feel terrible if a trip to the city is an improvement.
It’s not Tucson that will make me feel better. It’s Stella.
Mom sends me a line of heart emojis.
MOM: Drive safe. I’m sure Peggy will put you up for the night if you decide to stay longer. Maybe Stella is free tomorrow and you two can grab lunch?
Yep, I can’t keep anything from her.