Chapter 21
Dakota sat at her office desk in the store Tuesday midmorning. She stared down at the stack of bills she couldn’t pay, then
scrutinized her meager bank account on her laptop screen. When she thought she heard a strange noise, her eyes scanned her
office.
Pushing the thought aside, she turned her attention back to her financials. She had considered calling her father and asking
for help. Then a memory of Hudson offering her a loan filled her mind, and she growled out her exasperation. She couldn’t
even think about him right now. She had to stop thinking about him.
She heard the odd noise again. Was that a drip?
Her stomach dropped. Oh no .
Dakota jumped up and scanned her office. Sure enough, drops of water were falling from the ceiling.
“Not again!” She ran to the supply closet, found two buckets, and hightailed it back to her office. She placed the buckets under where the water had started leaking from the ceiling, then yanked her phone from her pocket. She scrolled until she found the name of the plumber who had fixed the pipes last time. Then she stopped. Could she trust him again or not? Perhaps it was time to get her landlord involved and insist she take care of the issues with the building, despite what the lease stated. She pulled up her landlord’s number and poised her finger over the phone.
The bell at the front of the store rang, and Dakota rested her hand on her collarbone. She had to help her customer, and then
she would deal with this disaster. But how would she pay a plumber? And how would she find someone she could trust? And would
her landlord do the right thing this time?
She plastered a smile on her face before marching out front, where she found a scowling Layla. “Hi, Dakota. I’m here for my
last fitting.”
Worry sliced through her. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever seen Hudson’s younger sister looking so glum. “Layla,
are you okay?”
“I’m just over my brother.” She started toward the dressing rooms.
“I’ll grab your gown.” Dakota retrieved the wardrobe bag and brought it to Layla.
Layla donned the gown and stood on the platform, and Dakota gasped as Layla moved back and forth, studying her reflection
in the mirror.
“Oh my goodness, Layla.” Her eyes stung. “You are stunning.”
Layla met her gaze in the reflection, and her lips turned up in a smile. “I love it, Dakota. Do you have that photo of my
parents?”
“One sec.” Dakota rushed to the back to fetch the photo and brought it back to Layla in the dressing area. “What do you think?”
Layla nodded. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Dakota moved around the platform, making sure the hem and train were right.
As Dakota finished her inspection of the gown, Layla’s joy seemed to diminish. “Hud is really getting on my last nerve,” she
said. “Shane and I took him and my aunt to see the house on Saturday, and Hud just offered to buy us a bigger house. Shane
was furious. I’ve never seen him that angry. I was afraid they were going to come to blows.”
Dakota began pinning the train where it needed a slight adjustment. “That’s terrible.”
“Oh, that’s not the worst of it. He said he’d pay cash for the house and let us take over the taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
He’s always bossed me around, but I can’t take it anymore. I keep asking him to just let me grow up, but he thinks I’m too
immature to make my own decisions.”
“I can relate.”
Layla’s gaze snapped to Dakota’s. “How?”
“My brother, Nick, is twelve years older than me, and he used to boss me around too.” Dakota slipped another pin in the train,
and Layla shifted her weight on the podium. “Don’t move, okay? I might accidentally stick you.”
Layla grimaced. “Sorry. But what were you saying about Nick?”
“When I was a kid, he’d come home from college and bark orders at me. He used to check my homework, grill me about my friends,
tell me I filled the dishwasher wrong—things like that.”
“How’d you get him to stop?” Layla seemed fascinated.
“My folks finally said it wasn’t his job to be my third parent.” Dakota put the last pin in the train and began adjusting
the bustle.
Layla rested her hand on her hip. “I appreciate all Hud has done for me. He’s bought me cars, paid for my college, sent me
money for clothes and books, and even started a savings account for me.”
“Wow.” Dakota stopped working and peered up at her again. “I had no idea he did all of that for you.”
“I know, I know. I sound like a brat,” Layla said. “I do appreciate it all. Really, I do, Dakota, but I’m old enough to decide
what’s right for me and my future, and if I want to buy a small house with my future husband, then I should be able to do
that without him telling me I need something better or different.”
“That’s very true.”
“With Hud, everything comes down to money. But that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about living. I want a family of my own.
I want to raise kids. I want to have everything I never had.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes.
Dakota stood and patted Layla’s shoulder. “I know you do, sweetie, and you’re entitled to that.”
“I love my aunt. She’s the mom I never had. But I want to raise my own family with two parents.”
Dakota took Layla’s hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. This was exactly what she’d feared—that Hudson would overstep
and cause major problems for Layla and possibly risk ruining his relationship with her.
Layla’s eyes glimmered. “He’s just so stubborn.” Her words came out in a croak. “It’s like he’s not listening, and he doesn’t
respect me. He thinks I’m still a lost teenager even though I’ve grown up.”
“I’m sorry he has you so upset.” She handed Layla a tissue from a nearby box, then stood back and admired the gown. “Layla,
you look like a princess. I can’t wait to see you walking down that aisle toward your sweetheart.”
Layla dabbed her nose with the tissue, then swished the dress back and forth. “Thank you so much, Dakota.”
“You’re welcome.”
Layla stepped down from the platform. “You know, Hud doesn’t have a date for the wedding...” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“I’m sure he’ll find one,” Dakota said, ignoring the pang in her heart as she spoke the words.
“I don’t care if he does or doesn’t.” Layla harrumphed, then lifted the front of her gown and disappeared into a dressing
room.
As Layla changed, Dakota’s attention turned back toward the pressing problem she had in the back. Once Layla was out of the
store, she’d try to figure out what to do about her plumbing issue—again!
***
“Hey, Auntie,” Skye called when she came into the office later that afternoon. “I had the craziest day. I can’t believe we
have finals coming up next week.” She paused in the doorway. “Wait. Did the pipes burst again?”
Dakota pointed toward the line of buckets in her office, along with the furniture that she’d covered with plastic. Her shoulders
withered. “I checked with my landlord, and she insists the leak and damage are all my responsibility, which is what it says
in the lease. So I’ve called three plumbers so far, but no one can come before next week. I’m at my wits’ end.”
“Have you reached out to Grandpa and asked him for help?”
Dakota swiped her fingers under her eyes, hoping she didn’t smudge her makeup. “Not yet.”
“Call him now. He’ll know what to do.” Skye yanked her phone from her back pocket. “I’ll dial him, and we can both talk to
him on speaker.”
“No, Skye.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can handle this myself. This is my business.”
Skye folded her arms over her middle. “Why won’t you listen to me?”
“I am listening to you. I’m just telling you I need to handle this my way.”
“But your way isn’t working. Don’t you see that?” Skye gestured around the room. “The ceiling is falling in on us. It’s time
you got someone to help.”
Dakota glowered. “I just told you that I’ve been calling plumbers.”
“But you need to call Grandpa.”
Dakota sighed. “Honey, there’s no way that—”
“He can help, Auntie. I know he can.”
Dakota shook her head. “I can handle this myself.”
“No, you can’t.” Skye’s dark eyes narrowed. When her eyes brimmed with tears, she brushed them away. “Your whole problem is
that you just won’t listen to anyone else. No matter how hard I try to help you, you tell me I’m wrong.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is. You ignore what I say because you think I’m a dumb sixteen-year-old.”
“Sweetie, I would never—”
“Don’t call me sweetie !” Skye’s voice sounded thready. “I can’t talk to you because you won’t listen, so why should I even try?” She wrenched her
backpack up from the floor. “I give up. It’s not worth it.”
Dakota faltered and her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“You heard me.” Tears streamed down her pink cheeks. “I quit.”
Dakota’s chest clutched. “What?”
“I said I quit!” With that, Skye turned and stomped out of the store.
Dakota stared after her as her world began to crumble.
***
“Isn’t that your sister?” Gavin asked Hudson. The men stood in the middle of the nearly completed restaurant site the following
afternoon, the scent of paint hovering in the air. The rest of the construction crew worked at giving the newly built restaurant
a fresh coat of bright-white paint.
Hudson turned toward the doorway, where Layla stood. Dressed in purple scrubs, she hugged her arms to her chest. Her eyes
were red and puffy, and her expression was grave. A cold sensation washed over him as he took off toward her. “Layla, what’s
wrong?”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” Her eyes smoldered with fire. “You ruined my life!” she yelled, and he flinched at her sharp
tone.
A hush settled over the worksite, and everyone turned to stare.
“What are you talking about?”
She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Because of you my wedding is canceled.” Her lips trembled. “I guess you got what you wanted.
That was your plan all along, wasn’t it? You wanted to blow up my life. Well, congratulations, Hud. You did it.” More tears
poured down her face.
“The wedding is canceled?” He should be ecstatic at the news. Instead he was cemented in place, witnessing his sister’s pain.
“Yes! Because of you!” When he tried to reach for her, she pushed him away. “Shane came to see me at work today. He said he
couldn’t take it anymore. He said he’s tired of your issues with money. He told me you went to see him at work last month
and grilled him about making enough money to support me. He said he’s done arguing with you about how money is the most important
thing in life. Is that true?”
“Yes, but I was just trying—”
“You betrayed me, Hud. How could you go behind my back and tell my fiancé he wasn’t capable of caring for me?” She pointed to herself. “Now he doesn’t want to be with me because he thinks my family will always judge him.”
A ball of lead formed in his stomach. What have I done? “No, that’s not it. It’s more than that. I’m worried he’ll be a bad influence on you.”
She squinted at him. “What does that even mean?”
“You both made some big mistakes in high school. What if he falls back into that pattern and takes you with him? I couldn’t
bear seeing you like that again.”
She gasped. “How could you even think that about me after all I’ve accomplished in my life since then? You’re overbearing,
intrusive, and controlling, and you’re done controlling me.”
Hudson opened and closed his mouth. “Layla, I’m sorry, but—”
“Sorry isn’t good enough.” She sniffed and swiped away more tears. “I thought you were my hero. I believed you would always
look out for me and take care of me.”
“I am. You’re my baby sister. I would do anything for you.”
“Except support my choices.” She shook her head. “I’m done with you, Hud.” She turned and marched out of the restaurant.
Hudson spun toward Gavin, who watched him with his eyes wide. “I need to go.”
“Go on.” Gavin waved him off.
Hudson took off running down the street to the parking lot where Layla was climbing into her car. “Layla! Wait!”
His sister turned to face him, her visage pale and ominous.
“Please wait.” He held his hands up to her. “Let’s talk about this.”
She slammed her car door closed and leaned against it. “Talk.”
“Everything I’ve ever done was to take care of you. I wanted you to have a stable life.” He blew out a shaky breath. “My earliest memories of Mom and Dad were pure chaos. I wanted to give you security—something I never had.”
“You know, I’m glad you brought that up, Hud.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me something. Why haven’t we ever
talked about Mom and Dad?”
Where’d that come from? “What do you mean?”
“You’ve never wanted to discuss them. Every time I bring them up, you change the subject.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” She shook a finger at him. “I remember when I was five, and I asked you what Mom looked like. You showed me
their wedding picture.”
“Okay...” He tried to read her hidden meaning. “Why was that the wrong answer?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Then I asked you what Mom sounded like. What did Mom like to sing? What was her favorite color? And
you told me you had to do your math homework. Whenever I asked you about Mom and Dad, you had a reason not to answer.” She
counted his offenses off on her fingers. “You were too busy. You couldn’t remember. You had homework to do. You were too tired.
Or, my personal favorite, you just weren’t in the mood to discuss them.”
Guilt punched him in the gut. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember any of this. I never realized I was doing this to you.”
“You know, you’re so worried I’m going to fall back into my bad habits. Well, did you ever wonder why I used alcohol and drugs and cut classes?”
“Of course I did. I spent hours on the phone with your guidance counselor trying to figure out what was going on with you.”
“You took off to start a new life, and I felt so alone.” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. “You and I were orphans. Yes, Aunt Trudy did the best she could, but she’s not our biological parent. You’re the only other person who can relate to what it was like growing up without Mom and Dad, but you would never discuss it with me. And that’s why I resorted to other methods—trying to find some relief from the constant hollowness and pain.”
He was flummoxed. “I drove you to that?”
“You sure did. Then to make it worse, you forced me to discuss my feelings with a stranger. Do you know how hard that was
for me?”
“But that’s what the guidance counselor told us to do to help you. She said you needed a counselor.”
“But I didn’t need a stranger, Hud. I needed you ,” she said, pointing at him, “but you were never available.” Her voice rose. “Why is that, Hud? Why couldn’t you ever open
yourself up to me?”
He stared at her. “I-I-I don’t know.”
“Well, I sure do.” She pulled her keys from her pocket and stood up straight. “You hide behind your money so you don’t have
to open up to anyone. You pretend that all you care about is ‘taking care of me and Aunt Trudy,’” she said, making air quotes
with her fingers. “But the truth is, all you care about is taking care of yourself, Hud.”
“No, no, no.” His throat caught. He moved toward her, but she put more distance between them. “What can I do to make this
right? Tell me, and I’ll do it,” he pleaded. This was his worst nightmare. He couldn’t lose her. “Do you want to talk about
Mom and Dad now? What do you want to know?”
She took a deep, shaky breath. “It’s too late. I thought I found my soul mate, the one person I could open up to completely.
But you managed to ruin that for me. Now I’m alone again—all because of you .” She opened her car door and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Layla, wait. Give me a chance, and I’ll fix this. Don’t go.”
She faced him, her expression darkening. “You’ve intruded in my life for the last time. I don’t need you anymore. And another thing. I give up on trying to get you and Dakota back together. I thought maybe if you realized what you’d left behind here in Flowering Grove, you would actually want to be a part of our family. But it’s obvious you never will.”
Layla started her car and drove away, leaving him standing in the parking lot.
Hudson felt as if the ground had opened up beneath him and was going to swallow him whole. He’d lost his sister, which meant
he’d lost everything . He stared after her, his body slack, his mind buzzing with confusion and grief.
Without his sister and without a hope of working things out with Dakota, nothing was left for him in Flowering Grove. It was
time to leave.
He dragged himself back into the restaurant and found Gavin, who looked concerned.
“Is everything all right?”
“No,” Hudson said. “I need to resign.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Thanks for the opportunity.” He shook Gavin’s hand.
Gavin patted his shoulder. “I’m going to miss you. You’ve done good work here.”
Hudson nodded goodbye to his coworkers, then headed out of the restaurant and down the sidewalk toward his SUV. He sat in
the driver’s seat and typed out a text to Darren:
Hey. I’m ready for Bahrain. Send details.
Then he made his way toward the Airbnb for the last time. He was going to pack up and leave as soon as he could—getting as
far away from Flowering Grove and his heartache as possible.