Chapter 18
Magnolia
For the past two weeks, I’ve been staying at Levi’s. Surprisingly, no one has mentioned a word when they come out to pick up their orders. A few people have looked at me with their eyebrows raised, questions written across their faces, but no one has said anything.
Most everyone in town knows what’s going on between me and Cody, but I’m pleasantly surprised that they aren’t trying to make it their business.
I’m packing up my SUV to go and do my pop up at The Café.
It’s snuck up on me quicker than I thought it would, but it’s nice fixing my hair, putting on makeup, and wearing clothes that aren’t sweats.
Levi and Dakota have gone to work, which I’ve learned means they’re going to meet with the people they are investigating.
So I might not get to see him, but I still want to look cute in case I do.
The drive into Laurel Springs feels longer than it actually is, and part of that is because I’ve been slightly scared to go back into town.
I’ve worried about seeing Cody again, but I also recognize I’ve got to believe in myself.
That I can handle this, and when I park in front of The Café, I take a deep breath, then smile as Leigh comes out.
“Hey Magnolia.” She waves with a smile back at me. “I’m excited you’re here. I’ve had the social media people posting about it all week, and I saw where you were posting about it, too. I think you’ll have a good turnout.”
God I hope so, I have bills to pay. Right after this I have to go meet my attorney, Shelby. “Thank you for helping to promote, I appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem. You know I like to do whatever I can for the community. I think it’ll do well for both of us. Do you need help bringing stuff in? Keegan’s here today.” She mentions Ransom’s son.
“That would be great, actually.” I pop the back hatch of my SUV, and within minutes Keegan comes running out. He looks so much like Ransom, I have to do a double-take.
“Hey Miss Magnolia,” Keegan greets me with an easy smile. “Let me get those for you.”
Between the three of us, we make quick work of unloading everything.
Keegan’s stronger than he looks, carrying in the heavier boxes like they weigh nothing.
Within twenty minutes, I’ve got my table set up near the front window, my branded tablecloth in place, and all my treats arranged in a way that makes them look almost too pretty to eat.
“This looks amazing,” Leigh says, standing back to admire the setup.
The lunch rush starts almost immediately, and I’m grateful for the distraction. The reminder that life goes on when mine feels like it’s falling apart.
My first customer is a woman I recognize from high school, and she buys three packages of chocolate-covered pretzels. Then a steady stream of people come by, each one complimenting my work, asking about flavors, telling me they’ve been following me on social media.
I’m in the middle of explaining my process for tempering chocolate when I see Karina, Levi’s grandmother, making her way toward my table. My heart does a little flip, and I have to force myself not to reach up and touch my neck where I’ve carefully concealed the hickey Levi left yesterday.
“Magnolia,” she says warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners the way Levi’s do when he smiles. “Everything looks wonderful.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Harrison.” I gesture to the display. “What can I get for you?”
“Oh, call me Karina, honey. You’ve known this family long enough.” She studies the options, then points to my specialty holiday boxes. “I’ll take two of these. Mason has such a sweet tooth, and I know Ruby will love one, too.”
Ruby. Levi’s mom. My stomach does another nervous flip as I package up her order, hyperaware of every movement, every word.
Does she know? Can she tell just by looking at me that I’ve been sleeping in Levi’s bed?
That his hands have been all over me, that I can’t stop thinking about the way he whispers my full name against my skin?
“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Karina asks, and there’s genuine concern in her voice. “I heard things have been difficult.”
“I’m managing,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “Taking it one day at a time.”
“That’s all any of us can do.” She pats my hand, and the kindness in the gesture almost makes me cry. “You know this family is here for you if you need anything.”
Before I can respond, Ruby Harrison appears behind her mother-in-law, and I swear to God my heart stops beating.
She’s beautiful in that way that some women have that appears effortless.
Her dark hair is pulled back, showing off where Molly gets her features from.
She’s wearing jeans and a simple sweater, looking more put together than I feel on my best day.
“Magnolia!” She comes around to give me a quick hug, and I pray she can’t feel how fast my pulse is racing. “I just saw on social media that you were going to be here. Everything looks incredible.”
“Thank you,” I manage, trying to keep my voice normal. “What can I get you?”
Karina shows her one of the boxes she bought. “I got you this one for home.”
As Ruby browses, I catch myself absently reaching up to adjust the concealer on my neck, and her eyes track the movement. Fuck. I drop my hand immediately, plastering on a smile.
“I’ll take a variety box,” she says, but there’s something in her expression that stops me cold. It’s not judgment, exactly. More like…understanding? “For the office. Everyone’s been asking where I get these treats.”
We make small talk as I package her order, and somehow I make it through without mentioning Levi’s name even once, though it sits on my tongue the whole time. The way both women look at me makes me wonder what they’ve heard, what they suspect, what Levi might have told them.
They pay and leave together, heads bent close in conversation, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
The rest of the pop-up goes well. I sell out of almost everything, which means I’ll have money to cover my bills this month. I’m down to my last few packages when I see Violet approaching my table, her hair catching the afternoon sun streaming through the window.
Ace’s wife. I know her, but not well. She’s always been friendly, always had a kind smile, but we’ve never been close.
“Magnolia,” she says, and there’s an understanding in her tone that makes me straighten. “These look amazing. Can I grab the last of those chocolate-covered Oreos?”
“Of course.” I package them up, but she doesn’t leave. Instead, she glances around, then leans in slightly.
“Do you have a minute to sit?” she asks quietly. “I’d like to talk to you, if that’s okay.”
My stomach drops, but I nod. We move to a table near the back, away from the main lunch crowd. Violet settles into her chair. She’s comfortable in her own skin, and she studies me for a moment before speaking.
“How are you doing with the divorce?” She asks, and her directness catches me off guard. “From Cody, I mean.” Even though I know which divorce she’s asking about.
“It’s…” I search for the right words. “Not easy.”
She nods slowly, a sad smile playing at her lips. “I know what that’s like. I was in your shoes once, you know. Loved someone before my divorce was final. It’s complicated, scary. You feel guilty even though you know you shouldn’t.”
My eyes widen. “What makes you think I’m seeing someone?”
Violet’s smile grows, and she reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “Because I recognize that look in your eyes, honey. That little spark of hope mixed with fear. And because”—her eyes flick to my neck—“the makeup on your neck is a little too dark. Covering something up?”
Heat floods my face, and I know I’ve been caught. I don’t say anything, can’t say anything.
“Hey,” Violet says gently. “I’m not judging you. I’m just saying…I’ve been there. I know how hard it is to let yourself be happy when everything around you is falling apart. But you deserve happiness, Magnolia. You deserve someone who makes you feel alive again.”
Tears prick at my eyes, and I blink them back furiously. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re going to be okay,” she says with certainty. “Better than okay, actually. Just…don’t let the fear win, alright? Life’s too short for that.”
We talk for a few more minutes before she leaves, and I sit there processing everything. The kindness of Levi’s family, Violet’s understanding, the way people in this town have quietly supported me even when I’ve felt completely alone.
After I clean up my table and load everything back into my SUV, I walk across the downtown area to attorney Shelby Bruce’s office. She’s married to a member of the Laurel Springs Police Department, but practices under her maiden name.
“Magnolia,” she greets me as I walk in, gesturing to a chair. “Thanks for coming in. We need to talk about what’s holding up the divorce.”
I sink into the chair, already exhausted. “Let me guess. Cody wants something.”
“He’s demanding a detailed accounting of the business and its assets,” Shelby says, pulling out a thick folder. “He’s claiming that because you used marital funds to start it, he’s entitled to half of everything; including future earnings.”
“That’s bullshit,” I say, my voice sharper than I intend. “He drained all our accounts, Shelby. Every single one. There’s no money left.”
Her expression softens. “I know, honey. And that’s going to work in our favor. But right now, I need you to let me handle this, okay? Don’t engage with him, don’t respond to anything he sends you. Let me deal with it.”
“Okay,” I agree, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders. “Thank you.”
We go over a few more details. Some paperwork I need to sign, documents she needs from me, and a timeline for the next steps. By the time I leave her office, the sun is starting to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the street.
That’s when I see him.
Cody, standing across the street, leaning against a storefront like he’s been waiting for me. When our eyes meet, he lifts his hand in a wave, and the smile on his face is anything but friendly.
A chill runs down my spine, ice-cold fear flooding my veins. I force myself to walk to my SUV with steady steps, not letting him see how much he’s rattled me. My hands shake as I unlock the door and slide inside, immediately locking it behind me.
He’s still watching as I pull out of the parking spot, that same unsettling smile on his face.
And I know, with a sick certainty, that this is far from over.