Chapter 22 Justin
JUSTIN
The Redemption Ridge Police Department was quiet for a Monday morning. Calls had amped up with the influx of tourists, and Justin was used to the constant chatter and buzzing in the offices.
Cody sat in the main office with his elbows propped on the desktop and head in his hands. Justin detoured from his path to the break room and slapped a hand on Cody’s back.
“You okay, man?”
Cody lifted his head, dragging his hands down his face. “Yeah. Breaking my brain trying to figure out what to get Neenah for Christmas.”
Garrett appeared on Cody’s other side, propping his hip against the flimsy partition separating the desks. “Is this a special gift?”
“It’s Christmas. That’s how special it is,” Cody said. “We’re just friends.”
Just friends, but not because Cody wanted it that way. She’d friend-zoned him a long time ago, and he still did everything in his power to respect her wishes despite his more-than-friendly feelings.
Garrett rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and I’m the weather man. Get her a book, and she’ll be happy. Oh, but not a self-help book. That would hurt her feelings. Ask me how I know.”
“You gave Cindy a self-help book for Christmas?” Justin asked.
Garrett threw his arms out to his sides. “It was a good book! How to Win Friends and Influence People is a classic.”
“And you thought it was a good gift for your wife?” Cody scoffed. “You don’t get to give me advice.”
“Whatever. She loved the vacuum I got her last year.”
Cody turned his chair to face Justin. “What are you getting Caroline?”
Caroline. For the first time, he would be able to get Caroline a Christmas present.
They’d been together one Christmas before, but neither of them had much money at the time, and she’d suggested they skip gifts in favor of spending time together instead.
He’d treated her to a candlelit evening picnic in the bed of his truck.
“I don’t think Neenah would like what I got for Caroline. Neenah is practical. What about—”
“Oh! I know! Bath salts,” Garrett interrupted. “Cindy likes those.”
Cody’s left brow rose. “I’m not giving my friend bath salts. And I really wish you wouldn’t bring up Neenah and baths. That’s not an image I need in my head.”
Garrett grimaced. “Sorry, man.”
Justin’s phone dinged, and he pulled it out.
Jordan: Alicia says there’s a bad post in Rumor on the Ridge about The Cakery. They mentioned Caroline by name. I’m working on getting it removed, but I thought you might want to know about it.
Shoot. Why would anyone slander the bakery? Everyone in town loved it and Caroline too.
Justin: Thanks, man.
Justin rapped his knuckles on the desk. “I’ve got to go.”
Cody jerked his chin up in a single-nod goodbye. “See ya, man.”
“Everything okay?” Garrett asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ll call you later.”
Justin’s stride lengthened as he headed for the exit, pulling up the social media group on his phone. The post was at the top of the page, looking like a novel without paragraph breaks. He read the anonymous post as he walked, occasionally glancing up to make sure he didn’t run into things.
Why are we still putting up with this? LOOK at these cupcakes! I got these for my nephew’s birthday party, and they’re a disaster!
Justin skimmed the post, looking for Caroline’s name. When he spotted it, he came to a stop to focus on the words.
Caroline Taylor, you should be ashamed of yourself. You won’t be in business much longer if you keep treating your customers this way. Shame on you!
Good grief. Whoever the poster was, they weren’t pulling punches. Justin’s stomach knotted as he slid into the driver’s seat of the cruiser.
The photo was a jumbled mess of cupcakes with blue icing, all smashed together and smeared in a pink box.
It was definitely a box from The Cakery. He’d know their branding anywhere. Still, there was no way Caroline would have given cupcakes that looked like that to a customer. Her treats were the best, and her employees were always careful and kind.
He closed the app and pressed the button to call Caroline as he started the car. She would be devastated on multiple counts. The Cakery was her pride and joy, and she hated disappointing people.
She answered on the second ring with a raspy “Hello.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’ve been better.” Her voice squeaked at the end, giving him a clear answer to his question.
Justin switched the call to his bluetooth and rested the phone in his cup holder. “I’m on my way.”
“You don’t have to come,” she whispered, soft and broken.
“I’m on my way,” he repeated.
Minutes later, he paused to control his expression before storming into her shop.
The Cakery had a line of customers at the register where Skye took orders and handed them to Mrs. Burrows. Mr. Burrows bustled around the table areas with a broom.
Skye glanced up, but when she spotted Justin, her smile fell slightly. She pointed toward the door at the back of the bakery leading to the stock room.
Justin burst through the door, startling Caroline with his quick entrance. She rested a tablet on one arm and held her other hand to her chest.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to.” He was at her side in an instant. There were pink circles around her eyes that matched the tip of her nose, and black smears spread out in a wing at the edges of her eyes.
As soon as he spread his arms out, she fell into him. The sobs broke free immediately, shaking her body as he rubbed her back.
“I’m sorry. This has just been a bad day. I’m really fine.”
“It’s okay to not be fine.” Who could have done this to her? Caroline gave her best to everyone, and she was always kind.
“The espresso machine broke, and the technician can’t get here until this evening. I dropped a bowl of cake batter on the floor this morning. The whole thing was wasted, and I had a huge mess to clean up. Then there was an awful post in Rumor on the Ridge.”
“I know. I’m here, and I’ll help however I can. Jordan is working on getting the post removed.”
Caroline lifted her head. “I gave those cupcakes to that woman this morning, but they didn’t look like that when she took them.”
“I believe you. It looked like she did the smearing herself.”
“But why?” Caroline wailed. “They were beautiful!”
“Everything you make is beautiful,” Justin said, brushing a thumb over her wet cheek. “Do you think Skye and the Burrows could handle things here for the rest of the day? Do you want to go home and rest?”
“No.” She wiped at her eyes and sniffed. “I can’t just quit when things get tough.”
Justin’s lungs constricted. Caroline was so strong that she wouldn’t back down from the things she loved. It was a swift and painful reminder that he’d given up on their relationship the first time they’d been held to the fire.
Now, he could see his mistakes for what they were—he’d taken the easy way out. He’d taken away her choice and cost them over a decade together.
Not this time. This time, he would fight for her. He would fight beside her the way they were supposed to.
“My shift is almost over. I’ll be back in an hour with lunch. After we eat, I’ll help you with this.” He waved a hand at the stock room that was overflowing with boxes of supplies.
“You don’t have to do that.”
Justin took her small hands and clasped them in his, holding them against his chest. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”