Chapter 13 #2
There wouldn’t be a full wake, as we were all meeting now, but some would visit my parents’ home, and I would go with them afterward. I just needed a few moments alone. I looked past my family to where Callum stood with his, and he gave me an imperceptible nod.
Perhaps I didn’t need to be truly alone.
I was tired of running, tired of secrets, but this exact moment wasn’t necessarily the best timing.
“If you’re sure,” Rune said, a frown on his face.
I squeezed their hands and then headed out of the cemetery, towards Main Street.
Tourists were still out and about, was well as local residents who hadn’t been able to take time off or didn’t know Gregory that well. People who hadn’t gone to the funeral or maybe hadn’t known it was even taking place today.
I nodded at a few of them, and those that I knew either gave me sad smile or reached out to squeeze my hand. Little things that reminded me of why I had moved to Ashford Creek.
Because even though they might not have known Gregory well or at all, they were still grieving for the loss of one of their own.
I turned the corner and took out my small set of keys, staring at them in my hand.
What was I supposed to do now? Take over all of Gregory’s clients? Figure out how to take care of the entire town when I couldn’t even take care of myself?
A large hand reached out and took the keys from my palm, and I let out a relieved sound, leaning against that strong chest of his.
“You know, I could have been anyone just then.”
I shook my head at Callum’s deep voice. “I always know it’s you.”
“I don’t know if I should be frightened or not,” he said softly as he moved me into the small office.
I let out a deep breath, the tears finally falling as soon as I crossed the threshold. Callum cursed under his breath and pulled me into his arms.
“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.”
“It’s not okay. He kept saying he was fine, even after all of his doctor’s visits with Kellan, and yet, he never told me. Never told me that he was sick.”
Callum kissed the top of my head and held me close as I cried into his chest, my tears dampening his shirt.
“He was in his seventies, darling. He was always going to have aches and pains. He wanted to be here because he thought of you as a daughter. Wanted to take care of you.”
“And I couldn’t take care of him.”
“He was so proud of you. He would always brag about you whenever he walked into the brewery, you know.”
I looked up at him then, frowning. “What?”
“He would come into the brewery once a week and have a single beer and brag about how he poached the smartest person from your entire university program to work in Ashford Creek.”
“You never told me that.”
He shrugged, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear.
“I know a lot of things by working at the brewery or sometimes behind the bar at Summit Grill. He loved you.” Callum let out a breath.
“Just like I remember him loving my mom. She was another daughter of his, one that he might not have been part of in terms of raising, but one he wanted to help see the world.”
My chest tightened, remembering what Callum had said.
Had his father actually killed his mother?
I didn’t know. This wasn’t the time to ask him, nor did I think he wanted to speak of it. But the town always gossiped about the Ashfords. About their secrets.
How could you not when one of the patriarch’s wives had died unexpectedly, and the other had run away, never to be seen again? And between each of the siblings having their own lore, you couldn’t help but think of the Ashfords and their legacy.
Callum, the NFL star who’d gotten hurt too young.
Bodhi, the one who everyone had so quickly believed to be a murderer.
Teagan, the elder daughter, left behind.
Finnian, the one who got his high school girlfriend pregnant and hadn’t stayed with her.
It didn’t matter that they loved each other as friends now because Finnian would always have that scarlet letter, just like Promise.
Briar, the daughter who had gotten out and married a rock star.
Sterling, the one who people spoke of but never truly understood.
And Malcolm. The one they lost.
The Ashfords were their own story, their own secret web.
And I wanted to know more.
I just wanted him.
Callum kissed the top of my head as I finally was able to breathe.
“I really just wanted to walk through his office, just for a moment. Then we can head back to my parents’ house.”
Callum squeezed my hand. “Okay. Do you want me to meet you there?”
I shook my head. “Go with me?” I asked, knowing what I was asking.
He let out a sigh. “I’ll tell him. Maybe not today.”
I shook my head. “No, today’s not the day.”
“Are you sure about me? I told you that I’m not the right man for you. And they’re going to think that I’m preying on you.” His deep voice was practically a growl, shivering down my spine.
“Stop it. My family loves you.”
“Your family loves me as your brothers’ friend. Not so much the one who’s fucking precious Felicity.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
He raised a brow. “It’s the truth.”
Anger coursed through my veins, and I pushed at him. “If you’re going to keep thinking that I’m some precious virginal flower or some shit, just leave. I’m not a piece of property. I’m not perfect. I’m making my own decisions.”
“I don’t think I’m the right one for you.”
I glared at him, my hands fisting at my sides. “Then go. If you’re not the right one for me, just go.”
“I’m not letting you stay here alone.”
“You’re not my father.”
“No, we both know I’m not.”
And there he was, that overprotective asshole that I’d always known. He had tried to keep it in check these last weeks, but he really sucked at it.
I merely shook my head. “I’ll meet you at the house. We can keep this secret for a little longer, but then I’m done. Done hiding. It’s time to deal with the consequences.”
“I won’t let them hurt you.”
“Callum, they’re not going to hurt me.”
“No, that’ll be me.” He leaned down, pressed a hard kiss to my lips, and left me alone in my office, wondering what the hell I was doing.
I took a few moments, walking through the small rooms that still smelled of Gregory’s aftershave.
“Why did you have to go? And why did you think I could do this on my own?” I whispered, another tear tracking down my cheek.
I swallowed hard, knowing I couldn’t wallow here for long. Either Callum or my mother would show up, dragging me out. I knew them well enough. With one last look at the office, I locked the door and headed to my car back at the main parking lot.
I frowned, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end once again.
I couldn’t tell if anyone was looking at me, but then again, maybe they were just feeling sorry for me after what happened.
But no, something was off. I stared down one of the alleys, frowning, before turning back.
Strong hands gripped my arms, and I gasped, looking up into familiar eyes, yet ones I did not want to see.
“Hello there, Little Carter.”
I tore myself away from Callum’s father and lifted my chin. “Mr. Ashford.”
“I like the sound of that. Mr. Ashford. Nobody calls me that anymore.”
“Sorry for bumping into you. I need to go back to my car.”
“He left you alone like this? Not a very protective thing to do.”
“I’m just fine. Excuse me.”
“Well, if you’re sure.”
“Felicity? Everything okay here?”
I nearly sagged in relief at the sound of Thatcher’s voice and turned to see him and Keely walking towards me.
Keely stared at Callum’s father, a frown on her face, before she reached out and took my hand.
“Hey. Glad I caught you. We were heading up to your parents’ house.”
“Me too. Do you need a ride?”
“I’d love one.” She looked over at Thatcher, who was still glaring at Callum’s father.
“Mind if I ride with her? I know you’re on call tonight.”
“No problem. I have a few things to take care of anyway.” He looked over at me for a moment. “You good?”
“I’m great. Thank you.”
I didn’t know exactly what I was saying thank you for, but Callum’s father always creeped me out.
No wonder Callum and his siblings did their best to stay away from him.
I took Keely’s hand, and we made our way to my car.
“Should I wonder why you two were going to my parents’ house together?” I asked, realizing that I hadn’t even known the two hung out.
“Oh, I was walking towards… I was walking in this direction, because I couldn’t get my car to start, and Thatcher was just going to drive me. He’s a nice guy. But don’t worry. Not that nice.”
I raised a brow. “Really?”
“You’re the one who’s dating an older man, not me.”
I smiled then, laughter spilling from my lips.
And that was why I loved Ashford Creek. Even with the shadows, my friends could make me laugh.