Chapter 7
ELIZABETH
Soil dug its way underneath my nails, and I groaned. I should have taken the time to put on my gloves, but they were on the other side of the garage, and I had been lazy. Or maybe just tired.
I had been tired more often than not these days, and there was no big surprise as to why.
The paperwork and bureaucracy of death would tire anyone.
It hadn’t mattered that my parents had made sure that all of their ducks were in a row, their paperwork complete, our town lawyer prepared with everything they needed.
It hadn’t mattered that Felicity, our family and town accountant, had been set to go with everything needed for certain aspects of death and what came with it.
No, the paperwork would always be there.
Dragging out and wanting everything from me.
I’d been forced to write an obituary, and then what I was supposed to say at the wake.
I had countless casseroles and other reheatable items in my freezer that didn’t sound appetizing in the slightest. And there were numerous other small things to remind me that, yes, my parents were dead, and I needed to deal with whatever happened next.
But that wasn’t the only thing on my mind, and perhaps that’s why I wasn’t sleeping anymore.
“I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to dig that up,” Teagan said from beside me and pointed to what I thought was a weed.
“It’s spiky.” That meant it had to be a weed, right?
“Hold on, let me look it up. I think it’s actually important.”
“We both really shouldn’t be part of this whole gardening thing,” I said before I leaned back on my heels and wiped my forehead with my arm. I knew from the moment that I did it, I had just spread dirt on my face, but that couldn’t be helped.
“Yes, this one’s kind of important. It helps with erosion and drought.”
“I really need to start reading more books about planting, I think.”
Teagan smiled. “You read so many books. Even more than me.”
“Well, I’m glad my English degree can help with something,” I teased.
“That is true. I don’t really need an English degree with my current job, do I?”
I gave Teagan an odd look. “Is everything okay?”
My friend smiled at me before clearing any expression from her face. “Of course it is. And you shouldn’t be worrying about me.”
“Please let me do that. Atlas has taken over, making Will’s life easier, along with Rune.
And everybody keeps showing up and being so kind.
I realize that makes me sound ridiculous, but I just want to help others.
And yet every time I look, somebody is here helping me garden, or bringing me cookies, or making sure I’m never alone because once I’m alone, all I want to do is cry and realize that I’m alone in this stupid town that I love so stupidly much. And stupidly isn’t even a word.”
Teagan blinked at me, and I realized I had stood up and had practically shouted the last part.
“Would you like me to make you a mimosa?”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to cry or laugh. Frankly, at this point, I wasn’t sure what the answer would be.
“I don’t want to drink during the week because then I feel like I will lean into it. I never have before, but there’s a first time for everything.”
Teagan stood up and hugged me tightly. I smiled into her, grateful for my friend.
I felt like a jerk, not being able to be there for everybody in my life when I was dealing with this thing called grief, but as people stood for me, I realized there was a reason that I lived in Ashford Creek—and not just because Atlas didn’t.
Teagan’s phone buzzed at that moment, and she sighed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as she pulled out her phone.
“Just hell. I mean, it’s my own fault, I proved that I knew what I was doing, and now I get to do everything.”
I winced as Teagan answered her phone, and I realized her manager, and the owner of the gift shop that she ran, was once again needing her for something.
I knew Teagan had had bigger dreams when she had been younger; then again, so had I.
But when her family had been dealt one too many blows, she had stayed in town, finding whatever job she could to help raise her younger siblings.
Callum had gone off to play in the NFL so he could support the family financially, but Teagan had stayed behind for them physically.
Briar had left along with Malcolm, both of them needing to leave the watching eyes of their late father.
That man had hated his children and had hurt Briar and Malcolm in ways that I knew it would take years for them to recover.
And then Malcolm had died, and Briar had been hurt along the way.
But now she was married, a mother, and a Grammy Award-winning songwriter.
She had her life and visited when she could.
She’d made a whole new set of family with the Wilders down in Texas, and I was only a little jealous.
Because her family had grown exponentially, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do next.
Teagan, however, had stayed. Just like I had.
And while I loved my job, even though the hours were long, and dealing with parents sometimes made me want to pull my hair out, I felt fulfilled.
I didn’t think Teagan did. She ran the gift shop under the watchful yet neglectful eye of the owner she was currently on the phone with.
I knew she’d also helped her family members each start businesses of their own, her experience and genius sometimes quiet in the shadow of her louder siblings.
But that was Teagan, always there for you, no matter what.
“I have to go. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. We weren’t good at this whole gardening thing anyway.
I should hire someone.” I had the money now.
At least I would once my parents’ estate went through all of its steps.
I was already on all of their bank accounts and had access to all of their assets, and eventually I would have to sell the house, as well as any other belongings I didn’t want, but I wasn’t going to do that right now.
My summer vacation was turning into a stack of paperwork I hadn’t expected.
But I had the money to hire someone to deal with things I couldn’t handle on my own.
However, that would mean I’d actually have to tell people that I couldn’t handle it.
Teagan winced. “I know a few people. They are way more knowledgeable than we are.”
“I’m pretty sure a toddler is more knowledgeable than us,” I said dryly.
Teagan winked, then she came forward and hugged me tightly. “I’ll come back for dinner if you want?”
“You said you would help Felicity. And I know you, Tess, and Keely all have plans,” I said, speaking of some of our local friends.
Everybody worked so many hours a day that getting all of us together in one place was practically unheard of.
And while I had been invited to nearly every one of those events, I wasn’t in the mood.
Not yet. One day soon. But for now, I wanted to stay home and just breathe.
It didn’t help that every time I closed my eyes, however, it wasn’t my parents I saw. But him.
And it wasn’t the feel of my mother holding me tightly that kept me up all night, no, it was him.
Again.
My perpetual problem.
“That’s right.” Teagan kissed the top of my head, then went on her tiptoes and squeezed my hand. “I nearly forgot. Are you sure you don’t want to come out with us?”
“Not this time. Maybe another time.” My friend gave me a look. “I promise. I’m not going to hole up in my house or my parents’ house every day. I’m just not ready for the stares. Especially after that last photo in the Gazette.”
“I could kick Atlas for putting you in that situation.”
“It wasn’t his fault. It was a mutual hug.”
The photo of us hugging at the summer festival had made it not only on the website but into the printed Gazette.
I had a feeling it had also made it to a few other online sources, ones that had left the containment of Ashford Creek, but I didn’t want to think about that.
The world loved speculating about who Atlas Carter was dating, but that wasn’t me, and I didn’t want to think about that any harder than I already was.
“Whatever you say. Just be careful.”
I crossed my eyes and stuck out my tongue. “You know me. Careful Lizzie.”
“I thought that was Quiet Lizzie.”
“I don’t remember. High school was so long ago.”
“Well, thankfully, we have a reunion coming up, so that way we can all get together and remember the fact that we didn’t like most people we went to high school with.”
“Hopefully, they won’t show.”
“Both Atlas and Callum will be here. They’re going to show. You know some people like to make it a spectacle.”
That made me sigh, but I let it go as Teagan walked around the house, presumably to her car to head to help her manager with whatever the man needed.
It was probably something as simple as finding a piece of paper in the office because God forbid he actually looked for it, but that was what Teagan did for a living.
Dealing with men who couldn’t take care of themselves.
And that wasn’t unkind, in this case—truthful and uncalled for.
With a sigh, I stared at the oft-weeded garden and shook my head. “It’s a lost cause,” I said with a sigh.
“Hey, Ms. E.” I looked up, my heart racing because I hadn’t realized anyone was nearby, and then relaxed as Will came forward.
“Hi Will. I didn’t hear your bike.” Usually, I could hear his bike on the gravel when he rode by, and yet I had been so lost in my head I had missed it this time.
I knew he was still living out in the trailer park, couch surfing.
He wouldn’t let any of us find him a place to stay, but he worked with Rune, and I knew he was spending time with Atlas.
I had been so lost in my own issues that I hadn’t spent enough time focusing on Will. And that needed to change.