20. Sarah
The Town’s Whisperings
I weave through the grocery store”s aisles, lingering on how great it”s been lately.
My cart is half-filled with necessities and a few indulgences when I debate which apples look the freshest in the produce section.
As suggested, I”ve taken up grocery shopping for the Parker residence. Mrs. Carolyn”s at the age where she should walk around the grocery store less.
I”ve moved into the residence in a way since I”ve spent more nights there than at my actual home.
But Tyler, Timmy, and Mrs. Carolyn have embraced my constant presence with open arms, so that”s all that matters.
“Sarah?” a familiar voice calls out, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn, and Marie Harlow is standing there, her face lighting up in a broad smile.
“Marie!” I exclaim, walking over to her. We embrace each other warmly, the scent of her floral perfume reaching my nostrils. “How have you been?”
“Oh, just busy as ever,” she replies, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. “My in-laws are coming to town tomorrow, and Frank is back home doing yard work. You know how it is, preparing for visitors.”
I nod, giving her a sympathetic smile. “That must be a lot of work. I hope it all goes smoothly.”
“Thanks, I hope so too,” she says, plucking a bunch of bananas and placing them in her cart. She looks back at me, curiosity glinting in her eyes. “How’s Tyler doing with his bull riding practice?”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of Tyler. “He’s… he’s doing great,” I manage to say, hoping my voice doesn’t betray my sudden nervousness.
“And that cute little boy I saw you take to the movies last week?” she continues, pulling a head of lettuce from the pile. “Is he a relative of yours?”
“Oh, you mean Timmy,” I say quickly, feeling a blush creeping up my neck. “He’s just a friend’s child. I was doing a favor.”
Marie raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further. “How sweet of you,” she says warmly.
“Well, I must hurry and finish my shopping before it gets too late. It was lovely running into you, Marie.”
“You too, Sarah,” Marie smiles warmly at me with a nod. “I have some errands to run as well.”
We embrace again, the gesture brief but genuine. “You have a good day now,” she says, giving me one last smile before pushing her cart down the aisle.
“You too,” I mutter, as she walks away. I stand there momentarily, trying to steady the flurry of thoughts racing through my mind. Finally, I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unexpected encounter and focus on my grocery list.
Marie”s questions linger in my mind as I wheel my cart down the aisle, wrapping around my thoughts like a fast-growing vine. Why was she so interested in Tyler? Did she know something? Panic begins to bubble up inside me, my heart racing faster with each step.
I try to remember if there”s been any moment when I was too familiar with Tyler—anything that might have given people the wrong idea. Being his therapist, it’s unethical to have a personal relationship with him, and yet there have always been unspoken feelings dancing between us that are hard to ignore.
Not to mention that we”re in a relationship of some sort, and I”m practically living in his home.
My thoughts are interrupted by the memory of last week”s movie outing with Timmy. At the time, it seemed like a harmless outing, a fun way to spend an afternoon.
But now, thinking back, I realize how many people from the town were there, children running up and down the aisles, parents chatting and undoubtedly observing. Good grief, Sarah, could you have picked a more public venue?
The more I replay the event, the more convinced I am that people like Marie must be talking. They might be speculating about my relationship with Tyler, piecing together fragments of encounters and weaving their narratives.
The thought makes me feel exposed, like every glance and smile I share with Tyler has been dissected and misinterpreted. It feels like a vice gripping my chest, making it hard to breathe.
I focus on my shopping list again, forcing myself to look at the mundane items—eggs, bread, milk—but Marie’s words echo loudly. The rumors could ruin everything I”ve worked hard for. I need to finish this grocery shopping quickly. The sooner I get out of here, the better. Being around other people now makes my palms sweaty and me immensely uncomfortable.
My hands tremble as I pick up a carton of eggs, trying to steady my shaky breath. In small towns like this, privacy is an illusion. Everyone knows everyone, or at least they think they do. My only option now is to be more careful, to ensure that nothing I do can be misinterpreted further.
However, I can”t shake the feeling that the damage might already be done. I quicken my pace, my mind a storm of worries, keenly aware of the eyes that might still be watching.
I pull into the Parker residence, my heart pounding like a drum. The gravel under the tires crunches loudly in the otherwise serene afternoon, announcing my arrival. As I step out of the car, I try to calm myself, pushing the intrusive thoughts away.
I glance up, and there he is—Tyler, walking out of the house with that laid-back, effortless stride. He”s quick to approach, his smile reassuring, but it does little to quell the turmoil inside me.
”Hey, let me help you with those,” he says, his eyes twinkling as he reaches the trunk of my car.
”Thanks,” I mutter, trying to force a smile. I pop the trunk, revealing the grocery bags tightly packed together. Together, we start unloading. I pick up two bags, grateful for the distraction of occupying my hands.
”How was the grocery store?” Tyler asks, breaking the silence as he grabs a couple of bags himself.
”It was... fine,” I reply, avoiding eye contact and willing my voice steady. My mind replays Marie”s words, and I wonder if Tyler has heard any of those rumors.
We walk side by side into the house, the cool air inside offering a slight relief from the thoughts swirling in my head. As we set down the first round of bags in the kitchen, Tyler tries again.
”You seem a bit off today. Did something happen?” His tone is gentle, filled with concern.
”Nothing, just tired,” I answer curtly, returning to the car for more bags. I can feel his eyes on me, studying my every move.
With each trip back and forth, Tyler continues his attempts at casual conversation. ”Did you see anyone you knew?” he asks on the next round.
”Not really,” I respond, my tone clipped. I hope he”ll take the hint, but he continues.
”You know, you can talk to me about anything,” he says softly on our last trip, carrying the final bags inside. His words tighten my chest, but I can”t yet confide in him.
We finish bringing everything in, and the kitchen is now filled with bags of groceries. Tyler gently touches my shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. ”I”m here for you, Sarah. Remember that,” he says, looking earnestly into my eyes.
”Thank you, Tyler,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. As we begin to unpack the groceries, I can”t help but wonder if he”s already sensed the tension, especially if he”s telling me that he”s here for me. I can”t take it anymore.
Setting a bag on the counter emphatically, I finally turn to Tyler.
”Where”s Mrs. Carolyn and Timmy?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady but knowing it trembles slightly.
”Mrs. Carolyn”s lying down ”cause of a headache,” he says, looking at me with a concerned and confused expression. ”Timmy”s watching a movie in his room.”
That was all I needed to hear. The house was clear. I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. The words come tumbling out before I can stop them. ”I need to tell you something, Tyler.”
His eyes widen slightly, but he nods, waiting for me to continue. As we move around the kitchen, putting groceries away, I find talking easier while my hands are busy.
”I ran into Marie at the grocery store,” I say, not daring to look directly at him. ”She asked about you... about us. Even asked who Timmy was.”
Tyler chuckles softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. ”And what did you say?”
”What could I say?” I reply, feeling the frustration bubbling inside me. ”That you”re—” I lower my voice ”—that you”re more than just a friend and client. That we”ve been seen together, and not just seen but... being affectionate. Something I hadn”t realized until she asked me about you. Until she brought up Timmy.”
He shrugs, a small smile playing on his lips as he loads groceries into the pantry. ”Well, I didn’t think we were all that discreet. We’ve been out for lunch and dinner in town, and sometimes, we”re pretty close at the ranch. It’s not exactly a secret, Sarah.”
I suddenly feel a wave of horror washes over me. ”You mean... people have noticed? They”re talking about us?”
Tyler’s expression softens. He steps closer, gently resting a hand on my arm. ”It’s fine, Sarah.”
”No, it’s not fine!” I blurt out, pulling away slightly. ”I”m your therapist! This probably doesn”t look good. Everyone in town is probably gossiping about us.”
He sighs, his grip on my arms firm but comforting. ”Sarah, people gossip no matter what. But I doubt it”s in a bad way. And honestly, the only thing that matters to me is how you feel about this. About us.”
His words hang in the air as I try to calm down, but to no avail. Public perception is important to people in the helping profession. We want to be positively perceived as being for the community and considered helpers.
This alone makes me wonder if it”s overshadowing all the work I do in the community. I have chosen to fall in love with this person, which will be my undoing regarding my good reputation.
Tyler’s eyes stay fixed on mine, full of calm reassurance.
”Sarah, listen to me. Yes, you”re a therapist, and that”s a huge part of who you are. But you”re also a person, a woman who has every right to live her own life and make her own choices. Pine Creek isn’t the kind of place where people judge harshly. It’s more of a close-knit, positive community.”
”But do you think that?” I ask a hint of desperation in my voice. ”Do you believe people won’t see me differently because of this?”
He nods firmly. ”I do. This town is small, which means people understand each other better. They know everyone has their struggles and stories. Relationships like ours happen here more often than you”d think because the dating pool isn”t large. People get it. I might still be considered a newbie here, but my time here has shown me how kind the people in this town are.”
I stand there, feeling torn between his certainty and my fears. ”And what about Timmy? What if they find out about him? That you”re his father?”
Tyler steps closer and takes my hands gently in his. ”Sarah, I always knew there would come a time when I couldn”t keep Timmy a secret forever. He”s part of my life, and you”re a part of my life—even more now. We”re a family when we go into town, and people need to see that. I realize maybe I should just come clean about being a father. Better now than later.”
His words resonate through the maelstrom of anxiety churning inside me. ”But how?”
”As a father, the first responsibility I have is to Timmy, and honestly, I don”t want him to feel like he has to be hidden because of me or us. I”ll make it my mission to ensure everything is okay. We will figure things out together no matter how complicated they seem.”
I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and I let it. His hands hold mine with a steadiness that begins to ground me. ”You think we can face this?”
”I know we can,” he says with a quiet intensity. ”Because I care about you, I’ll always be here for you. Anytime, forever and always.”
I step into his embrace, wrapping my arms around him, feeling his strong presence envelop me. ”Thank you, Tyler. For being in my life. For... everything.”
He chuckles softly, giving me a loving squeeze. ”Anytime, Sarah. Forever and always.”
As I rest my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, I start to believe that maybe, just maybe, we can face whatever comes our way.
Together.