Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Amber
“W here to first?” I ask Bree Friday morning as we walk out of Miss Betty’s diner.
“I wanted to run into the boutique to make sure the bridal party gifts are ready. I wanted to do another check-in with the florist. The bakery is supposed to have the cake delivered in the morning, but I wanted to pick out some extras in case we run out.”
“I think you’re overthinking everything.” I giggle.
We walk into the bakery, and two older women in the corner talk loudly but pretend they’re quiet.
“Did you hear what happened at the Livesay’s Orchard?” the overdyed blonde asks.
My stomach drops as my eyes flit to Bree quickly. She cocks her head to the side.
“What happened at the orchard?” I ask as I take a step forward.
“David and Nora Livesay were arrested. Derek caught them about to set the place on fire.”
“What?” I gasp.
Bree’s hand snakes out and grabs mine as she moves closer.
“Was anyone hurt?” Bree questions.
“No. They caught them before anything could happen. Nora admitted they were responsible for starting the other fire, too,” the woman says with a disgusted shake of her head.
I take a step back as if I’m falling, and Bree squeezes my hand tighter. I look back at her. I’m so grateful that Derek, the kids, and the farm are all right. I’m also shook by all of it.
“Rumor has it that Derek was about to cut them out from the profits of the orchard because he learned that Sharon went behind his back on some things.”
I blow out a breath. I chew the inside of my cheek. Maybe I should feel vindicated that the Livesays have shown their true colors and Derek knows the truth, but I don’t. I feel like I want to vomit.
An employee comes out and immediately turns to me and Bree. “Hey, Bree, tomorrow is the big day! How exciting!”
“Hey, Sasha.” Bree grins. “I was hoping we could add some cupcakes and…”
Sasha holds up her hand and laughs. “Girl, I got you. I’ve already prepped everything for tomorrow and the rehearsal dinner tonight. You’re set.”
“Oh my goodness, Sasha,” Bree gushes. “You’re the best. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Perks of locally owned businesses. We know our customers’ needs.” Sasha laughs. “Here, take a few treats for the road. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of running to do and haven’t scheduled food.”
“You know us so well,” I joke.
She hands us two cupcakes before we leave the store and move on to the florist.
“I heard that he’s stolen everything from the Livesays. They’re having to file bankruptcy because he’s gambled all of the orchard’s earnings away,” someone says.
“My friend’s a teacher at the school, and she said those kids are mistreated and come to school wearing the same clothes; that little girl didn’t have shoes on one day. They said the oldest boy is raising her,” a blonde adds as she and her friend gossip out of the Bloom & Vine flower shop.
I stop in my tracks and start to turn around. Bree immediately grabs my arm.
“Don’t engage. They’re chaos demons who don’t know what they’re talking about. They love to gossip. You saying anything back to them will just give them pleasure.”
“But none of that is true. It’s ridiculous.”
“We know that. It doesn’t matter to some of these people, Amber. They’re just going to steal your energy with this shit. Don’t let them do it.”
I let out a long groan, knowing she’s right, but it’s so hard not to stick up for Derek and the kids.
I don’t believe the lies. I would know if he had a gambling problem.
Those kids are well taken care of. The audacity of these people to speak poorly about a man who is nothing but kind to all of them.
“This is frustrating.”
“I’m aware. Don’t give them the satisfaction, okay? Don’t go down to their level.”
“Fine.”
“Derek doesn’t need you to protect him. His actions speak louder than words. Everyone who knows him knows that he’s not capable of any of these things.”
I blow out a breath and nod.
She’s right in all ways, but it’s so hard to walk away and not engage.
Hicks Creek is small, and gossip spreads like wildfire, especially when it involves someone who keeps to themselves.
It all sounds so absurd, so wrong, it blows my mind that anyone could think there was truth to any of it. I want to yell at all of them, stick up for Derek and the kids, but Bree is right. It’s pointless.
I take a deep breath and try to push it all away. I shake my head, feeling a little bit ridiculous at my irritation.
I’m not part of Derek’s life anymore. He made that clear. He’s had the opportunity to talk and hasn’t taken it, and I have to see that as a sign.
We finish all the errands in town and return to the wedding venue. The warm lights above the winery give everything a soft, golden glow as I look around the rehearsal space. It’s perfect—rustic and elegant, exactly how Bree had envisioned it. She’s practically glowing, and it’s impossible not to smile every time I see her laughing, her cheeks flushed from excitement and maybe a bit too much champagne. I can’t believe her big day is finally here.
I wish I was this happy and in love.
I let out a soft groan as I shake my head, chastising myself for the “poor me” moment. This is Bree’s weekend. I’m so happy for her and have to focus on that. I can feel my heartbreak on Sunday.
“Amber!” she calls out, practically dancing over to me in her bare feet, her flower crown slipping a little to one side. “I can’t believe it’s happening tomorrow!”
“I know! You’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever, Bree,” I say, catching her hands and giving them a squeeze. “And this barn? It’s… it’s magical.” I let go of her hands and gesture around us. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
Bree laughs, a sound that’s bright and infectious, and I feel the heaviness that’s been on me all day start to lift. Just being around her has that effect—she’s always been the kind of friend who makes everything feel a little lighter.
“I didn’t do any of this. This is all the winery’s doing. It’s so incredible that they made their property into a venue like this. It’s magical.”
“It really is.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to do half of this without you. Who else would’ve run around Hicks Creek with me all day, picking up last-minute favors and making sure everything was perfect?”
I laugh, thinking back on our day. It had been a whirlwind, filled with laughter and little mishaps. We’d spent hours tracking down the right color napkins, fixing a last-minute catering mix-up, and somehow managed to charm the florist into giving us an extra bucket of wildflowers for free.
“Honestly,” I say, grinning, “I’m just impressed you didn’t throw a fit when the napkins weren’t the exact shade of pink you wanted.”
She swats me lightly on the arm, her eyes twinkling. “Hey! I’m not that picky. Just…detail-oriented.”
I raise my hands in surrender, laughing. “Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Bridezilla.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s trying to hide a smile. Bree’s been dreaming about this day for years, and it’s so good to see her truly happy. I shove away the creeping thoughts of Derek that keep inching back into my mind. I can’t let anything cloud this moment for Bree.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just a little distracted. It’s been a long day.”
She raises an eyebrow, her gaze knowing. “Is it about Derek?”
I swallow, nodding. “Of course it is, but at least I found out what type of person he was before I got even more invested.”
She squeezes my hand, her face softening. “You’re going to find an amazing man, Amber, and when you do, you’ll understand why it didn’t work out with anyone else.”
Her words comfort me, but there’s still a lingering ache. Even though Bree is right, it still hurts.
I can’t shake the image of him standing at the school yesterday, looking anywhere but at me, and Casey’s little face, confused and hurt, asking if I’d be at dinner. I wish it could all just… stop.
Bree grabs two glasses of champagne from a nearby table and hands me one, clinking her glass against mine with a mischievous grin. “Here’s to ignoring the town gossips and focusing on what really matters.”
“To you,” I say, smiling and taking a sip. “And to love.”
Bree laughs and wraps an arm around me, pulling me into a side hug. “I couldn’t have asked for a better best friend, Amber. Really. You’ve kept me sane this whole time.”
“You’re giving me way too much credit,” I say, grinning. “But if it means I get to have the first slice of cake tomorrow, I’ll take it.”
“We should get changed out for the rehearsal,” Bree says.
“And we’re meeting at the steakhouse for the dinner?” I ask.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Perfect.” I grin.
I give her another hug and head to my car. I have a little bit of time to shower, change, and get ready for the rehearsal.
I want so badly to reach out to Derek, to check on him and make sure he knows that I don’t believe any of the lies. But I don’t.
Not my circus anymore.