Chapter 24
Violet
“So, spill the beans! How was your hike with Austin?” Josy asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Josy and I have had a blast gossiping in between brewing and baking. She’s dying to know every detail about my day with Austin.
I laugh, shaking my head. “Well…we hiked along the ridges, saw some beautiful scenery, and then he surprised me with this hidden waterfall. Honestly, it was magical.”
Josy leans in closer, her eyes widening. “Are you kidding me? That’s so romantic!”
I nod, smiling. “And you won’t believe this, he prepared a super cute picnic! Then we swam in the creek and explored a hidden cave behind the waterfall. It was like something out of a fairytale.”
Josy’s eyes gleam with mischief. “Please tell me you guys did it behind the waterfall.”
“Shhh, woman. Lower your voice,” I hiss, glancing around to make sure no one is listening.
“Stop deflecting and answer me,” Josy whispers.
“Yes,” I admit, my cheeks burning, “we had sex in the cave behind the waterfall, and before that at my apartment.”
“Wow. Girl. I’m so proud of you,” Josy says, a big grin spreading across her face that makes me blush harder.
“You look so happy, and I love it. Remind me to thank Austin. He has done wonders for you.”
“Tell me about it. I am so sore. Every time I move is a reminder of what went down the last two days.”
Josy laughs and leans in even closer. “You know what else happened?”
“What?”
“When Taylor brought Adrian back last night, Austin was still there, and they met. But the worst part was after Austin left.” I proceed to explain what Taylor said to me, recalling the awkward confrontation.
“I can’t believe the nerve of that man. I’m glad you are not with him anymore. He was sucking the life out of you.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true,” I say.
As we chat, I take pictures for our social media accounts and chat with the regulars.
Mrs. Henrietta and Mrs. Mirtha make their way up to the counter, their faces beaming with joy. What are they smiling about?
“Congratulations, dear!” Mrs. Henrietta says, patting my hand.
“We knew it would happen! We’re so happy for you both,” Mrs. Mirtha adds, her eyes twinkling.
I can’t help but blush at all the attention. “Oh, thank you so much. I, um, appreciate it.”
Does the entire town know at this point?
“I told this one that someday that boy would find the love of his life,” Mrs. Mirtha says, pointing at Mrs. Henrietta. “And when he came and asked about you, I knew you were meant to be!”
“You crone, I was the one who said that. Did you forget?”
“I didn’t forget anything. You are the one getting senile, granny.”
“Senile, my ass. You have dementia, you demented old bag. Don’t mind this one. I know what I said.”
I laugh at their banter. They are so cute when they argue with each other. Their playful squabbles always brighten my day. That’s going to be Josy and me one day.
Just then, the door chimes, and Austin walks in. He makes a beeline for me, ignoring the curious glances from the patrons. Without a word, he comes around the counter and pulls me into a passionate kiss. The room erupts into applause and cheers.
“Congratulations!” someone shouts.
When Austin finally pulls away, I look up at him, my heart pounding. “What was that about?”
I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment and happiness.
“I want everyone to know that you’re mine,” he says, his voice low and possessive.
I laugh, gently pushing him away. “Stop acting like a caveman.”
“Here you go, Austin. I will give you free coffee if you stop the PDA,” Josy says while she hands Austin his coffee.
“No, ma’am. I will kiss this woman anytime I can. So you will have to get use to it.”
Josy sighs and responds, “Okay, then. At least I tried.”
He grins, giving me another quick peck before he heads out.
As the morning rush subsides, I focus on my work, but the memory of Austin’s lips on mine keeps pulling me away. It’s a good distraction—one that makes me smile even as I wipe down tables and restock the napkins. When it’s time to pick up Adrian, I grab my bag, head outside, and walk toward my car.
That’s when I see it, a note tucked under the windshield wiper.
For a moment, I think it’s another one of those sweet surprises Austin has been leaving for me. He’s done it before—cute notes with candy or a single flower. I always found them charming, though I never mentioned them because they felt like his private way of showing he cared.
But as I pull the paper free and read the words scrawled in harsh, angry handwriting, my stomach churns.
Why is he touching you? He better stop, because you are mine.
My heart stops, the warmth I’d felt from earlier replaced by a cold wave of dread. This isn’t Austin. There’s no way this came from him.
I grip the note tighter, my fingers trembling. A chill runs down my spine as my eyes dart around the parking lot, scanning for anyone who might be lingering. But there’s no one—just rows of parked cars and the faint sound of birds chirping in the distance.
The earlier notes had been so different. Gentle. Thoughtful. This one feels like a slap to the face. Menacing. Possessive. It’s as if whoever left it wanted to make sure I felt exposed, watched.
My breathing quickens as a thousand thoughts race through my mind. Should I panic? Report this? Am I overreacting, or is this exactly as bad as it feels?
I clutch the note, my gaze darting to the edges of the lot again, suddenly hyperaware of every shadow, every movement. Whoever left this wants me to feel afraid. And they’re succeeding.
Taking a deep breath, I crumple the note and shove it into my pocket. I can’t let this ruin my day.
As I drive to pick up my son, I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching me, but I refuse to let fear control me. Not now, not ever.
When I reach the school, Adrian runs up to me, his face lighting up with a smile. I hug him tightly, feeling a sense of reassurance in his innocence and joy.
“Mom, Coach Bridges gave us the schedule for the games. They start in two weeks. Here, look at this paper,” Adrian says excitedly. I take the paper from his hands and read over the days. Most of them are on Saturday but he has a few games on weekdays. “That’s so exciting. Are you ready to kick some butt?”
“Bruh, I was born ready.” We laugh together, and with the laughter, I seem to forget about the windshield note completely.
A few days later I start doing laundry when I find that note again. With everything happening with Austin, Adrian, and now Max in the mix, I completely forgot about it.
Why is he touching you? He better stop, because you are mine.
I can't shake off the eerie feeling I get when reading those words again. I haven't told anyone about the notes and the presents that have been arriving for weeks.
Initially, I thought it was Austin, but now I know it’s not him. He has no reason to leave me letters like this. So, who could it be?
I've been watching everyone around me, searching for any strange behavior. But no man, or woman, seems to treat me any differently, and I can’t pick up on any bad vibes. Still, with each day that passes, my nerves wear thin. The anxiety builds, wondering who’s behind those notes.
Today, though, I’m setting all of that aside. Noah and Esteban are finally starting work on my house, and I can’t wait to see their progress.
As I pull up to the construction site, my heart kicks up a notch with excitement. The sun’s out, lighting up the whole place. Noah, Esteban, and their crew are already busy, hauling tools and materials from the truck. They spot me and throw casual waves my way.
“Morning, Violet!” Noah calls out, his smile broad and welcoming.
“Good morning! I’m so excited to see what you guys are going to do,” I reply, walking over to them.
Esteban nods, his eyes twinkling. “We’ve got some great plans. Austin has put a lot of thought into this design. You’re going to love it.”
I smile. “I’m sure I will.”
We spend the next hour going over the construction details, and I can already picture how incredible it's going to look. The house is going to be exactly what I envisioned—a perfect mix of comfort and style with every little detail reflecting my personal taste.
The once-empty plot of land is beginning to take shape, its potential slowly revealing itself. The skeleton of the house is up, wooden beams and frames outlining where the rooms will eventually be. It’s exciting and surreal to see my dream home coming to life, even if it’s still in the early stages.
As the day goes on, I bring lunch for the crew from the coffee shop, and they're all pretty happy about it. After they eat, they get back to work, and I can’t help but admire how they push through in this heat. The sound of hammers and saws blend with their easy laughter, creating this energetic rhythm that fills the air. I snap a few pictures to send to my family group chat.
My parents are beyond excited for Adrian and me. My mom keeps asking when I’ll come visit, but honestly, I’ve been avoiding it. Don’t get me wrong, I love her—but during my divorce from Taylor, she flew out to Maryland and stayed for over a few months. At first, I was grateful. Her support made moving and settling into Honey Springs easier.
But then the criticism started. She had opinions on everything, how I was raising Adrian, how I managed my life, and it was suffocating. I couldn’t escape feeling like I was failing. First with college, then my marriage, and now with my son. I know she means well, but being around her just brings up all those feelings again. Still, with Thanksgiving coming up, I know I’ll have to bite the bullet and visit for a few days.
I snap out of my thoughts and look around the construction site. Everything seems fine, but in the back of my mind, I’m still a little on edge. Every now and then, I find myself checking my surroundings, scanning the faces of the workers and people walking by. Could the person sending me those notes be watching right now? The thought sends a shiver through me, but I shake it off and try to focus on the good.
In the afternoon, Austin shows up, and just seeing him eases my nerves. He walks over, a warm smile on his face and a look in his eyes that instantly makes me feel grounded again.
“How’s it going?” he asks, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“It’s going great. Noah and Esteban are amazing. I can’t wait to see the final result,” I reply, leaning into him.
Austin kisses the top of my head. “I’m glad you like the progress. I wanted everything to be perfect for you.”
“It will be,” I say, smiling up at him.
He hugs me tighter. “You mean the world to me, Violet. I just want you to be happy and safe.”
His words remind me of the notes, but I push the thought away, not wanting to ruin the moment. “I am happy. And I feel safe with you.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon watching the progress on the house.
Noah and Esteban work tirelessly, their voices carrying over the sound of hammers and saws. Esteban teases Noah about something I can’t quite hear, but the two laugh as they move the framing for what will eventually be the living room wall into place.
I trace my eyes over the structure, imagining where the windows will go, how the light will pour in during the mornings, and the cozy furniture I’ll arrange in the corners of the rooms. The studs for the interior walls are starting to go up, giving me a glimpse of the layout. I can almost picture where the kitchen will be and the large open space I’d asked for to host friends and family.
Austin stands beside me, his hand brushing against mine. “It’s coming along,” he says, his voice warm. “Soon, you’ll be picking paint colors and arguing over tile patterns.”
I laugh softly, leaning into him. “I can’t wait for that. But right now, it’s enough just to see this. To know it’s really happening.”
Watching the house take shape fills me with a mix of excitement and a touch of nervousness. It’s not just a building; it’s a fresh start, a place where I’ll finally feel at home. I can’t help but smile as I picture myself and Adrian here, creating new memories within these walls that are slowly, but surely, coming to life.